[lone star defender]

In market for a 1911. I have a RIA GS and am looking for a compact 1911 for CCW. LGS has a Dan Wesson Eco (about $1500) that i got to fondle. It is a beautiful example of true craftsmanship. The action is like butter.

That being said, is the quality and performance worth that much more money than a Kimber or a Colt?

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Never owned a Dan Wesson, but I never heard a bad word about them either...

 

[TomChemEngineer]

I never met a 1911 that I didn't like, I think, but I am drawn to the lower priced models. The higher priced models are pretty and shiny and have exotic grips and great appeal, but I am more of a "function" guy. friends have the high end ones and I like to look at them and rack them and assume the position and all, but I am pretty frugal and go with the highest quality, longest lasting, lowest priced models that I can get. Quality has to be there before anything else. I would take the money I save on buying the basic models and put it on a laser or really good sights... just me.

 

[*Paladin*]

DW's are just about on par with Les Baer's pistols, IMHO. They have ZERO MIM parts in them, and are very well fitted. Kimber and current Colt's, on the other hand, have a lot of MIM parts in them (slide stop, thumb safety, hammer, sear, disconnector, etc.).

 

[manisonenmi]

in my opinion:
Dan Wesson, Les Bauers, etc = BMW 550 $55,000.00
Kimber, Colt= BMW 325 $40,000.00
RIA, Paras, etc (any others in the $400.00-$800 price range) = Honda Accord $25,000.00
They will all do the job, some have more flash than other. But if the point is getting to point A to Point B, without breaking down then the Honda Accord is the best buy (think RIA, Para, S&W, Remington, Springfield)..If the objective is not only getting from point A to B with style and flash the go with the more expensive stuff. I own 3 paras (2 full size) and one 3", a 4.5" kimber and a citadel 4"..Enjoy all of them and would not feel under gunned with anyone of them.

 

[Wild Bill H]

Dan Wesson makes a very nice, well fitted 1911. Much better value than a Kimber. It drives me nuts that for the money Kimber charges, they could at least grind of the mold lines on their parts. Sheeeeeshhh!!

 

[sky walker]

I second that what you get out of a dan wesson is a better than a kimber but check out sigs
I recently got a tac ops with rail.... I freaking love it my sig shot with my ed brown and throws my kimber out the window.....

 

[Skyjump136]

Dan Wesson is widely considered by many to be the best production 1911 currently offered. There's a good amount of hand fitting and zero MIM parts as mentioned above. You won't find a better functioning 1911 on the market.

Custom guns will have more hand fitting and may "look cooler" but they won't necessarily function better than a DW or Les Baer. So yes I think Dan Wesson is "worth it" considering you could pay 5X more and get a gun that doesn't do anything markedly better.

 

[Jungle Work]

I have a Wesson Bob Tail Stainless Commander in .45acp. Wouldn't leave home without it.

Never had a problem with it. I use Wilson 47Ds and E-lite Tactical Mags with it.

Jungle Work

 

[saskcop]

I have a Colt and a Remmy. Would love to have a DW. Fit and finish on those pieces is really something. Also, any excuse for another 1911 - especially if it were a chance to own a top shelf one.

 

[KCFirepower]

Yes, they are worth the money.

 

[ROCK6]

I have a Wesson Bob Tail Stainless Commander in .45acp. Wouldn't leave home without it.

Never had a problem with it. I use Wilson 47Ds and E-lite Tactical Mags with it.

Jungle Work

Same here. I bought mine as my "redeployment" gift from Iraq back in 2007 for just under 1K and it's been flawless and extremely accurate; only 47D mags are used.



It's my "cold-weather" gun, but carries very comfortably.

ROCK6

 

[Ozone Crusade]

I'm a 1911 guy (own Colt's, SA, NHC, S&W, & Kimber) and my 10mm 1911 is a DW. Yes, it is worth every penny of what I paid for it.:thumb: