New SW1911 Pistols

It appears that Smith & Wesson has joined with Colt, Kimber and Springfield among others to produce a miniaturized version of the 1911 for concealed carry. The SW1911 PSc is a three inch scandium framed pistol available in any color you like as long as it's black. MSRP will be $1,264.00

The Officer's frame will also be available with a four and a quarter inch slide and barrel in a two tone version with wood grips. Smith is calling this version the SW1911 Compact ES, or extended slide. $1,264.00

Under the cover of non-descript stainless steel, a 9mm Government is available in the Pro Series SW1911. Stippled grips, wiggly slide serrations, and decent front strap checkering.... What's not to like?

SW1911 Recall

Smith & Wesson has launched a recall on SW1911 pistols with the serial numbers JRD0000 to JRD4750. The issue is the firing pin plunger in the slide. Follow the pdf file link or call 1-800-331-0852 for more information.

Edited to add: Old news..... as in the Lazarus effect.....

Pawn Shop Circuit: Another SW1911

I went by Neil's pawn shop today and I found a standard fixed sight Smith & Wesson 1911 among his wares. It was in great shape. It looked as though the past owner had ran a few rounds through it and put it away. The pistol was pristine.

It's slide had the later, more discrete laser applied markings. That was a good thing. It also had the original box, both magazines, and the documents. The only things that I didn't like about this pistol were the forward slide serrations and the zebra color scheme that S&W chose.

I turned over the price tag to see what Neil was wanting for the gun. $649. Quite a bit more than he was asking two years ago when I purchased my first SW1911 from him. I wasn't surprised. The pistol, which would sell for $750-800 new, was worth that.

Over the past two years or so, I have shot Smith and Wesson's version of John Moses' brainchild among my other 1911s. I was hesitant to take the plunge into SW1911s, even though the pistol was produced by a major manufacturer, simply because the external extractor gave me the heebie jeebies. Unlike other manufacturers who tried such an extractor in 1911s and failed, Smith & Wesson had a history of successful external extractors in their double action pistols. As a result, their external extractor in a 1911 works. Smith & Wesson 1911 pistols do have MIM parts. Some shooters see MIM as a step above bat guano, but there are well made MIM parts, and then there is crap. Kimber tried to go cheap and lost their stellar reputation to internet reports of failing MIM parts. Smith & Wesson continues to utilize top quality MIM parts. Having seen machined steel parts fail, MIM is a non-issue to me, as long as the parts are well made. Over all, I have found the 1911s from Smith & Wesson to be reliable, accurate and durable. In fact, if a person wants an updated 1911 with a beavertail and low profile sights, it is one of the best deals going.

I offered Neil $500 on the gun. "I'm only making thirty bucks on this one Xavier," he protested. I wasn't born yesterday. I know a haggling parry when I hear one. I started to say I would bring one of my SW1911s in for resale, but I have never lowered the price of a gun through argument. I asked Neil how firm his price was. "Sorry Xavier, I just put the gun out this morning. The price is firm. It will sell at that price," came the reply.

I looked the pistol over some more. Neil was right. At $650, it would sell. I thought about the Charter Arms Undercover I had missed out on last week. I thought about sending this pistol off to Jimmy Clark for a Meltdown. Another customer, a man I had seen at multiple gun shows, was loitering silently nearby. He was feigning interest in the MP3 players under the glass farther down. "Yep. At $650, it will sell," I told Neil. I handed the pistol back to him.

"How's about $140 on a lay away?" I asked as I reached for my wallet. As Neil banded up the pistol in it's box with my name on it, the loitering customer walked out the door without asking to see a thing.

The SW1911

I am a Colt fan when it comes to old slabsides. I suppose that will not change anytime soon. Over the past year, however, I have had the occasion to buy and shoot the SW1911 in several permutations. I originally bought into the gun as trade fodder to feed my Colt addiction. In the past year I have come to a conclusion.

