Baer makes a great gun and will have more “hand fitment” than the others you’ve mentioned. Their CS is…well…
I know they are not in the price range of the Wilson, but I just bought a Wesson VBOB and a Wesson Specialist and have fallen for them. I have never owned a Wilson,Nighthawk or Baer. The closest I have had is a Colt Special Combat from the Colt custom shop. It was a great gun but I would hands down take the Wesson’s.
I have had two TRP’s and probably 5 Kimber’s including Warriors and SIS and an original K. I thought long and hard about buying 1 Wilson Supergrade or the pair that I did buy and some ammo to enjoy them. I know I would never have shot the Supergrade.
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Can’t go wrong with a WC.
I want to hop in here for several reason… I will start by saying I have owned well over 15 semi custom 1911’s. From all the big names so I feel like what I am about to say should carry some weight. First of all I want to get the Customer Service thing out of the way. Wilson DOES NOT have the customer service everyone is hyping… Actually, IMO Wilsons customer service is brutal. In the last year I have went from Bri to Steve Kelly, to Tressa… they are all really nice but, in terms of the service provided, its not very good. I can get into specifics with that if you all would like but, again… Saying Wilson Combat has the best customer service is laughable to me. Since I have had 4 Wilsons I have had issues with in the last year and a half I can 100% conclude its not a gun specific issue. As far as warrenty… again, not the best in the world. I have had several issues with “warranty” on my pistols… and guess who pays for those things? ME… not Wilson. Again, Im happy to give examples of all this stuff if asked.
Onto thoughts on the firearms themself. I really do like all of my Wilsons but, I would say that my Nighthawk pistols are better… I have not had an issue with any of my hawks. Right there with them would be Crafter. I own 1 crafter and have to say, I am more than impressed with it…
Baer and Brown are a notch under those three but, it was a Kobra carry that got me into the higher end semi custom pistols… I will always love that and honestly, I have never had an issues with either of the Browns I have. I personally like my Baers as well but finish and trigger leave something to be desired for me.
Once you hit the 3K price point, its in my opinion that you should give guys like Lou Biando (BEC) or Brandan Bunker (Bunker Arms) a call. They are just north of your price point but, the gun will be made by them for you. No assembly line crap and only using the highest quality parts. You can also get into an SVI (not STI) for just under 4K if speced correctly. I would take any of those three over any of the semi-custom guns.
If it came off as me bashing Wilson, I am not. They are really, really nice pistols… just not what they were at one time. And for the money, you can get a better buy or for a bit more money a full custom 1911. Thats 100% the route I am going as I will be selling every single one of my semi custom 1911’s in the next few months.
go check out the thread on Wilson cqb vs Springfield Professional from a page back
If you want a Wilson, then that’s what you should buy. Period. After you get it, if it’s not all you expected, it won’t be hard to sell. If, on the other hand, you get anything else you’ll be wondering if you made the wrong choice for a long time.
That’s a solid point
Indeed. The heart wants what it wants.
I use and recommend Wilson Combat and I’ve never had to apologize to anyone for that - my reputation speaks for itself in this business
I would also warn you to be careful about what you read on the Internet and on forums like this - take it with a grain of salt unless you can verify the source ; hiding behind a screen name seals it for me - disregard and ignore
No doubt about it, your endorsement (along with Ken Hackathorn’s) of Wilson, along with the videos you’ve put out, are what have swayed me into the Wilson camp. The line about them being the only 1911’s that regularly make it through a course with little to no issues sealed it for me.
I agree with this, but if your post was directed at me, I am only giving feedback on my dealing with Wilson. You may also want to consider that when you call and say “This is Larry Vickers” the tone of the convo will change vs me calling and saying “this is Bobby Cundiff”. You sir are given pistols by Wilson often (or maybe you buy them) regardless of the case you better bet before you receive it it’s gonna be perfect. I don’t think I can claim that.
