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Posted: 9/28/2014 4:08:53 AM EDT
I want this to be my last 1911. For reasons I'm not getting into, it has to be. It also has to be accurate, stainless, reliable, and concealable. I am perfectly capable of squeezing every ounce of accuracy a pistol has to offer (my first 1911 was a match gun I purchased from my shooting mentor, which set the bar high for everything thereafter). After it is broken in (relatively quickly), it must be reliable. For concealability, it must be commander-sized and have a bobtail. So what I've narrowed it down to is the Dan Wesson v-bob and the Les Baer custom carry 4.25"(which would be sent to another smith for a bobtail). Les has a great reputation for accuracy, but I'll gladly save a few hundred bucks if Dan can match it (or get awfully damn close).
So what should I go with? |
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Lea Baer's Commander size guns are junk.
Stainless rusts like Hell, get the duty coat DW. |
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Lea Baer's Commander size guns are junk. View Quote Is "Lea" the Chinese knock-off brand? You claim they're "junk", yet you provide no proof, no examples nor anything concrete backing up your assertion. Nada. You also overlook the Baer accuracy guarantee also comes with their Commander-sized 1911s as well. In short, you seem to be blowing nothing but hot air opinion based on pure speculation. |
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Baer's commander sized 1911's don't slingshot - google it. It's a known issue and Les doesn't care.
As for commander bobtails, I'd save the cash and get a well fitted and finished DW. I've had both, the DW was nicer finished. If you'd like to compare accuracy - google Dan Severn's 1911 shootout. Stock DW's outperformed Baer's. I don't like the price increase that DW started commanding a couple of years ago - but I think when I do buy a 1911 again (it will be my one and only) I'll be on the lookout for a DW.... |
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Is "Lea" the Chinese knock-off brand? You claim they're "junk", yet you provide no proof, no examples nor anything concrete backing up your assertion. Nada. You also overlook the Baer accuracy guarantee also comes with their Commander-sized 1911s as well. In short, you seem to be blowing nothing but hot air opinion based on pure speculation. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Lea Baer's Commander size guns are junk. Is "Lea" the Chinese knock-off brand? You claim they're "junk", yet you provide no proof, no examples nor anything concrete backing up your assertion. Nada. You also overlook the Baer accuracy guarantee also comes with their Commander-sized 1911s as well. In short, you seem to be blowing nothing but hot air opinion based on pure speculation. Gov't frame rails with a Commander slide is a half-assed way to build a pistol. Do some research on it and show back up. Baers in general aren't the pistol most people think they are. |
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I would get the Dan Wesson. I just bought a 5" Valor the same day I put a deposit down on an Ed Brown. Now, obviously the Brown is a high class than the Dan Wesson, but not by much, I will tell you.
I had a Brown before, and I just got this Brown in that I ordered. But strangely enough, the Valor is my favorite of the two. I just love that gun. I plan to buy another Dan Wesson soon too. My local shop had a couple of Baers, but the Valor just feels better to me. |
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I have no experience beyond forums and holding Les Baers, but I own a Dan Wesson Valor, and it is the nicest gun, and best 1911 of three I have owned (to include having had an ed brown".
What my experiences and research indicates is that when you reach the Dan Wesson, Les Baer, Wilson, Nighthawk, Ed Brown level of 1911's, the differences are very slim, and you begin paying the increased prices for the name, cosmetics, and minor, minor differences. Accuracy and reliability are often not at stake in these decisions. Dan Wesson Commander Classic is an excellent choice (Cheaper than the V-Bob, can be found on czcustom.com) DW V-Bob's are excellent choices, as are the Guardian series. |
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Gov't frame rails with a Commander slide is a half-assed way to build a pistol. Do some research on it and show back up. Baers in general aren't the pistol most people think they are. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Lea Baer's Commander size guns are junk. Is "Lea" the Chinese knock-off brand? You claim they're "junk", yet you provide no proof, no examples nor anything concrete backing up your assertion. Nada. You also overlook the Baer accuracy guarantee also comes with their Commander-sized 1911s as well. In short, you seem to be blowing nothing but hot air opinion based on pure speculation. Gov't frame rails with a Commander slide is a half-assed way to build a pistol. Do some research on it and show back up. Baers in general aren't the pistol most people think they are. I understand the questioning the building of a commander on a Govt frame.....not sure where the additional comments are valid but your entitled to your opinion...my experience as an owner of a Baer has been positive...... I'm sorry yours hasn't been as positive... |
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I have a Dan Wesson Valor that is probably the finest made 1911 I have ever laid eyes on. It is very accurate and reliable, and it has the best trigger I have ever seen on a 1911 short of serious custom work.
