Posted: 1/11/2009 7:50:00 PM EDT
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I am looking to purchase a new 1911 and am crossed between a Wilson Combat and a Nighhawk. Has anyone OWNED!! one of these pistols and can give me a reason why one is better that the other, not hearsay.
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I have owned one CQB. I had the following issues:
Rough machining of the ejection port. Raised corner on the breechface. Excessive barrel hood clearance. Loose bushing. Loose barrel fit. Poor accuracy. Otherwise, the gun was great. It never jammed. It looked nice. Etc. I have never owned a Nighthawk, but fingerfucked several at Martin B. Retting's in Culver City, CA. I found they have tighter barrel fit, tighter bushing fit, great trigger pull, but suffer from cosmetic issues in the area of slide to frame blending and checkering. |
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I chose Nighthawk over Wilson and am very happy with the decision.
They are going to be extremely close to each other, so just go with the one that has the features you want. The Nighthawk Enforcer had the features I wanted and, after some customizations, was exactly what I was looking for. |
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I shot a Nighthawk a few years ago and was unimpressed. (It was a range gun, so who knows how good they took care of it. Obviously not good enough, as it shot about 4 inches high for me at 10 yards. Not at all to my liking) As for my CQB, it is over 2 years old, and I would not change a thing. (I think it is more accurate than I will ever be, except with lots more money for ammo and time for practising, and then I am still not so sure)
Nighthawk was founded by one of Wilson's top gunsmiths, and he has since left Nighthawk. (From what I understand, he was what made Nighthawk, at least at first. Then after a few years, he moves on. To me that says something, but since it is a personal opinion and I have no facts to back it up with I will keep it to myself) As others have said, buy what you like. It's what I did. |
| +1 call george at gunslingers. there is noone better. i have a wilson cqb and a nighthawk 10-8 with a nighthawk talon on the way. flip a coin. they are both awesome. either way you can't go wrong. i don't know if it means anything to you but nighthawk doen't use MIM parts at all |
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I am looking at a wilson professional model with a bobtail for concelled carry. That is the main purpose of my purchase. I want it to go bang when i need it and be comfortable to carry at the same time. Your application should dictate your purchase. I had the exact purpose in mind and I went with the CQB Compact from Wilson. It is an ideal package for concealed carry, particularly in this hot "T-shirt" climate that rages 8-9 months out of the year. I was never a fan of bobtails and while I enjoy Commanders as a carry gun, they don't profile as well. The Pro and CQB Compact both sport 4" bull barrels, which have great accuracy potential, and they negate a great deal of commentary about barrel fit as the bushing is no longer in the equation. Also, the bull helps dampen muzzle flip. I know NH offers a Commander profile package (4.25 std barrel w bushing mounted on full frame). Personally, I prefer the Commander profile over the 4" bull when speaking of full frame 1911s, but having said that, I scrutinized NH pretty closely when I was chosing mine and I passed on them in favor of Wilson based on needs, taste. and application. Today I have no reason to regret that decision and I see new reasons why I do not approve of the NH line. While my distaste for their line was rooted in aesthetics with their tacky over-advertising and stylistic choices, I have discovered accounts of enough bad examples and poor customer service to suggest they are fast-becoming the "Kimber" of semi-customs, if they haven't arrived there already. Your research is your own task, but mine has concluded that there are many better choices out there at a similar price point. |
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Brown guns I have seen and the Kobra Carry I owned were very good units, but I am a stickler for tight slide/frame fit so I traded it for a Wilson after I picked up a Les Baer and liked it so much it took over carry duty. The Wilson isn't quite as tight as the Baer but it's still very good. Bear in mind, I am talking miniscule differences here. None of them are even close to approaching being "rattleboxes" like a lot of the production guns I've had.
I should note that the fit is purely a subjective quality I enjoy and has no effect on function or accuracy. All 3 pistols were/are 100% rock solid in reliability and accuracy, but I prefer the Baer for just feeling right to me. I would put one on your list to take a look at at the very least and they also tend to run a little cheaper than other semi-customs for whatever reason. |
| I've actually been considering picking up an Ed Brown Executive Elite or maybe a slick slide Special Forces (though I'm not sold on the chain link "checkering"). Les Baer is known for super tight pistols, Ed Brown uses the saying "not tight, just right" or something along those lines. All of the accounts I've read on m1911.org forums indicate the Browns are well liked, reliable, and accurate. Their customer service seems to be decent, though not stellar like WC's reputation, and options are very limited on the Brown guns. Kinda like buying a SA Pro, though I think there are a few areas you can change with the Browns. |
| CQB is very nice gun. Never owned one, but my brother has one and it shoots like a very nice semi-custom pistol should. I carry a slick slide Special Forces by Ed Brown. Got a really good deal on one that a local gunshop had ordered for a guy, who then backed out when the final bill came due. If I had to choose between my brothers Wilson and my EB, I would just flip a coin. Can't lose in that contest. Either one is excellent. |
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CQB is very nice gun. Never owned one, but my brother has one and it shoots like a very nice semi-custom pistol should. I carry a slick slide Special Forces by Ed Brown. Got a really good deal on one that a local gunshop had ordered for a guy, who then backed out when the final bill came due. If I had to choose between my brothers Wilson and my EB, I would just flip a coin. Can't lose in that contest. Either one is excellent. How do you like the chain link front and back strap treatments? Does it help maintain a good grip like 25 or 30 LPI checkering would? What about wear and tear on your clothes? Sorry for the hijack... 
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CQB is very nice gun. Never owned one, but my brother has one and it shoots like a very nice semi-custom pistol should. I carry a slick slide Special Forces by Ed Brown. Got a really good deal on one that a local gunshop had ordered for a guy, who then backed out when the final bill came due. If I had to choose between my brothers Wilson and my EB, I would just flip a coin. Can't lose in that contest. Either one is excellent. How do you like the chain link front and back strap treatments? Does it help maintain a good grip like 25 or 30 LPI checkering would? What about wear and tear on your clothes? Sorry for the hijack...
I actually like it better than checkering. I can't exactly say why. No problem with clothes. I have a pair of VZ aliens grips on it in Black Desert. I doubt I could drop that gun if it was totally slick all over, with those grips on it, so I can't really say about that. Those grips are badass btw. The look awesome on that gun with the Gen III black finish EB uses 
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Dave's Metal Works  I call that and raise you with your fabled cast Ruger 1911 http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6241/grizzlymk12tr0.jpg
Looks like a photo shopped LAR grizzly to me. ETA: 
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That's a monster. But seriously, Dave Lavfer does excellent work. He does not do any fancy stuff, like checkering, but his metal to metal fit is superb. Cheap too. Just checked out his website, I'm liking the shotgun parts! But to keep this thread on topics: 
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That's a monster. But seriously, Dave Lavfer does excellent work. He does not do any fancy stuff, like checkering, but his metal to metal fit is superb. Cheap too. Just checked out his website, I'm liking the shotgun parts! But to keep this thread on topics: http://www.gunshopfinder.com/wilson/cqb.jpg I think you got the wrong Dave's Metal Works. He don't have a website. |
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That's a monster. But seriously, Dave Lavfer does excellent work. He does not do any fancy stuff, like checkering, but his metal to metal fit is superb. Cheap too. Just checked out his website, I'm liking the shotgun parts! But to keep this thread on topics: http://www.gunshopfinder.com/wilson/cqb.jpg I think you got the wrong Dave's Metal Works. He don't have a website. "Foxnews_FTW's hand +  "
LOL I thought I found the guy, looks like I just went full retard instead.
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