The fellows in Springfield make a pistol that the fellows in Hartford should take a look at. The SW1911 is not the perfect 1911 pattern pistol, but it's a damned good one. Yes, it has an external extractor. Yes, it has a firing pin safety. Both of them work 100% too, so who cares? The pistol does contain MIM small parts, but they are good MIM parts, not cheap stuff. Metal injection molded small parts are here to stay in affordable firearms. If the manufacturing process is done right, the parts are durable. The SW1911 pistols do have some fitting issues, mainly on the grip tangs and the beavertail, but then, they are a mass produced product. I have addressed these issues, and discussed the modifications I made to the guns in the range reports linked below.

Over the past year, I have shot these pistols.......a lot. I have ridden them hard and sometimes put them away dirty and wet. I have put God knows how much lead down range in them. They have never failed to shoot, blasting a hole right where I pointed them (if not where I wanted to put a hole) every time I pulled the trigger. No failures. None.

If a shooter is wanting a moderately priced 1911 pattern pistol with the whizbang gee gaws attached from the factory, I heartily recommend the SW1911.

SW1911PD Range Report

SW1911 Target Range Report

SW1911 Range Report

SW1911PD Range Report

A new lightweight 1911 was inevitable when Smith & Wesson began making their version of "old slabsides". In 2004, S&W first introduced the scandium alloy framed SW1911Sc. It weighed an overall 28-ounces, as opposed to the near 40-ounce weight of a standard Government Model. The pistol was an instant hit for a carry gun, and has proven to be durable and reliable. In 2006, Smith & Wesson showed they listened well to their customer base when they released the SW1911PD. The SW1911PD was essentially the same pistol, blacked out, with more discreet markings on the slide. When I found a used SW1911PD for sale at a good price, I quickly snapped it up.

Like the SW1911s before it, The SW1911PD has a serrated frontstrap, Novak sights, and a grip safety activated firing pin safety. The small parts are made of MIM, and the mainspring housing is checkered aluminum. From the factory, the pistol has a solid full length guide rod, and forward slide serrations, both of which I can live without. The external extractor on the SW1911 is not what John Moses Browning designed, (or rather, what the US Army requested), but Smith & Wesson had a lot of experience with external extractors on their double action auto loaders. Where external extractors fail on other 1911s, the S&W unit has a reputation for keeping on ticking.

To bring the pistol closer to my idea of a carry gun, I installed rubber S&W grips, a GI recoil set-up, and did a trigger job on it. Astute readers may notice a marking gone. With a Wilson magazine stuffed inside, I was ready to take the pistol to the range for reliability testing. I brought along 250 rounds of Winchester White Box 230 grain target ammo, as well as 50 rounds of Federal 230 grain HydraShoks. I also took a standard SW1911 to compare the scandium framed pistol to.

I had read how the scandium 1911s were more difficult to shoot, due to their lighter weight. I prepared myself for that, but I refuse to wear shooting gloves. Over the past three years, I had not read a single complaint regarding the frame being weak. That is a good thing, because I like to train with what I carry. If a pistol cannot stand up to the pounding I will give it in training, I really don't want to stake my life on it.

I started shooting with the SW1911PD, first, just making certain it was safe after my gunsmithing efforts, and then trying to make it jam. I limp wristed it. I shot it sideways. I rode my thumb on the slide. I shot it upside down. Not once did it fail to feed and shoot. The safeties functioned positively as advertised.

I shot all 300 rounds through the SW1911PD. It was a blast to shoot. It had a quick, certain return to sights, allowing for rapid recovery and follow-up shots. I found absolutely no difference in muzzle flip than what I am used to in a Government Model. Perhaps this is because I use a very strong isometric grip in a Chapman stance for my shooting. With my grip, the weight of the frame is simply not a factor in recoil.

I was, frankly, having a blast. Two shooters with Glocks were off to my right, and I was eating them up at 30 feet. I was punching holes in an index card taped to the chest of a silhouette target. There was a single ragged hole in that card. I was flying high. The SW1911PD was accurate. If I slowed down, it was a precision shooter. Then, I had a problem........I was out of ammo.