I have never shot the Baers, but I have fondled the heck out of several. They are not as finely made as a DW, and this shows in every aspect from the finish to the inside fitting. I cannot imagine they would be more accurate than a DW on the whole, but it is possible. I want a Baer badly because I am a 1911 freak, but if it came down to one or the other, it would be DW all the way. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a pistol to only have to send it off to get a finish that is durable and I like. |
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Gov't frame rails with a Commander slide is a half-assed way to build a pistol. Do some research on it and show back up. Baers in general aren't the pistol most people think they are. View Quote I own two of them, one of them is the Commanche (Commander) model. I used to have a third but sold it to fund the buy of the purchase of the newest one. My research is done on the firing line, with my own hands & seeing MY results, not someone on youtube. YMMV. |
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Arguing on the internet is pointless... but you highlighted that I said: "Les doesn't care" - which is the absolute truth. You said it - he WANTS the slide stop to be used. A lot of folks WANT the option to do either. As you well know, with Les' guns, it's his way. As long as you're aware of that, no problem. I've spoken with him as well, so not sure what you're referring to as not having a cigar. I'm not the only one that has encountered this with Baer "options". And as I mentioned previously, I've owned and shot both - the Baer being a HC SRP w/the 1.5"...not watching other opinions on Youtube.
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I actually asked him about that. Les said his guns aren't designed to do that & he wants the slide release used. Nice try but not close to a cigar, sir. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Baer's commander sized 1911's don't slingshot - google it. It's a known issue and Les doesn't care. I actually asked him about that. Les said his guns aren't designed to do that & he wants the slide release used. Nice try but not close to a cigar, sir. |
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A huge difference between "he doesn't care" & doing it his way, IMO. YMMV. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Arguing on the internet is pointless... but you highlighted that I said: "Les doesn't care" - which is the absolute truth. You said it - he WANTS the slide stop to be used. A huge difference between "he doesn't care" & doing it his way, IMO. YMMV. Want to know a 1911 smith who doesn't give a shit about his customers opinions? Ed Brown. I'll just leave that riiight here. |
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I was debating about the same thing recently. Les Baer makes a very tight gun, however it's almost too tight for my tastes. Dan Wesson Valor has a much nicer fit and finish much like the Wilson's and Ed Brown's out there. I decided on the Dan Wesson Valor after handling both of them in a local gun shop.
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Having owned full size guns from both makers (Les Baer Premier II and DW Valor) I would go with the Dan Wesson, hands down. The LB didn't fit most of my holsters due to the frame being oversized. The Valor has a much nicer finish. It is more precisely machined vs. being hand-fitted like the Baer. As far as accuracy is concerned the DW pretty much equals a LB with 1.5" guarantee or betters it. Take a look at THIS. It led me to my Valor purchase.
The Valor is still my go to pistol. The Les Baer has long since left. |
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I have never personally owned/shot/handled a baer, but I do own a stainless Valor. It is a very nice pistol for the price and accuracy far exceeds my abilities. I am unsure of what baer prices run new, but Buds price of 1409 on a stainless valor is damn good. The duty treat version is a little high priced right now at 1762. buds had it last week in the high 1600's.
No mim parts, around a 4 lb trigger pull, and superb fit and finish. |
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Personally, I would go with the Dan Wesson without any hesitations ...
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Ooh, that Infinity is pretty. Tagging to research later.
OP, I own a VBOB stainless. Love it. LOVE it. Love IT! Accurate moreso than I am. Makes my Taurus PT1911 look like the turd it is (notice I said MY Taurus. Not All Tauruses are turds but mine is) I've handled a 5" Les Baer at a gunshop. The barrel lockup was tight. TIGHT tight. So tight I had a hard time pulling the slide back but it wasn't my gun and I was trying to be careful... but it was still tight. If you're wanting to get a Dan Wesson Bobtail, you can't go wrong with a VBOB. Or, you can look at the previous generation CBOB... which is also bobbed and you should be able to find cheaper than a new VBOB... If I had it to do all over again, I would have bought the S&W 1911 (instead of the Taurus) and then bought my VBOB... but the other way around. VBOB would have been first. |
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Strayer Voigt Inc. will build you the nicest 1911/2011 you could ever want, exactly how you want it. Putting in another order this Christmas for a 10mm. You're going to be waiting around 18mo but it's well worth it -- and NOBODY out there will have the same gun. Go out with a bang? Go SVI. Here's a Stainless Compact 2011. http://www.sviguns.com/largepics/452.jpg View Quote I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, because that pistol is fugly. |
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Strayer Voigt Inc. will build you the nicest 1911/2011 you could ever want, exactly how you want it. Putting in another order this Christmas for a 10mm. You're going to be waiting around 18mo but it's well worth it -- and NOBODY out there will have the same gun. Go out with a bang? Go SVI. Here's a Stainless Compact 2011. http://www.sviguns.com/largepics/452.jpg View Quote Definitely not a "classic" look but I love it! That is beautiful! |
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Thanks guys. The consensus has it. The feedback was great, and that thread from 1911 forum put it over the edge. I have a tricked out STI, but it conceals worse than my Sig. If STI/SVI made a commander-sized polymer single stack, I would've picked one up already. Even so, it would probably be closer to the EB price than the DW price.
