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Wilsons???

4K views 55 replies 23 participants last post by  Jim Watson 
#1 ·
I have decided to buy myself an early Christmas gift and get a high-end 1911. I have looked at, shot a Wilson, Les B. Cabot, Nighthawk, top of the products from the big guys.

I found I really liked the 2 Wilson's I shot. I want Series 70 style guns and full size. Wilson owners any down sides? Other people with different guns please throw in.
 
#7 ·
"Series 70" style?

None of the big boys use firing pin safeties, so that's a given. Don't insult them with Colt terminology. ;)

Yes, Wilsons are great. I own a couple myself. Good luck in your search. :cool:
Bac, I stand corrected. I used the term as a bastardized description of no firing pin safety.

What Wilsons do you have? Do you carry them or just in your collection?
 
#8 ·
Wilson makes a great 1911. I've got 8 of them and came really close to adding #9 this past weekend. ;)
But like mentioned above, Guncrafter makes a great 1911. I had 6 and am down to 4 now. Only sold the two because I made money on the deals and it was helping fund other projects.
Also look at Nighthawk. I've got 5 and they're great. Own a couple of Baers and a Brown too. So I guess you can see which ones I lean towards. But they're all great guns.
Good luck in your search. :)
 
#14 ·
I hear you. This is kind of a different Christmas for us. We have either had kids in college, taking Christmas trips with the family. Now we don't have anymore of either expense, so we are each spending the money on what both of us want just for ourselves.

I really want a great 1911 for my gift. So I am indulging myself.
 
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#16 ·
No I did not, but it shoots like I thought it would. Its a great pistol.
So out of the 2 which would be your first choice? I mostly carry Glocks & revolvers. But I have some nice rigs and have carried 1911's since I was much younger.

What do you EDC?
 
#18 ·
Personally, I would Never spend that kind of $ on a 1911, But, if I did, I would have to go with an Ed Brown...just one man's opinion

Personally, I'd never spend over $40k on a vehicle, but MANY, many people do.
I do not limit the safety of my loved ones by the cost of a pistol. I carry what I shoot well, not what cost the least.

OP,

You will not be disapointed with a Wilson
 
#19 ·
My viewpoint is more limited than others in this thread in that I don't own Guncrafter, Ed Brown or Les Baer pistols.

What I do own are three Wilsons; CQB Elite, CQB Commander and Bill Wilson Carry model. They are my favorite carry pistols and I wouldn't part with any of the three.

Good luck on your acquisition.
 
#23 ·
My viewpoint is more limited than others in this thread in that I don't own Guncrafter, Ed Brown or Les Baer pistols.

What I do own are three Wilsons; CQB Elite, CQB Commander and Bill Wilson Carry model. They are my favorite carry pistols and I wouldn't part with any of the three.

Good luck on your acquisition.
Those are nice guns. So you can carry where you are Brooklyn? I was born in NY and moved very young to W.VA
 
#22 ·
The was my feeling as well with the Wilson models. I do want to look into an Ed Brown. I am still bouncing around the idea of having one custom made using one of my Colt Mil-specs as the foundation, then making it with what I want on a gun.
 
#26 · (Edited)
I have decided to buy myself an early Christmas gift and get a high-end 1911. I have looked at, shot a Wilson, Les B. Cabot, Nighthawk, top of the products from the big guys.

I found I really liked the 2 Wilson's I shot. I want Series 70 style guns and full size. Wilson owners any down sides? Other people with different guns please throw in.
Why isn't Kimber on your list? :rolleyes::D:eek:
 
#28 ·
I currently own a CQB Elite. I had a CQB before it. Wilson's are great guns but like any object with a lot of hand work the quality can vary from piece to piece. The good news is that if something isn't right Wilson will stand behind their work 100% including shipping costs both ways.

Here's some more advice that I hope helps you out. Don't buy direct from Wilson because you'll pay MSRP. Go through a discounting dealer such as George at http://www.migunslingers.com as you will save several hundred bucks. You can shop the guns on Wilson's website and if you like one a dealer like George can order it for you and discount it too.

The Supergrade isn't worth the extra $1,800. They are no more accurate or reliable than any of their other guns. The extra cost of the Supergrade comes from the fact that only Wilson's senior gunsmith's are permitted to build them. BTW, there is a 3+ year wait for one too. When compared side by side to their other guns the main difference is that the tool marks on the Supergrade are fully removed from the inside of the pistol. Most of the tool marks are removed from the inside of the CQB series guns. There have been threads on forums comparing Supergrades to non-Supergrades and in some cases the non-Supergrade was actually nicer. This goes back to what I said above that any hand made object can vary in quality.

Finally, don't get sucked into the 9mm 1911 craze. Wilson is pushing this heavily. 9mm 1911's can be very picky when it comes to ammo type. I know three guys that sold their Wilson 9mm 1911's because they couldn't get them to run 100% reliably. If you want an all steel 9mm handgun then buy a platform that was designed from the ground up to shoot 9mm like the Beretta 92 or the Browning High Power. Stick with 45 ACP when it comes to the 1911.
 
#29 ·
I currently own a CQB Elite. I had a CQB before it. Wilson's are great guns but like any object with a lot of hand work the quality can vary from piece to piece. The good news is that if something isn't right Wilson will stand behind their work 100% including shipping costs both ways.

Here's some more advice that I hope helps you out. Don't buy direct from Wilson because you'll pay MSRP. Go through a discounting dealer such as George at http://www.migunslingers.com as you will save several hundred bucks. You can shop the guns on Wilson's website and if you like one a dealer like George can order it for you and discount it too.

The Supergrade isn't worth the extra $1,800. They are no more accurate or reliable than any of their other guns. The extra cost of the Supergrade comes from the fact that only Wilson's senior gunsmith's are permitted to build them. BTW, there is a 3+ year wait for one too. When compared side by side to their other guns the main difference is that the tool marks on the Supergrade are fully removed from the inside of the pistol. Most of the tool marks are removed from the inside of the CQB series guns. There have been threads on forums comparing Supergrades to non-Supergrades and in some cases the non-Supergrade was actually nicer. This goes back to what I said above that any hand made object can vary in quality.

Finally, don't get sucked into the 9mm 1911 craze. Wilson is pushing this heavily. 9mm 1911's can be very picky when it comes to ammo type. I know three guys that sold their Wilson 9mm 1911's because they couldn't get them to run 100% reliably. If you want an all steel 9mm handgun then buy a platform that was designed from the ground up to shoot 9mm like the Beretta 92 or the Browning High Power. Stick with 45 ACP when it comes to the 1911.
Thanks that is some good info and I live about an hour from Milford...Good to know there is a guy in my area that does that.
 
#38 ·
Les Baers are dirty workhorses of the bunch. Very old school.
 
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#43 ·
The more I think on this, I am really thinking of having the gun custom built.
 
#45 ·
Get the Wilson CQB spec'd out how you want it. Wilson makes a top notch gun and has great customer service if you should need it. No need for a supergrade IMO, unless you want it and have the extra cash. All the current production guns are built with bulletproof parts.

Have them fit an extra extractor with our order if you want spare parts. Definitely give George at migunslingers.com a call if you are in Michigan.....he will hook you up.

Congrats in advance. You will love it.
 
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