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My Opinion About Wilson Combat

9K views 138 replies 36 participants last post by  SpringerTGO 
#1 ·
As I've stated several times in the past I really like Wilsons but I've also mentioned that, in my opinion, they were a bit over-priced and Wilson thinks all their parts are made of gold. Quality is not cheap and they have spent a boatload of money over the last fifteen years to tool up and produce their own parts, very high quality parts. I can remember years ago when some of their lower end models used MIM including some critical parts such as the hammer and sear.

Thanks to Kimber and their crappy MIM, in the early years, people started to wonder why the hell does my expensive Wilson 1911 have these MIM parts in it. Wilson said screw you, even though the parts were good parts, we'll just start using some tool steel parts and raise the price $400. That was a long time ago.

I came across this thread earlier today and it was quite the eye opener. Again I think Wilson is one of the premier semi custom 1911s and have shot several. But if I had just spent $6K on this Supergrade I would certainly wonder what the hell has this market come to. It's a long read but the awesome pictures really tell the story. Thoughts.



https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=497792&highlight=extreme+engineering
 
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#71 ·
I think that my ed brown is excellent in parts and fit and function. It is prettier and such over my les Baer pistol. The les Baer is well finished with great parts and it works perfectly. I have a couple custom 1911's made piece by piece that I selected and finished by a master pistol builder, expensive but a cool experience.

I have had issues with the Wilson shop , not happy with the results and lack of trying to address problems by them. No interest in fixing a problem they created. I do think Wilson makes good quality guns, but they are very overpriced these days. The CQB is a great 2000 dollar pistol, not a great 3500 dollar pistol.

I would agree with bac that a Springfield pro or TGO- 1 would be awesome and far ahead of any Wilson pistol they offer in my mind.

Every pistol and every person have a price point. Getting what works for you is the goal.
 
#73 ·
The CQB is a great 2000 dollar pistol, not a great 3500 dollar pistol.
Quite agree. In recent years the pricing has rapidly ballooned out of sight...definitely out of line with what you're getting today.

I would have no issues buying a used Wilson x-tac or professional or even a CBQ if it came at a reasonable price. I don't have a problem with the guns being junk, I just don't think that these days they are a good value.
Yep. The guns are good guns, but the pricing does not give a good value.
 
#76 · (Edited)
A business strategy to maximize sales and profit is this: when you're routinely selling your flagship, top-of-the-line products, you need to create new, more expensive, top-of-the-line products. And then gradually increase the price of other models in the line, as the market will bear.

Then, continue doing this process until you reach a point where your highest priced model is not selling, or not selling much.

If people are buying the most expensive product you create, you can create and offer another product, even more expensive than that, to maximize sales and profit.

Wilson has been busy doing that.

Some buyers, those with little financial restraint, will always go to the most expensive, top of the line model, even if that product is outrageously priced and far beyond the point of diminishing returns to the buyer.

Bragging rights and other psychological factors are often what drive some buyers to that kind of purchasing behavior - going for the very top-of-the line product available. A business which wants to maximize revenue and profit will create a product or products to respond to that type of buyer.

Wilson has priced themselves far out of a certain higher volume segment of the market, but more than makes up for that with the super-premium price buyers.
 
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#77 ·
I bought one of Wilsons CQB a number of years ago. Atthe time I paid $1,800.00 for it which I thought was a lot at the time, but I must admit that its a high quality item and without a doubt is probably the best pistol in my collection. Is it worth it? Yes and no. Is a Lamborghini or Ferrari worth the price? If you've ever had the pleasure to own or drive one, you'll probably say yes. But of course, the argument can be made that it's only a car that will get you from point A to point B. That same argument can be made regarding a high-end pistol such as a Wilson or one of the other makers such as Nighthawk. I think that their stuff is getting a bit out of hand, though, and to be honest with you my Glock 30 shoots just as accurately as my Wilson CQB even though they are both two different animals as they say. That's why we have choices...
 
#78 ·
If people were to want a Wilson Combat then they have to pay extra for the WC tax regardless of whether or not the gun makes good value.

It's like buying Tiffany's jewelry. Is it that much better than Zales? Probably not, but if you want something that comes in the sky blue box then you gotta pay the T tax.
 
#80 ·
I think the real problem is that people only know what they know. You can't really say one is better than the other unless you truly spend time shooting and studying the details of the gun. I see them all almost daily and I can tell you there is a major difference between a colt, SA, Sig, S&W compared to a Wilson, Brown, Baer but then again you cannot compare a Wilson or Brown to a full custom build either and the prices are stating to get close to full custom prices. People need to disassemble some of these guns and compare all the details of how they're built.
MP
 
#82 ·
I think the real problem is that people only know what they know. You can't really say one is better than the other unless you truly spend time shooting and studying the details of the gun. I see them all almost daily and I can tell you there is a major difference between a colt, SA, Sig, S&W compared to a Wilson, Brown, Baer but then again you cannot compare a Wilson or Brown to a full custom build either and the prices are stating to get close to full custom prices. People need to disassemble some of these guns and compare all the details of how they're built.
MP
^^^ Well spoken.
 