Again, Wilson is a great gun… So don’t take that as me bad mouthing the company. I voiced a concern… But, there is a reason I still own over 7 of them.
To the OP, If you like and want a Wilson, get a a Wilson… Odds are it’s going to run flawlessly!!!
In the $3K range, Wilson would be my top choice with the possible exception of Guncrafter…but this is only because I already own a couple Wilsons and would love to have GI gun. Wilson’s quality is excellent and their service is even better. With that said, they are by no means perfect. Nobody is. I have two CQB’s, one in 45 ACP and the other in 9mm. Both guns had problems out of the box and had to go back. The 9mm went back 3 times. It was to the point that Wilson said if they couldn’t fix it, they would build me a completely new gun. Fortunately it didn’t come to that. Like I said, nobody is perfect. But Wilson never balked. They paid for each and every trip back and there is zero doubt in my mind that they would have built me a brand new gun if they needed to.
Is Wilson the best in this price range? I don’t really know. At this level, things are very subjective. They’re certainly in the very top tier. But you would be hard pressed to find a company with better service. And I can’t imagine that you would be unhappy with one of their pistols. However, only you can decide if the price is worth the difference between a Wilson and a DW Valor. Value is a very subjective thing.
For me, two $1750 1911s makes more sense than one $3000 pistol. I remain confused why one must spend $2000 to convert a $1000 1911 into a nice workable pistol. Having been a 1911 shooter for 45 years, I do know that it’s best to have one to use(carry, home defense)and one to shoot, which at one point will require work by a gun smith.
S&W and Glock spend millions on customer service repairing pistols that accept drop in parts. Outfits selling custom 1911s must service a handgun that is labor intensive to produce and repair and uses premium parts. This fact and their being small, privately owned companies very likely determine customer service policies.
Larry, since when have you been a fan of wilsons?..It is your dang videos thay are making me think long and hard about another SA professional and possibly the change to the wilson.
I’d say he’s been a fan for awhile…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwzM2G9AFCE
http://wilsoncombat.com/new/what-experts-say.asp
http://blog.wilsoncombat.com/calibers/45-acp/vickers-tactical-supergrade-by-wilson-combat-a-closer-look/
http://vickerstactical.com/tactical-tips/faqs-with-larry-vickers/ (See FAQ #6)
I’m sure there’s more too.
I guess some people don’t catch Internet sarcasm.
OK, I’ll chime in. Buy the Wilson. I have six: A Protector that has gone to Gunsite multiple times. It is going back there this June. The only thing it has choked on was IMI 230-gr. ball from a lot/shipment that had spotty crimp and it will not feed Fiocchi 200-gr. JHPs. Everything else runs fine in it. I also have CQB, an early plain vanilla 1996A2, a Millennium 2000, and a 9x19 CQB Elite that runs like a champ.
I have had a couple of Les Baers (a TRS and a Concept ? two-tone Commander) and a 5" Ed Brown Kobra; finding them lacking. The only non-Wilson 1911s i now own are Colts and a Springer that have been massaged by master top-tier 'smiths whose names and exemplars have graced the front pages of your favorite gun rags AND one lone DW Valor Bobtail because Wilson Combat doesn’t build a true Commander-length pistola. It runs like a Wilson, too (although my new favorite is a pristine (very rare) all chrome Pachmayer Combat Special on a Combat Commander, which makes it even rarer).
Wilson’s customer service is second to none. The only other 1911 I would like to own is a Springfield Professional with a rail - but the DW railed 1911 looks attractive, too. George at migunslingers.com is where I got my 9mm CQB Elite.
Hey SkyViking,
The above reply IS Completely Worthless without PICTURES… Joking ofcourse 
But Can I maybe spark you into posting pictures of them? I Hope… 
I’m sure besides myself, others here would LOVE to see them! 
Peace Jeff
I’m not. Post pics or be banished forever lol
Skyviking, all I want to see is the PCS