Like all couples who have been together for any amount of time, my wife and I have gone through quite a bit, and the last 2.5 years have been damned rough, but we've weathered the storm and now we owe ourselves a little something. Now, Don't cry for me Indiana, I know all human-beings go through rough times, and life can be hard, and blah blah blah, but these were our hard times, and they were harder than most, and damnit, we deserve a break.
So anyway, let's get down to brass tacks: I want some kind of matching, semi-customized 1911s. We have looked around at a couple of things, but just can't decide. A pair of Volts with a visit to the custom shop just doesn't appeal to us. Too many quality issues, and we just don't want Colt. Sue me and cry "blasphemer," I don't trust Colt after the stupid Labor-related quality issues they have had (that's labor with a capital 'L', because I just can't keep my foot out of my mouth). Springfield custom has nice options, but we are thinking bigger. The wife loves the Kimber Royal II, and while I am a Kimber man, I think Les Baer is the way to go.
Let's not get started with the 'more money than brains' nonsense, and I don't want to hear all of the silly "a $2500 gun won't do anything a $500 GI re-issue won't do," because no one with 1911-sense would respond that way. I have 2 Kimber Series Is with a third on layaway (damn late bonus), a stainless Springfield GI, an early military Colt customized for Camp Perry in the 1960s, and an old customized Behlert full-house en route by mail. I know a little about what 1911s will do, and I know even more about what I want, so please don't lobby for Para, or Taurus, or Springfield, or much else. I am thinking the Les Baer, but I am not fully convinced.
Any thoughts from anyone else out there who understands my dilemma? The Baers I have held had to be smacked damn hard to break the battery and rack a round, and no guarantee of reliability until after after 500 rounds (I love that). Wilsons and Browns have never had that feeling of immediate distinction that Baers have had, although the Kobra Karry with the bobtail is right there in second place. I know they both build incredible pistols, second to none, but from my experience, and even reading in the gun rags, Les Baers really are the tightest pistols out there. Any words for Nighthawk?
We will sometimes be carrying, often be shooting, we want the serial numbers to be our initials and anniversary, grips to come from wicked (hers, turquoise burl), and Vu Kim Son (mine, bone or water buffalo horn). Both with high polish blued finish.
Let me know what you think INGO.
So anyway, let's get down to brass tacks: I want some kind of matching, semi-customized 1911s. We have looked around at a couple of things, but just can't decide. A pair of Volts with a visit to the custom shop just doesn't appeal to us. Too many quality issues, and we just don't want Colt. Sue me and cry "blasphemer," I don't trust Colt after the stupid Labor-related quality issues they have had (that's labor with a capital 'L', because I just can't keep my foot out of my mouth). Springfield custom has nice options, but we are thinking bigger. The wife loves the Kimber Royal II, and while I am a Kimber man, I think Les Baer is the way to go.
Let's not get started with the 'more money than brains' nonsense, and I don't want to hear all of the silly "a $2500 gun won't do anything a $500 GI re-issue won't do," because no one with 1911-sense would respond that way. I have 2 Kimber Series Is with a third on layaway (damn late bonus), a stainless Springfield GI, an early military Colt customized for Camp Perry in the 1960s, and an old customized Behlert full-house en route by mail. I know a little about what 1911s will do, and I know even more about what I want, so please don't lobby for Para, or Taurus, or Springfield, or much else. I am thinking the Les Baer, but I am not fully convinced.
Any thoughts from anyone else out there who understands my dilemma? The Baers I have held had to be smacked damn hard to break the battery and rack a round, and no guarantee of reliability until after after 500 rounds (I love that). Wilsons and Browns have never had that feeling of immediate distinction that Baers have had, although the Kobra Karry with the bobtail is right there in second place. I know they both build incredible pistols, second to none, but from my experience, and even reading in the gun rags, Les Baers really are the tightest pistols out there. Any words for Nighthawk?
We will sometimes be carrying, often be shooting, we want the serial numbers to be our initials and anniversary, grips to come from wicked (hers, turquoise burl), and Vu Kim Son (mine, bone or water buffalo horn). Both with high polish blued finish.
Let me know what you think INGO.