#83 ·
And the price is what it is. If people don't like it, they can buy something else. Frankly, I've stopped complaining about certain products' prices and their value-to-cost.

If I like something and can afford it, and want it bad enough, I'll buy it and let the costs be damned.

If I don't, then I won't. I have zero interest in buying a Wilson or any M1911 made by anybody but Colt. I can easily afford the Wilson Super Grade or full out custom by a master craftsman. However, I won't do it because it doesn't interest me. But you won't hear me saying that these guns aren't worth the money or the prices are too high. They're worth it to somebody because apparently they're being sold and Wilson ain't in the poor house.

I think the real problem is that people only know what they know. You can't really say one is better than the other unless you truly spend time shooting and studying the details of the gun. I see them all almost daily and I can tell you there is a major difference between a colt, SA, Sig, S&W compared to a Wilson, Brown, Baer but then again you cannot compare a Wilson or Brown to a full custom build either and the prices are stating to get close to full custom prices. People need to disassemble some of these guns and compare all the details of how they're built.
MP
 
#85 ·
And the price is what it is. If people don't like it, they can buy something else. Frankly, I've stopped complaining about certain products' prices and their value-to-cost.

If I like something and can afford it, and want it bad enough, I'll buy it and let the costs be damned.

If I don't, then I won't. I have zero interest in buying a Wilson or any M1911 made by anybody but Colt. I can easily afford the Wilson Super Grade or full out custom by a master craftsman. However, I won't do it because it doesn't interest me. But you won't hear me saying that these guns aren't worth the money or the prices are too high. They're worth it to somebody because apparently they're being sold and Wilson ain't in the poor house.
:goodpost:
 
#87 ·
Some people have a lot of money to burn. Paying a couple extra grand for something gives them a piece of mind that makes them happy even if the value is not there. These same people will make sure you know it's a Supergrade and not a Classic. Check wrist for Rolex. Wilson Combat and Cabot and all other retailers know this. Charge $10 for every $1 worth of actual added value above a certain price point. The buyer is not only paying extra for the brand name but is now being charged an additional fee for bragging rights to have the top tier of that brand. Reminds me of Cadillac Escalade owners.
 
#89 · (Edited)
I like the Escalade. But am just as happy with a Yukon Denali for a $15k-$20k, or so, savings. Even a fully-optioned Suburban/Tahoe is essentially the same vehicle, minus some doo-dads. Nothing wrong with buying any of them, of course.

I do love the exterior lighting on the Escalade... but you pay a pretty penny for that look and, for many thousands less, can drive the nearly equivalent Yukon Denali - minus the very cool Cadillac rear tail lights.
 
#93 ·
And the price is what it is. But you won't hear me saying that these guns aren't worth the money or the prices are too high. They're worth it to somebody because apparently they're being sold and Wilson ain't in the poor house.
I agree completely, you made your points very well.

I also have noticed that the Wilson guns seem to not get shot much. Not every one of course, but most of them In my opinion.

The people that I know that have purchased Wilson guns are well educated financially successful people that tend to own one gun or two that they use as a home defense pistol. They have maybe put a few rounds they their Wilson pistol when they bought it. They get status from the high priced gun. Somehow they feel that they can buy skill and marksman skills by spending money instead of hours of training and effort at the range. I don't know if they gain some amount of self confidence with the expensive gun or try to impress others that the high end gun does not require skill to operate.

By the way I see this with trap shooters all the time. Instead of more practice they buy a new gun. Or at least a very expensive one. I have a friend that always makes me laugh. He goes up against trap shooters with crazy expensive gun, he wears his duck hunting camo and uses his a400 camo beretta , he yells pull... then he clicks the round in and chamber shut and powders the clay targets. Drives the shooting jacket and 15 k gun shooters wild. It's just fun to watch.
 
#94 ·
I agree completely, you made your points very well.

I also have noticed that the Wilson guns seem to not get shot much. Not every one of course, but most of them In my opinion.

The people that I know that have purchased Wilson guns are well educated financially successful people that tend to own one gun or two that they use as a home defense pistol. They have maybe put a few rounds they their Wilson pistol when they bought it. They get status from the high priced gun. Somehow they feel that they can buy skill and marksman skills by spending money instead of hours of training and effort at the range. I don't know if they gain some amount of self confidence with the expensive gun or try to impress others that the high end gun does not require skill to operate.

By the way I see this with trap shooters all the time. Instead of more practice they buy a new gun. Or at least a very expensive one. I have a friend that always makes me laugh. He goes up against trap shooters with crazy expensive gun, he wears his duck hunting camo and uses his a400 camo beretta , he yells pull... then he clicks the round in and chamber shut and powders the clay targets. Drives the shooting jacket and 15 k gun shooters wild. It's just fun to watch.
I'm sure that those who own H&H shotguns and safari guns aren't world class shooters either. Yet they own guns that I can only fantasize about.
 
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