Damn. I went to the counter, and I bought another 100 rounds of 230 grain MagTech ammo. I decided I had better switch to the standard framed SW1911 immediately. I noted that the perceived recoil and muzzle flip was the same in my hands. I shot about 25 rounds through the standard SW1911 and I realized something else. The SW1911PD was actually easier for me to shoot! I could hold it up, with less effort, for a longer period of time. No wonder I had unknowingly blazed through my ammunition. My arms simply were not getting tired from holding the extra weight extended at arms length!

I only have 375 rounds through this pistol thus far, but it is showing great potential as a carry gun. I have little doubt that the reduced weight on my belt will result in less fatigue at the end of the day. I would have absolutely no hesitation about recommending this pistol to a woman as a carry gun, assuming she is familiar with the 1911 platform, and uses an isometric grip. I look forward to passing the 1000 round mark and putting the pistol into service as a carry piece.


Then, I wondered how it would compare to my Colt Compact.

Update: The first internet report on a SW1911PD frame cracking that I have come upon is here.

SW1911PD Build-Up

One of the few detriments to the full size 1911 as a carry gun is the weight. Years ago, Colt introduced their aluminum framed Lightweight Commander and few if any manufacturers produced a lightweight 1911 afterwards. Then Smith & Wesson began making forays into the lightweight revolver world, using an alloy of scandium and aluminum. The result was a very strong, light gun frame. When S&W began to make 1911s, it was inevitable they would produce a lightweight framed version in the alloy. The first was the SW1911Sc, followed by the SW1911PD.

I bought my SW1911PD at Dave's pawn shop for $650. I liked the idea of a lighter carry gun, and even the Government Model size, but I wanted some details altered from what Smith & Wesson put out. The first item to go was the full length guide rod, in favor of an Ed Brown GI set-up. The cocobolo grips were swapped for S&W rubber panels, and a trigger job was in order. It is difficult to obtain Chip McCormick's trigger, which has become a favorite of mine, so I installed a trigger from Fusion Firearms. The quality and appearance is the same.

I stoned the hammer hooks to 0.020, and I replaced the sear spring with a Nowlin unit. I jammed a Wilson 47D magazine into the pistol. To be honest, the pistol needed no alteration. It has a good factory trigger. I just liked the idea of a blacked out 1911 for a carry gun, and thus, I decided to take it the extra distance. I lubricated and reassembled the gun, and I placed it in my range bag.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Buy A Gun Day

When Smith & Wesson first announced their scandium framed 1911, I knew I wanted one of the lightweight carry guns. The high initial price was prohibitive though. Dave first put this pistol on his shelf in November. He marked it $750, and I waited. Finally, in January, he marked it down. It came with the box, all the papers, two magazines, and even the S&W bushing wrench. I placed it on layaway. National Buy A Gun Day is a day set aside by gun bloggers to purchase and encourage others to purchase a firearm. Consider it a consultation on tax day.

Today, I had waited long enough to finally get my SW1911PD out of lay away at Dave's pawn shop. I only owed $136 more of the $650 purchase price, so I drove over to pony up. Dave had a Taurus revolver, a S&W double action pistol, and a couple of black plastic fantastics on the shelf. I handed him my paperwork, and he left to remove my SW1911PD from the safe. It was as nice as it had been when I first saw it. I began to fill out a 4473.

While Dave was ringing up the sale, I noticed a black leather holster on the rack with the rifles. I asked if it was for sale. "Of course, Xav, what's it worth to you?" asked Dave as he handed it to me.

It was a Galco canted holster for a pistol with a square triggerguard. "Not much", I replied honestly.

Dave made the NICS call, took my money, and brought me my receipt. Then he took the holster off the rack, and placed it on top of my things, saying "Take it. You buy enough guns here." Good guy, that Dave.

