[cangler]

I seem to only like 1911s that have certain features...

bobtail (even if it's full length)
std size grips (thin grips feel weird)
checkering/snakeskin/etc at least in the front of the grip (but not too aggressive)
single tactical thumb safety (not wide, or ambi)
grip safety
4.25" commander or 5" government size
sviguns interlocking flat triggers
skeletonized hammer
.45ACP or 9mm

And of course NO TACTICAL RAIL, or full length guide rods.

What are your "must have" or "never have" features?

[Samboard]

I am very eclectic in my 1911's. I have a full rail, half rail and a stainless trp. I have a colt defender and a dan wesson cco. I NEED a Springfield professional.

[glock2740]

Some pretty standard features I like are:
1. NO FCS!
2. Flush crowned barrel
3. Single side safety
4. Commander hammer
5. 3 hole trigger (even though I've warmed up to the Harrison Short Extreme, but really only black guns )
6. Rounded butt, unless there's a magwell
7. Like bobtails on Commander sized guns
8. Been gravitating towards flush cut slide stops (alot of guns have them and ALL new guns have been and will be coming with this)
9. Night sights (but am willing to try a gold bead soon)
10. Slim bushings and grips
11. Some kind of golfball/checkering/stippling, etc. on the front strap (hate a smooth front strap)
12. Same on the MSH as the front strap
13. Combat sights (even though I have several guns with adjustable target sights) But I do like adjustable combat sights
14. HARD CHROME! Bet you guys didn't see that one coming. Actually I also like black finishes too, as long as they are durable and am a huge fan of NP3/NP3+ as well as stainless
15. Not a rail fan, but I see one and only one, in my future, but just can't decide which one to get
16. Naked slide

I guess those of you have seen several of the 1911's in my collection kinda already know what I like.

[NeverMore1701]

Originally Posted by glock2740

1. No FCS
2. Flush crowned barrel
3. Single side safety
4. Commander hammer
5. Medium or short solid curved trigger
6. Rounded butt, unless there's a magwell
7. Flush cut slide stop
8. Combat style night sights
9. Standard grips
10. Frontstrap checkering
11. Same on the MSH as the front strap
12. Durable black finish
13. No rail
14. As few and unobtrusive roll marks as possible.
15. Good melt job
16. No radical slide cuts
17. Flat MSH
18. Crisp, 4ish pound trigger
19. Internal extractor
20. Lowered & flared ejection port
21. High cut trigger guard.

Stole and modified your list, saved me from having to type it all out

Not must haves as much as a good wish list.

[TxGlock9]

Originally Posted by glock2740

Some pretty standard features I like are:
1. NO FCS!
2. Flush crowned barrel
3. Single side safety
4. Commander hammer
5. 3 hole trigger (even though I've warmed up to the Harrison Short Extreme, but really only black guns )
6. Rounded butt, unless there's a magwell
7. Like bobtails on Commander sized guns
8. Been gravitating towards flush cut slide stops (alot of guns have them and ALL new guns have been and will be coming with this)
9. Night sights (but am willing to try a gold bead soon)
10. Slim bushings and grips
11. Some kind of golfball/checkering/stippling, etc. on the front strap (hate a smooth front strap)
12. Same on the MSH as the front strap
13. Combat sights (even though I have several guns with adjustable target sights) But I do like adjustable combat sights
14. HARD CHROME! Bet you guys didn't see that one coming. Actually I also like black finishes too, as long as they are durable and am a huge fan of NP3/NP3+ as well as stainless
15. Not a rail fan, but I see one and only one, in my future, but just can't decide which one to get
16. Naked slide

I guess those of you have seen several of the 1911's in my collection kinda already know what I like.

I agree with all that except the hardchrome.

[jwhite75]

I just bought my first and went back and forth between a traditional TRP and the Operator with a rail. I ended up settling on the things I liked on th eOperator that werent on the regular TRP.

My next one will be a Springfield Professional

[Ruggles]

I agree no FCS or slim grips for me. Other than that I am diverse in my appreciation of the platform.

Some of you guys are 1911 "featurist", you should be ashamed

[Veedubklown]

Sorry guys, but I have my own ideas of what makes a great 1911...

• 9mm
• no front cocking serrations (again)
• Ambi safety (lefty)
• GI length guide rod (I've seen FLGRs fail. Come apart on the range.)
• round butt or bobtail
• night sights or something visible, prefer solids to adjustable.
• I like flush/crowned muzzles, but not a necessity.
• Wide fitted grip safety
• clean slide/rail/ejector fit
• no rail! Just ruins the lines of a beautiful front end. Also, no Hi-power cuts.

[PawDog]

No rail, no FCS, wood grip panels only, and always .45 ACP for me.

[bac1023]

I only buy them in 45ACP with full size grips and barrels between 4" and 5".

[58duck]

Originally Posted by bac1023

I only buy them in 45ACP with full size grips and barrels between 4" and 5".

i'm relatively new to 1911's . . .
my requirements include:
brushed stainless steel
full sized wood grips
adjustable target sights
no rail
5" barrel
.45ACP

[TN.Frank]

Commander Size 4.25" barrel
lowered and flared ejection port
Good sights like Novak
Flat Main Spring Housing
Long Trigger
Beveled Mag Well
Nice Wooden Grips

Beaver Tail Grip Safety
Commander Hammer
or
Standard Spur Hammer and Grip Safety that's been
Bobbed back enough so I don't get hammer bite.
That's about it. Nice and Simple the way JMB designed it.

[20South]

I dont have many true requirements for me to own a specific 1911, I have a lot of preferences. I guess mandatory are

Internal Extractor
Single Sided Safety
Combat Sights
4.25" barrel or larger
.45acp

I would say that is "jacks to open".

I dont hate all rollmarks, no hard requirement on finish, have stainless and carbon steel guns I love, FCS is not a religion for me, only wanted rails on my plastics - until I didn't.

I love the platform and all of the different things you can do to it. It would kind of be pointless to have a whole bunch of different pistols all built exactly the same way hanging out in my safe. That's the beauty of the 1911.

[JK-linux]

.....

[dakrat]

Must have:
internal extractor
lowered & flared ejection port
no less than 4.25" barrel

I prefer:
front strap checkering no less than 25 LPI
non-stainless
plain black rear sight
short trigger
trigger pull of 4.25 lbs or less
flat MSH

Would love to have:
high cut trigger guard

[cangler]

You guys reminded me a few I missed, edited my list.

[Wyoming]

I'm a lefty so an abidextrious safety is a must. Don't like or own barrels shorter than Commanders and no need for longer than what JMB designed 5".

I could do without full length guide rods, especially ones that need a wrench or paper clip to disassemble but not a deal breaker.

None of mine have rails and I don't plan to add one.

Life is too short to have guns with bad triggers so all of my 1911's break clean!

[seanmac45]

For me;

Front cocking serrations
Novak night sights (bar dot or just dot up front)
No front strap checkering
Nothing shorter than 4" barrel
Black T finish or Stainless
Single side safety
Silver soldered plunger tube
3.75 lb. trigger
Long trigger
Flat checkered mainspring housing
Crimson Trace lasergrips

[rahrah12]

The only things I don't like are FCS and ambi-safeties.

I also don't really like rails.

[3rdgen40]

I like all 1911's.

[dragbike]

Originally Posted by 3rdgen40

I like all 1911's.

[okie]

I'm not keen to Ambi safety's and light rails

[1911ES]

[faawrenchbndr]

1911's are like (.Y.)
They're all good, some are just better than others.

[seanmac45]

(.Y.) are better than 1911's but they both are good.