Post by XavierBreath on Mar 23, 2004 20:19:57 GMT -5
Smith & Wesson came out with a 1911 in 2003, and I did not really care for the looks of it. I did not like the laser etching, or the black on stainless look. It resembled a tattooed zebra to my conservative eyes. For the money, I figured I could do better.
Today, the S&W rep came to town, and I had the opportunity to shoot the pistol as much as I wanted. I accepted. I had taken my Springfield Mil-Spec and Colt commander along to compare if need be. I initially noted that the gun I was given was dirty. Not badly crudded, but about 200 rounds worth of soot. The barrel hood looked like it had seen a few more rounds than that. It was a factory gun, which the rep swore was an off the shelf pistol, no accurizing or reliability work was done. Fair enough I thought. I noted that it appeared to have a Chip McCormick trigger, thumb safety and beavertail. The fitting of the parts did not impress me, but it wasn't a bad job either, no better or no worse than a Springfield Loaded or a Kimber Custom. The barrel locked up tight, and supposedly had a Briley bushing according to the S&W rep. A full length guide rod was standard. The pistol had an external extractor. The black rubber grips were not bad, and if I could not have wood, they would suffice. The front strap was serated, and the plastic mainspring housing was checkered 30LPI. The pistol had a Wilson magazine, supposedly standard, and a nice touch if it is. I still did not care for the mixing of a stainless pistol and black small parts, it just makes an otherwise nice pistol look like a Frankenstien gun to me. For some reason, the pistol felt lighter than my Colt and Springfield.
I took the pistol and 500 rounds of 230 hardball to the range. After inserting a loaded magazine, I flicked the thumb safety up, and the reassuring snick I get with my thumb safeties was absent. Nothing a bit of work couldn't fix, but noticable to me. The safety kind of slid into place instead of clicking. The pistol came to sights very easily for me. The Novak sights were sharp and clear. This pistol was a shooter. I placed eight rounds solidly in the 9 ring at 25 feet. I reloaded and did it again. It was no fluke. I continued to shoot and the pistol consistently shot where I pointed it. At round 200 or so, I began to have problems with the slide not locking back on an empty magazine. Keep in mind the pistol was dirty when I began to shoot it. I squirted some brake cleaner under the slide release, into the pistol and magazine, and then squirted in a bit of CLP after the brake cleaner evaporated. The failure to lock back went away with the grime. The problem with the thumb safety went away as well.
All in all, I found this pistol to be an excellent shooter, although I still did not care for it's looks. At $750-$800 though, a person expects pleasing asthetics. The stainless and black finish bothered me. I did not care for the laser etching. The silly "capable of firing with magazine removed" warning on the dustcover was a real turn off. I do have to say that the pistol performed well, even when grungy, and never failed to extract, eject, or go bang. The trigger was consistent, and about four pounds.
But now for the best part.......... In a couple of months S&W is releasing a 1911 with adjustable target sights, wooden grips, and front strap checkering. This will again be a stainless model (SKU:108284). MSRP will be $1049.
Even better, Smith & Wesson will soon introduce a Lightweight Commander (SKU: 108283) model in Scandium. The Commander model will also have cocobolo grips, and a black finish (and no stainless small parts). The Commander's unloaded weight will be 28 ounces. MSRP will be $1029. My Get Real Price on the Scandium Commander was $820 NIB. I'm thinking that for a Lightweight Commander with Novak sights, cocobolo grips, and Wilson mags, it just might be the deal I've been waiting on.
Specifications
SKU: 108282
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 8 Rounds +1
Barrel Length: 5"
Front Sight: White Dot
Rear Sight: Novak Lo Mount Carry 2-Dot
Grip: Hogue Rubber
Trigger: Skeletonized
Hammer: Skeletonized
External Safety: Single Side
Frame: Full Size
Finish: Satin Stainless
Overall length: 8.7"
Weight Empty: 39 ounces
MSRP $960
Get Real Price $750-$800
SKU: 108283
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 8 Rounds +1
Barrel Length: 4 1/4"
Front Sight: White Dot
Rear Sight: Novak Lo Mount Carry 2-Dot
Grip: Wood
Trigger: Skeletonized
Hammer: Skeletonized
External Safety: Single Side
Frame: Small/Compact
Finish: Black
Overall length: 7.95"
Material: Scandium/Alum.Alloy/Carbon Steel
Weight Empty: 28 ounces
MSRP $1029
Get Real Price $820
Today, the S&W rep came to town, and I had the opportunity to shoot the pistol as much as I wanted. I accepted. I had taken my Springfield Mil-Spec and Colt commander along to compare if need be. I initially noted that the gun I was given was dirty. Not badly crudded, but about 200 rounds worth of soot. The barrel hood looked like it had seen a few more rounds than that. It was a factory gun, which the rep swore was an off the shelf pistol, no accurizing or reliability work was done. Fair enough I thought. I noted that it appeared to have a Chip McCormick trigger, thumb safety and beavertail. The fitting of the parts did not impress me, but it wasn't a bad job either, no better or no worse than a Springfield Loaded or a Kimber Custom. The barrel locked up tight, and supposedly had a Briley bushing according to the S&W rep. A full length guide rod was standard. The pistol had an external extractor. The black rubber grips were not bad, and if I could not have wood, they would suffice. The front strap was serated, and the plastic mainspring housing was checkered 30LPI. The pistol had a Wilson magazine, supposedly standard, and a nice touch if it is. I still did not care for the mixing of a stainless pistol and black small parts, it just makes an otherwise nice pistol look like a Frankenstien gun to me. For some reason, the pistol felt lighter than my Colt and Springfield.
I took the pistol and 500 rounds of 230 hardball to the range. After inserting a loaded magazine, I flicked the thumb safety up, and the reassuring snick I get with my thumb safeties was absent. Nothing a bit of work couldn't fix, but noticable to me. The safety kind of slid into place instead of clicking. The pistol came to sights very easily for me. The Novak sights were sharp and clear. This pistol was a shooter. I placed eight rounds solidly in the 9 ring at 25 feet. I reloaded and did it again. It was no fluke. I continued to shoot and the pistol consistently shot where I pointed it. At round 200 or so, I began to have problems with the slide not locking back on an empty magazine. Keep in mind the pistol was dirty when I began to shoot it. I squirted some brake cleaner under the slide release, into the pistol and magazine, and then squirted in a bit of CLP after the brake cleaner evaporated. The failure to lock back went away with the grime. The problem with the thumb safety went away as well.
All in all, I found this pistol to be an excellent shooter, although I still did not care for it's looks. At $750-$800 though, a person expects pleasing asthetics. The stainless and black finish bothered me. I did not care for the laser etching. The silly "capable of firing with magazine removed" warning on the dustcover was a real turn off. I do have to say that the pistol performed well, even when grungy, and never failed to extract, eject, or go bang. The trigger was consistent, and about four pounds.
But now for the best part.......... In a couple of months S&W is releasing a 1911 with adjustable target sights, wooden grips, and front strap checkering. This will again be a stainless model (SKU:108284). MSRP will be $1049.
Even better, Smith & Wesson will soon introduce a Lightweight Commander (SKU: 108283) model in Scandium. The Commander model will also have cocobolo grips, and a black finish (and no stainless small parts). The Commander's unloaded weight will be 28 ounces. MSRP will be $1029. My Get Real Price on the Scandium Commander was $820 NIB. I'm thinking that for a Lightweight Commander with Novak sights, cocobolo grips, and Wilson mags, it just might be the deal I've been waiting on.
Specifications
SKU: 108282
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 8 Rounds +1
Barrel Length: 5"
Front Sight: White Dot
Rear Sight: Novak Lo Mount Carry 2-Dot
Grip: Hogue Rubber
Trigger: Skeletonized
Hammer: Skeletonized
External Safety: Single Side
Frame: Full Size
Finish: Satin Stainless
Overall length: 8.7"
Weight Empty: 39 ounces
MSRP $960
Get Real Price $750-$800
SKU: 108283
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 8 Rounds +1
Barrel Length: 4 1/4"
Front Sight: White Dot
Rear Sight: Novak Lo Mount Carry 2-Dot
Grip: Wood
Trigger: Skeletonized
Hammer: Skeletonized
External Safety: Single Side
Frame: Small/Compact
Finish: Black
Overall length: 7.95"
Material: Scandium/Alum.Alloy/Carbon Steel
Weight Empty: 28 ounces
MSRP $1029
Get Real Price $820