Briley Barrels

I read an interesting thread today and learned something I didn't know. It seems the barrels inthe early Smith & Wesson 1911s were made by Briley. Briley is an absolute legend when it comes to barrels. Many people who decide to upgrade the barrel in their 1911 choose a Briley barrel. Of course the SW1911 came with a solid bushing instead of Briley's famous spherical bushing. The way to tell if your SW1911 has a Briley barrel is to look at the "45 AUTO" mark on the barrel hood. If the mark is a rollmark such as mine shown here, your barrel is a Briley. If your mark is engraved or laser etched, your barrel is not a Briley.

Thanks S&W, that's one more reason for me to keep these pistols.

Lowering the Price of the SW1911

A reader in Kalamazoo was quickest on the draw and purchased the laser grips from my SW1911 for $200. Thus the overall cost of this pistol has dropped to a more affordable $459. I was hoping for that when I placed the pistol on lay away months ago.

Serendipidy was the order of the day, as CDNN had the S&W logo rubber double diamond grips on sale. I ordered a set for $12.99 along with a Chip McCormick trigger and a few other parts to make the shipping worthwhile. I like the CMC trigger, as it is adjustable both for pre-travel and over-travel. I slicked things up a bit, and dropped it in. I did have to refit the grip safety tang to make it operate correctly with the more precise trigger. Other than that, it was a job as easy as a detail strip.

SW1911 with Laser Range Report

I took my second SW1911 to the range today. I purchased it, and another SW1911 simply because the price was so darned good. I never really expected both pistols to be so darned good.....but they were. Both pistols are boringly reliable. The firing pin safety functions without any felt resistance. The trigger is crisp and clean. I put 400 rounds of various ammo and reloads through this 1911 today with nary a hiccup. Nada. The pistol shot to point of aim unerringly, and it's ability to hit small dots at far distances greatly exceeded my own.

As pictured, this pistol is a little different from a factory gun. I swapped in a GI recoil system. This is a carry gun, and the full length guide rods just aren't appropriate in my opinion. I also got rid of the plastic Wilson magazine base pad, and installed a steel low profile pad instead. It's a little extra weight, but it allows the magazine to fall free quickly with mag changes.

The SW1911 is accurate and reliable, but there are a few things I will change if I keep the pistol (and I probably will). The laser grips do not work for me. I index my trigger finger using the slide stop pin as a guide. This obscures the laser when holding a bead on target. The best purpose of a laser, in my opinion, is to let a threat know he is in your sights, and potentially change the outcome of a lethal encounter before the trigger is pulled. If the laser is obscured until the finger is on the trigger, then that purpose is very very dangerous. Thus, the laser grips will be sold. I found S&W rubber 1911 grips at CDNN and placed an order along with a few other items to make the shipping worthwhile. If any reader is interested in the laser grips, shoot me an email at bayouroversATjamDOTrrDOTcom. Sorry Crimson Trace, it's a good product, but it doesn't work for me. The laser grips are now sold.

One of the additional items I placed on the CDNN order is a Chip McCormick trigger. I like the new CMC trigger because it allows adjustment of both uptake and overtravel. Before McCormick came out with this trigger, the only similar trigger on the market was the Dlask. It was expensive, but for some, including myself, worth the cost. The CMC trigger does the same thing for much less.

There are other things that I may change about this pistol. It has a lot of MIM parts. While not necessarily a bad thing, I prefer machined parts. Over time, these parts will be swapped out for machined steel, and as they are changed, the spotted zebra look will become plain old stainless. If I really get after it, I may bead blast off the silly lawyer warning on the dust cover. I hate insults to my intelligence like that.

Smith & Wesson obviously built this pistol as a mass produced gun. It may have a few "custom" features, but it is hardly a custom gun. Overall the fit and finish is excellent though. Little things, like not rounding off the edges of the front sight dovetail bug me, but then I have been called persnickity more than once. The bottom line though, is the SW1911 is a reliable, accurate weapon. I'll keep this'un.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Paid Off Layaway

I went by Dave's shop first this afternoon. Dave still had his two Glocks, and he had placed a Bersa Thunder and a Ruger KP90 in the case to keep them company. The Bersa was $179, the Ruger was $350. None of Dave's offerings really appealed to me.

