My S&W .45 1911

[TomD]

I've had this a few years but decided to see what sort of photo I could take of it. I like this shot. I did clone the serial out of the shot.

[obilly]

Tom,,, that sure is a B U T ,,,,I just love SS......

[Dvorak]

I soo need a 1911...

[gpond]

Is that a pro shop version? It seems to have some nice features. Nice looking gun and pic!

[voodoo1951]

Nice pic and a sweet lookin' Pistol...

[TomD]

I bought this pistol sometime in the middle of the decade directly through a S&W rep with whom I shoot a few times a year at competitions. The deal did go through a shop for paperwork. It had received some extra attention. The trigger is especially sweet but S&W has long specialized in the best triggers in pistoldom. I've got a Mod 19 Combat Special 357 revolver with a trigger made in mechanical heaven: buttery smooth, light, crisp. I've got some competition custom built rifles with custom triggers costing $300 (just for the trigger). I swear the Mod 19 trigger meets or exceeds the custom jobs in feel. You would have to feel a Jewell or Kelbley's trigger to know what a compliment that is. When those triggers let off, there is no movement at all, just a slight pressure followed by a sensation like a 1/64" glass rod breaking, instant, crisp. If you've never shot anything but factory stuff, you have no idea. Especially military look alike stuff. Compared to a truly good trigger it would be like going from a Ferrari Enzo to a clapped out 1976 Cadillac with no shocks, bald tires and no brakes.

Here's what one reviewer thinks of S&W 1911's http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2...ge-report.html

[gpond]

Stipling on the front strap, Tom. Not at all sure that is standard. Nice piece, nice story.

[JEKYLL-7]

In a word, SEXY.

[shades]

Get two matching ones...

[C&L 1911]

I like S&W guns, but still can't stand those fugly external extractors. It just ruins the lines of a 1911 for me.

[Haole]

Now that is lovely and well-presented, love wood grips.

[TomD]

I like S&W guns, but still can't stand those fugly external extractors. It just ruins the lines of a 1911 for me.

That's patterned after a Mauser claw type extractor, a type of extractor used on every serious dangerous big game bolt rifle made. When it simply has to work-----

[C&L 1911]

That's patterned after a Mauser claw type extractor, a type of extractor used on every serious dangerous big game bolt rifle made. When it simply has to work-----

The 1911 was originally designed with an internal extractor, and it has worked just fine for 100 years. External extractor on a 1911 is a solution in search of a problem, and it was introduced for only one reason - to make 1911s easier and less expensive to mass produce.

[TomD]

It may or may not make it easier to make, beyond my area of expertise. But I remember the first competition rifle I had made using a trued and worked over Remington 700 action as the base. The smith who built it for me insisted in cutting the bolt and installing a Sako style extractor for reliability. The Sako extractor is an external type, somewhat smaller than a Mauser pattern and looks quite a lot like the extractor on the AR bolt shown below. I equate this general extractor type with reliability. Got a Glock sitting right in front of me as I type this, what do you know? It has an external extractor. Just dug up some pictures of H&K 45's, you know the ones selected for use by the Special Forces after a WHOLE bunch of testing? Take a guess as to the type of extractor on those.

I sure as hell got no problem with the extractor on my Smith but then again I'm not a purist.

Beauty (or the lack of) is in the eye---

[voodoo1951]

Functionality wins in my book every time...Personally, I don't care what the configuration is, just so long as it works. That is paramount. I don't see the extractor ruining the lines of the pistol in the least. I will have to side w/ you "TD" on this one...It's still a looker..."VD51"

[Ag107]

That is one beautiful 1911.
Mmm, mmm, mmm,