Has Dawson Precision stopped production of their M1911 Surefire rail? Their webpage is blank for weapon mounted light and from what I’ve been able to find via the google-machine is that it is out of production?
If it is truly out of production, what would be the next best option for adding a Surefire X300 to a non-railed M1911?
The Novak looks awfully bulky.
What about Surefire’s rail adapter?
In June I emailed them about this and this was their response.
“The rails are temporally discontinued for redesign.”
No date was given for the new ones.
Well that’s no good. 
I’ve been tracking down some of the last ones to leave Dawson, but it sounds like any further one are going to be custom one-offs, and not the affordable nearly drop-in solution unless Dawson re-releases these.
They are indeed, no more… Caspian has an offering… Ron
http://www.caspianarms.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CAL&Category_Code=AA01
Glad I built mine when I did! Nothing compares to the compact nature and look of the Dawson. It’s the only rail I like on a 1911. Sad to see it’s gone
Very unhappy with this. I was just gearing up to order one.
look here
http://www.grizzlycustom.com/parts_1911.html
and here
http://www.10-8forums.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=98071&page=1
Or you could just order one of these…
http://www.surefire.com/MR07-Mounting-Rail
Want to take a guess why dawson stopped making them…
I ran into this a few months ago when I tried to get one from Dawson. The reply I got was a big fat NO! It looks like 10-8 is about pick up the slack. I’d like to see that.
Thanks for the link to the Caspian rail. Never seen that one.
Steve @ MARS Armament just announced they will be making a bolt on rail compatible with Dawson components, check their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/MARS-Armament-Inc/240634385152
That’s good to know. I figured there still has to be a demand. After seeing the Caspian, I found this… I’ll pass.
I’m glad to see that the Morrisons are rolling out with one. Hilton’s Yam’s assessment is still right on - for a dual-purpose 1911 that can be used from CCW in a standard leather holster to a lighted tactical pistol riding in a kydex ALS holster is just impressive… As good as models like the CRG and MCO/LWO are, if I’m going to go through the effort to reboot my 45ACP platform I might as well go M&P at this point.
This lets me buy Baer TRS/UCP/CC pistols off the used market and make my own replica 10-8 pistols for around what NHC wanted when they were new.
My thoughts exactly.
That looks promising. I wonder if they will just sell the part? I don’t need to send my frame in for work, I can install the rail myself. I think an email may be in order…
Thanks for that information.
I’ve been looking at those but was concerned about holster availability. I’m just a dude(non LEO/MIL) and didn’t necessarily want to have to go the Safariland route for a range/hunting holster.
And why do you think(or know) why Dawson stopped making the rail? I figured they had the market cornered on it and they seemed to be in demand, so I’d be curious as to why they’d stop making them.
Just my opinion but the DLR is obsolete now that there are railed frames available. When I was talking with a few well respected builders about a project they recommended to not use the DLR just because of the new frames being available. As strong as the Dawson is, it is not as strong as a frame built for the same purpose.
It’s not obsolete if you have a perfectly functioning 1911 that you trust that doesn’t have a rail on it. The finances don’t even compare between a quality rail installation vs an entirely new pistol.
Agreed… and it fits many standard holsters, is lower profile than railed frames and some of us like the way it looks better on a classic styled pistol. I much prefer it:)
I wouldn’t put it up against a steel railed frame in a nail driving contest, but I can run mine in a VM2 as a CCW pistol, then slap an X300 or IMPL on it and use it out of a Safariland holster, and go back as needed. It IS more compact for IWB CCW, though marginally at most, but being able to take a pistol that to me is a known entity and have the presence of a weaponlight be really an option is great.