I have heard many good things over the years about the Woodsman.

So if somebody gave you $1650 for a 1911 what would you get.
I'm looking at Dan Wesson, springfield Armory TRP operator, or para ordanace black ops, or colt rail gun and do some work. Or sig and add work.
By work I mean get rid of all MIM parts.

Coonan .357 mag...

I don't have anything to offer since I've only ever fired one 1911. I do know the railed Colts are heavy.

...SIG 220 or a Glock 21 and if you could find it an S&W 4516, the FNs are also nice but I don't have enough range time with one.. Yes...I do know that none are a 1911 BTW and yes I do happen to have a worked over Colt 1911 and love it "but" and it is the "but" that is the problem. Just as long as it is not your only working tool in that field the 1911 is OK.

I would take a Browning HP over a 1911 each and everyday of the week...

This time I disagree with you Andy but it may just be my affinity for the 1911 that is tainting my opinion of the Hi-power (they are great guns just not better than the 1911 for me).


I would get any of the name brand ones in the 5 to 9 hundred dollar range change anything you didn't like then buy a XD45 to go with it. LOL at least that's what I did.

SIG
Springfield
Ruger
Ect....
even the Taurus if you factor in a duracoat or ceracoat job is a great choice.
Get some Wilson combat mags and you are good to go.

I've heard the Springfield Range Officer is a good starting point.

.... indeed mate, this is a very very personal thing... and there really is no "right and wrong" only what is right for me vs you. Having owned both at different times (funnily enough I don't have a BHP at the moment)there is just nothing the 1911 does better for me... especially put holes in targets just where I want them. But as noted, I also have a 1911 and have done since the 80s..... It is not a case of dislike, not by any streatch of the imagination....

I hear you and agree it is just a personal choice thing as with most firearms some just work for you while others don't.

Yep I will always have glocks. As for the sig I just haven't shot da/Sa enough to get a feeling for it. And sigs girl angle is nothing like the glocks I grew up on. But heck I will probably have all eventually lol

None of the above.

For $1650 you're in striking distance of a Les Baer Custom Carry. Its all the 1911 you'll ever need.

Regarding the 1911's suitability as a "field gun"....
I agree and disagree with Andy.

I wouldn't take a "hobby grade" MIM filled 1911 into harm's way unless "harm's way" is defined as a trip to WalMart with a low round count MIM gun. Past that, and I'll take a Glock or HK any day.

Once you break the ceiling, and start looking at Les Baer, Ed Brown, Wilson, Springfield Pro, etc. then yes I would wholeheartedly take that 1911 anywhere.

I've owned dozens of 1911's, and have worn out Mimbers (yes, this is a slam on Kimber's extensive use of MIM parts), broken a Colt, blew up a MilSpec Springfield, and had a several Para Ords that wouldn't go bang reliably. I've had a Sig 1911 that went back to the factory so many times I swore I'd never own another one of their current products. The sights FELL OFF the Taurus I had, and the Llama...well...it was a Llama.

I've never had a problem with original Series 70 Colts, US Property Marked 1911s (some of which were EXTREMELY high round count rebuilds) or Les Baers.

I can have any 1911 I want, and I choose Les Baer. They aren't as refined as an Ed Brown, and they aren't "made to order" like a Wilson but I believe them to be more reliable / duty qualified and they're more accurate in my experience. They also can be had for $500-1500 less.