So, I got the chance to get my hands on one of his wonderful Advanced Fighting pistols, and am writing a report.
Anyway, this AFP is a bit of a snowflake, but I like it. (Edit: I have since been told that Dave now uses Wilsons, so no snowflake anymore). Dave usually either takes Colts or recommends Remsports for ground up builds. In this case he was trying out a Wilson frame/slide/barrel for a project. It works for me. I’ve always liked Wilson’s just enough to shoot them, not enough to want one. I don’t like all the fancy stuff, hate the sights, and the constant bilboarding on their guns. Dave and I had been emailing about a build for some time when I saw this one listed for sale (not yet complete) on his web site. So I snapped on it.
I actually didn’t want to make many changes to the pistol from it’s original specs. I liked them all. Dave’s particular attention to his fantastic scallops are great. The Berryhill Ultimate ignition parts are serious quality. The trigger is very clean break, with excellent reset. The beavertail is excellent fit and comfortable. All of the touches are really, really fantastic. I particularly like the front sight he did. He didn’t like the front that he got from wilson (they apparently have some weird setup for their fronts), so he took a stock Trijicon, serrated it, drilled it, and had them install the tritium with a very aggressive white ring up front.
I put 400 rounds through it so far and it fed everything fine (4 different ball, Ranger Talon 230 (RA45T) and Speer 230 GDHP(23966)). It shoots incredibly smoothly, and the scallops are for some reason equal grip, but better feeling than the other scalloped gun I’ve owned (Ed Brown Special Forces). I particularly like the extremely high cut front strap that the Wilson frames have. I’ve not seen any other frame cut that high. I also like the deep cuts behind the trigger that wilson does, they’re deeper than others. Truly the fit and finish of this gun is the finest I’ve owned. Everything perfect in detail. I’ve only owned “semi-custom” 1911’s, this is my first ground up custom from frame and slide.
I’m doing an advanced handgun tactics class soon, and also one of Hilton Yam’s 1911 classes in a couple of months, so I’ll update when I’ve got more time on this gun.
One funny side note, the gun was originally going to be parkerized and then painted with a coat similar to Wilson Armor Tuff. But I got an email 3 or 4 weeks ago from Dave saying, “I couldn’t bring myself to paint this gun. So I blued it. Take a look” and he attached a picture (he was still waiting on the front sight). Well waddya know, he was right. The picture said it. And when I picked it up, I was more convinced. The finish is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Very nice deep blue, without being polished shiny. I like the fact that Dave just went with it. Of course, if I’d pushed, he’d have put any finish I wanted on there, but sometimes a good smiff knows more about it than I do. That’s why they’re a smiff, and I’m just the dumb monkey that makes it go bang.
Overall: Accuracy was fine, shooting it was lovely, fit and finish top notch as you’d expect. I think Dave undercharges for his guns. I would expect similar work to go for $4000-$5000. I spoke to a Wilson rep who said that there were very few smiths that Wilson would honor their warranty on. I don’t think he was making an exclusive list, but he mentioned particularly Berryhill and Heirloom Precision. That’s good company right there from someone who knows a lot more than I do about 1911’s.
Dave himself was knowledgeable, accessible, and professional. I’d buy from him in a heartbeat. I just can’t wait that long because I’m too impatient.
The original specs:
Wilson Combat .45 ACP AFP (Advanced Fighting Pistol) 1911 with:
- Wilson Combat slide, frame & barrel
- Ultimate hammer, sear and disconnector
- 4 lb. trigger job
- Solid match trigger with permanent overtravel stop
- Heinie Ledge rear sight with tritium
- Dovetail tritium front sight with a white ring
- EGW thick barrel bushing with beveled edge, fit finger tight to the slide
- Muzzle cut flush with bushing and crowned
- Ultimate forged slide stop
- Tuned for reliability with a bar stock extractor and oversized firing pin stop
- Wilson bulletproof bar stock thumb safety.
- Wilson beavertail grip safety
- Beveled mag well
- Scallops on front strap
- Flat steel mainspring housing with scallops
- Lowered and flared ejection port
- Bar stock ejector tuned to allow ejection of a live round
- Bar stock plunger tube properly staked to the frame
- EGW hardened pin set
- Wolf 16 lb recoil spring and heavy duty firing pin spring
- Mil Tac black & gray G10 grips
- Chamfer on external edges while maintaining the original lines
- Matte blue finish
My review on points (Scale of 1-10)
- Grips: Score 9. Basic functional VZ’s diamond pattern, medium grip, good looking.
- Grip Screws: Score 10. Basic functional GI screws, nuff said. No hexes.
- Finish: Score 9 with a caveat. The bluing is perfect. Even, deep, lovely. We’ll have to see how it lives up to living and carrying daily in Portland, Oregon where it rains 8 months a year. Plus I seem to sweat more than anyone alive.
- Front and Back Strap: Score 9. Daves modified scallop treatment is excellent. Grippy, not too agressive on my girly hands.
- Frame Slide Blend: 10. perfect.
- Frame slide flit: Score 10: Tight but not crazy like Browns or Baers. Beautifully fit.
- Slide Stop: Score 8. The slide stop is nice kit, but the overlong lug caused me a bit of grief. Obviously Dave is fixing that. Dave also did a cut that eliminates any chance of idiot mark. Like that. I’ll probably upgrade it to a 9 when I get it back. I like the ledge.
- Thumb Safety: Score 9. It’s a fairly small, but easily accessed safety with good fitting, finish, positive motion and stops.
- Barrel and crown/bushing: Score 10. The EGW is nice. The barrel is well fit, cut/crown is perfect.
- Trigger: Score 9. Trigger is about as good as I’ve ever felt (this IS the most expensive 1911 I’ve owned). Crisp break, excellent reset.
- Sear/Disconnector/Hammer/firing pin: Score 10. Dave’s Ultimate parts are top notch here.
- Grip Safety: Score 9. It’s a comfortable safety with a slightly longer sweep than I’m used to. Finish and fitting perfect.
- High-cut/Bottom Trigger guard: Score 9. This actually isn’t a Berryhill thing, it’s a Wilson thing. But I really like it.
- Bevel: Score 9. All is good here.
- Feedway polish: Score 9.
- Port cut: Score 9. Nicely executed without being nuts.
- Front sight: Score 10. The custom sight with the heavy ring is lovely for a guy approaching “reading glasses” age.
- Rear sight: Score 9. Heinie Ledge sight. Until I got my Guncrafter No Name, this sight was a 10. But the GCI rear is my new gold standard.
- MSH: Score 9: Love Dave’s machine work. No lanyard loop. Good finish.
- Mag catch: Score 9: Smooth, no snagging, long tactical. Well finished and fit.
- Magwell bevel: Score 9: Perfect bevel on edges. Well done, no marks.
- Springs: 16lb recoil, 23 pound main, extra power firing pin. All seems good here.
PICS!
First pic next to a Guncrafter no name. you can see similar design philosophy. Is Dave’s stuff worth the premium of quite a bit more money? Hell yeah. Still, I’m keeping my GCI as one of my all time favorites.