I drove on over to Neil's. Neil has the same guns, a Beretta Tomcat and a S&W 686. I had the hankering for a new and different gun, and I had my layaway SW1911 paid down to just over $100. Back in February I was amazed to find not one, but two SW1911s in mint condition under Neil's glass. One was priced at $489. I bought it immediately. The other, with laser grips, was priced higher. It was $659, so I placed it on lay away and nibbled away at the price whenever I had a little extra jingle in my pockets. It was a good deal as well, and if I sold off the laser grips for $200, the actual price of this pistol would become less than the first.

I wondered to myself back then why I needed these two pistols. I figured they would be excellent trade fodder for a WWI Colt at some point, and until then I could enjoy them. The first SW1911 proved itself to be one helluva gun, and I am hoping for the same results with the second. Some of the features of the SW1911, like the zebra finish, I do not care for. It is, however, a very good rendition of a modern 1911. I pulled out $115, paid off the pistol, and took it home.

Range Report soon.

SW1911 Range Report

I have long been a Colt man when it comes to 1911s. I make no bones about the fact that I prefer my Smith & Wesson guns to have a revolving multi-chamber device right in the middle of a blued frame with walnut grips. Thus, it was an odd feeling when I purchased a Smith & Wesson 1911 and placed another on layaway.

The SW1911 I found for a screaming deal came from the factory appointed like my custom Gold Cup. The SW1911 wears a Smith & Wesson branded rear sight that suspiciously resembles like a Bomar. The front sight is fixed in a dovetail. The factory grips are double diamond cocobolo. The pistol has an ambi thumb safety, and a McCormick trigger. It had a nice trigger to begin with, but when I detail stripped the pistol for a good lubrication, I gave it a proper trigger job. I was surprised to find the hammer hooks already at exactly 0.020 and equal. That was pleasantly unusual. The pistol has a McCormick grip safety with a speed bump, and 20lpi checkering on the front strap. It has forward slide serrations, and a full length guide rod. I could take or leave those. The mainspring housing is 20lpi checkered aluminum.

The Smith & Wesson firing pin safety lever design is an elegant variation of the Colt Series 80 system. It is a single lever that pivots on the hammer pin, and is activated by the grip safety. The barrel has a slot in the hood to provide for a loaded chamber indicator, and the extractor is an external type. One Wilson magazine came with the used pistol. The SW1911 does come complete with an idiotic safety message on the left dustcover, and the SW1911 billboard on the slide. The overall fit and finish of the gun is superb.

The Smith & Wesson 1911 has a reputation for accuracy, so I broke out my most accurate 1911 to act as a control gun. If the SW1911 shoots as good as my custom Gold Cup National Match, then all I can say is it's a helluva gun. Some may say it's an unfair comparison. I don't think it is. I think that the fact that I chose the Gold Cup to be the control gun speaks volumes for my estimation of the SW1911's potential. I will not be shooting match ammo, and my distances will be around 10 yards with both guns. I took both pistols to the range with 400 rounds of Winchester White Box ammo.


The Smith & Wesson performed flawlessly. It had no failures, and consistently threw the spent brass into a pile to my right. I tried to get the gun to misfeed. I limp wristed it. I shot it gangster style, and even upside down. I let my thumb ride the slide. The Smith never failed to spit out brass and chamber the next round. There are some things I dislike about the SW1911. The ambi thumb safety is much to wide for my taste. It is like having a diving board on either side of the pistol, An Ed Brown tactical ambi would be much nicer. The McCormick grip safety's "speedbump" compressed the thumb pad of my hand, digging it's corner in to the point of discomfort. My Gold Cup has an Ed Brown grip safety with a "speedbump" and it does not have that same corner. I, in fact, prefer not to have a speedbump on my grip safety at all. The Ed Brown grip safety is a non-issue in this department, however. The McCormick grip safety would have to be changed for a gun that got shot a lot by me. Truth be told, these parts would likely be swapped out anyway. I simply do not like the spotty look of blue small parts on a stainless gun. I always wonder if Stevie Wonder built the damned thing.

