what handgun brands are the longest lasting and most true?

Question

i am looking to buy a 1911 i want it to look good mabye stainless or blued steel and i want it to be an ehirloom i'm torn between brands i am a begener collector and do not really know what is good
what do you think of khar,kimber,glock,ruger,sig,smith and wesson,springfield arms
also are dan wesson guns and smithand wesson guns the same?

Answer 1

The traditional 1911 is the Colt. They will often have a show piece that will be offered in limited editions. Good for an heirloom.

In my view Kimber is probably the best .45 on the market, if you have the $$ to spend. I am currently looking at the Kimber Ultra Carry II, but I haven't made the purchase. Right now I carry a S&W (litterally, it's on my right hip as I type).

Answer 2

If its an heirloom you're after then definitely go with the Colt. Dan Wesson and Smith & Wesson both make good guns but they are not the same. Dan, related to the Wessons, broke with S & W and started his own company.

The guns that will have collector's interest are the Colts and Smiths. All you mentioned are good guns, but some are more utilitarian than collectible.

I'd go with the Colt, Smith & Wesson, Dan Wesson, Sig, Kimber, Springfield, Ruger, Kahr, etc. Don't forget the Para Ordinance which makes several excellent 1911 clones and in stainless steel.

Good luck.

H

Answer 3

Brands like Sig, Kimber, Springfield Armory and H&K are high-end pistols and, cost is at the top.
Glock, Ruger, S&W and Berretta are all fine pistols and, are more affordable.

Daniel B. Wesson left the S&W co. around the late '70s and formed his own handgun company..Dan Wesson Arms. In 1980 I purchased a new 44VH pistol pack..with 4", 6", 8" and 10" vented heavy barrels..ee..VH. Back then reviewed by magazines to be the best production revolvers ever producted. I still own that pistol pack today.

I would pick up a couple of magazines to learn a little more, "Gun Test" magazine is the very best when it comes to testing firearms. Go to a few gun shows and gun shops to see just what feels good in your hand.
Stay away from any "OFF BRANDS" because when you have trouble...you may be on your own, you pay for what you get.

Good luck.

Answer 4

One piece of good advice I was given when deciding to own a handgun nearly 30 years ago was to get a revolver first. I still have it and still use it 30years later. S&W 85.

Getting a revolver let's you focus on gun safety, which is always paramount, and getting used to shooting. You do not have to learn about removable magazines, slides or safeties and making a revolver 'safe' is simple. It is also ultimately reliable when you need it.

You can always 'trade-up' your first gun to something else later. One thing about most handguns is that you will get most of your investment out of them when you sell or trade them in.

Get a stainless, especially if you live in a humid climate. It's well worth the extra cost.

For a 1911, Kimber is a well respected brand. Springfield makes a more budget 1911. It may not be bad, it just may take some work to be good.

That's all the 1911 brands you listed....the rest do not make 1911s.

Glocks are utilitarian and very common. Not exactly heirloom material, though.

I think Ruger makes excellent revolvers and good pistols.

S&W is the tops in revolvers, but honestly their pistol products have been very hit-or-miss.

The SIG-Sauer colaboration pistols are perhaps the best in the world. Designed by the Swiss SIG group and made by JP Sauer in Germany......if I were thinking of "heirloom quality" in a pistol, this would be it.

Answer 5

first, dan wesson and s&w ( smith and wesson) are NOT the same. second, if you want a quality 1911, buy a colt, kimber, springfield armory, glock. these are ALL excellent guns that i own or have owned. DO NOT waste your money on any of the " p" series rugers. have owned and had trouble with 3 of these guns. oh yeah, forgot to mention para-ordance and sig, these are great guns, too.

Answer 6

a Model 1911 will be a Colt by definition. Dan Wesson is not the same as S&W. Handguns from large mfgs like Colt or S&W are generally the best value for money.

Answer 7

If it were me, and I wanted a 1911-style for an heirloom, it would be either a Springfield or a Kimber. You said "longest lasting and MOST TRUE." For that last part, the Kimber is a good deal (although expensive). They're quite accurate, from my understanding.

Answer 8

Dan Wesson is related to the Wessons who founded Smith & Wesson, but he broke from S&W to form his own firm. The real 1911A1 is by Colt. There are many copies of it by now. I have not tested all of them. The Colt is good enough for me. I have pistols by SIG, Ruger, beretta, Browning, Walther, Heckler & Koch, etc. In revolvers, I like S&W, but their semi-autos are not as good as their revolvers. Ruger is a good buy, i.e. a good gun at a reasonable price in my experience.

Answer 9

Compact and accuracy at distance don't really go together. Barrel length and sight radius (dependent on the length of barrel) is critical to accuracy at distance. Still, given your other criteria of compact, under $600, simple and no safeties to fuss with, the natural selection is a compact Glock. Look at the link I sent for an index of Glocks by caliber and size. Probably a G23 in .40 S&W or a G30 in a .45 ACP. I would seriously try them out first, before buying. A hard hitting caliber in a light and compact gun may not be pleasant to shoot. If you are OK with it, great! If not, maybe move down to a 9mm.

Answer 10

Any incarnation of the 1911 is going to be good, short of Llama. Glock never fit my hand properly. The only sig I have is a .22 for plinking. If you go combat tupperware go for a Springfield XD