Regardless, I ordered the V-Bob. I can't wait! |
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I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, because that pistol is fugly. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Strayer Voigt Inc. will build you the nicest 1911/2011 you could ever want, exactly how you want it. Putting in another order this Christmas for a 10mm. You're going to be waiting around 18mo but it's well worth it -- and NOBODY out there will have the same gun. Go out with a bang? Go SVI. Here's a Stainless Compact 2011. http://www.sviguns.com/largepics/452.jpg I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, because that pistol is fugly. They build one how you want it... that's the point. Mine. |
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I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, because that pistol is fugly. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Strayer Voigt Inc. will build you the nicest 1911/2011 you could ever want, exactly how you want it. Putting in another order this Christmas for a 10mm. You're going to be waiting around 18mo but it's well worth it -- and NOBODY out there will have the same gun. Go out with a bang? Go SVI. Here's a Stainless Compact 2011. http://www.sviguns.com/largepics/452.jpg I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, because that pistol is fugly. Some of them look better than others. |
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Thanks guys. The consensus has it. The feedback was great, and that thread from 1911 forum put it over the edge. I have a tricked out STI, but it conceals worse than my Sig. If STI/SVI made a commander-sized polymer single stack, I would've picked one up already. Even so, it would probably be closer to the EB price than the DW price. Regardless, I ordered the V-Bob. I can't wait! View Quote Congrats on the purchase. |
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Thanks guys. The consensus has it. The feedback was great, and that thread from 1911 forum put it over the edge. I have a tricked out STI, but it conceals worse than my Sig. If STI/SVI made a commander-sized polymer single stack, I would've picked one up already. Even so, it would probably be closer to the EB price than the DW price. Regardless, I ordered the V-Bob. I can't wait! View Quote Good call. In real lifes (not the internets) I only met people who are happy with their DW guns, and only marginally settled with their LessB's. |
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Ooh, that Infinity is pretty. Tagging to research later. OP, I own a VBOB stainless. Love it. LOVE it. Love IT! Accurate moreso than I am. Makes my Taurus PT1911 look like the turd it is (notice I said MY Taurus. Not All Tauruses are turds but mine is) I've handled a 5" Les Baer at a gunshop. The barrel lockup was tight. TIGHT tight. So tight I had a hard time pulling the slide back but it wasn't my gun and I was trying to be careful... but it was still tight. If you're wanting to get a Dan Wesson Bobtail, you can't go wrong with a VBOB. Or, you can look at the previous generation CBOB... which is also bobbed and you should be able to find cheaper than a new VBOB... If I had it to do all over again, I would have bought the S&W 1911 (instead of the Taurus) and then bought my VBOB... but the other way around. VBOB would have been first. View Quote With a hard fit barrel, that's actually a good thing. Ever handle a Springfield Professional? Same thing. If you use a flat bottom firing pin stop, as you should be with a Commander (or any 1911), then you'll experience the same thing. I'd get the DW gun with black duty finish, and get a flat bottom firing pin stop thrown in it with some ISMI springs. 25 MS, and 20 lb. recoil. |
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Of the seven 1911 pistols in my safe, the Dan Wesson (Valor) is far and away the best fitted and best functioning of them all.
You will NOT be disappointed in the V-Bob. The quality is amazing and their customer service is excellent (not that you'll ever need it). |
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My DW PM9 is easily on par with my Baer TRS in terms of fit, finish, function and joy to hold. My Specialist, like gay dating, needed a grinder.
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I have a DW CCO. Probably the best semi-custom production 1911 format gun for the money. One of the best gun purchases I have ever made. The fit is exceptional. The components used to build it up doesn't really need to be "upgraded". I did change out the grips to VZ. The stock grips were a little too smooth for me. Pic of gun, a little dirty after range. <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/giantseabass/media/2012-12-11_13_33_15_zpsf50de776.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/giantseabass/2012-12-11_13_33_15_zpsf50de776.jpg</a> View Quote Damn I like that. |
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Was able to shoot a Dan and Les full size 1911 side by side.
Both were outstanding. To me I couldn't justify the extra cost for the Dan. Did not see results enough to justify it. No idea if the same holds true for the smaller size. |
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