But the real question is how did the gun shoot? The SW1911 was accurate. It was damned accurate. It was more accurate than I was. It shot every bit as well as my Gold Cup.The sights were sharp, and quick to acquire. The trigger is approximately 3.5 pounds, with no creep, very little take-up and minimal over-travel. Of course, I altered the stock trigger feel with my trigger job, but my point is, I could do the job without buying new parts.

I have a passion for the Smith wheelguns, but when it comes to a 1911, I am an unabashed, diehard Colt man. I will pay more for the prancing pony. I like the heritage and the feel of a Colt. It is an intangible thing. Like those who ride Harley Davidsons, either you understand or not. It is undeniable, however, that the Smith & Wesson 1911 shot just as well for me as my finest Colt. The SW1911 did everything I asked it to do. It was accurate. I could not make it jam. I was not limited by it. It was limited by me. If a man wants an off the shelf 1911 with all the gee gaws, this is the one. It is one helluva gun!

Pawn Shop Circuit: A Different Smith, or Two

I pulled into Dave's parking lot first today, and peered through his counter glass at the Colt Army Special languishing on the shelf. Dave had not added anything to the selection.

I drove on over to Neil's shop, and was amazed to see a bounty of guns on display inside. A man was arguing with Neil that his wife could fill out the 4473 and buy him the Model 29 he wanted. Neil was not having any of it. I was transfixed at the counter. Under the glass were two Smith & Wesson 1911's. Finally the angry man left, and I flagged Neil over.

Neil pulled out an almost new SW1911 that had cocobolo grips, adjustable sights, and a McCormick trigger. I'm a diehard Colt guy, and I have never really cared for the mismatched look of the stainless Smith & Wesson 1911s, with blued small parts. Still, one just doesn't see 1911s of any type on the used racks often. Neil had this one priced at $489. I wondered if the owner had swapped in the McCormick trigger and wood grips. All the SW1911s I had seen had rubber grips. Still....$489.

Neil had another S&W 1911 under the glass. It had a three hole trigger and NRA laser grips, along with Novak style sights. Both pistols had Wilson magazines. The laser gripped pistol was priced at $659. I asked Neil if I could swap the grips on the two pistols and get a fixed sight gun without the laser grips. Neil said no, as the guns were already on the books described as they were. Fair enough.

I field stripped the first pistol. It looked like it had seen perhaps one range session of 50 rounds. I told Neil to get me a 4473, and he smiled and slid one over. As I was filling it out, I asked to take a look at the other SW1911, and began to think...... Layaway. This does not happen often. At the very least these are enjoyable guns that are priced well below their market value, and would make great trade fodder later. I asked how much money would secure the second pistol on layaway. Neil did a quick calculation and said $75. I pulled out $75 and asked him to lay it away for me. As I finished up the paperwork on the first pistol, Neil moved my second SW1911 back into the safe with my name on it. As Neil called in the NICS, I reassembled the pistol with the adjustable sights, and looked at the other guns in the case.

Neil also had a Inox Beretta Centurion in the case, along with a Taurus .357. When Neil returned from the telephone, he told me that all of these pistols belonged to the same fellow,who hocked them all at once and then never returned to claim them. I will have to bring a friend in to take a look at the Centurion tomorrow. Mark has been wanting a Beretta 92FS, and Neil's was priced right at $389. Neil told me I passed the NICS, so I paid for my new SW1911, and left the shop for home. Once home, I researched this SW1911, and found that the McCormick trigger, Wilson Mag, and cocobolo grips were absolutely stock, and that the pistol had a MSRP of $1,101. Wow! I'm glad I grabbed the other one as well!

Amber had sold one of her Charter Arms revolers. Range report soon.