Kimber, STI, or S&W 1911, which one to choose?

I still own and shoot Kimber and STI. Never a smith 1911, maybe in the future but right now I have no interest in them.

Kimber all the way for me but I have no complaints about my STI.
 
Of the all the choices mentioned here; only one brand is hand fitted by a gunsmith at the factory. ;)

None of them have someone on a lathe fitting the bushing to the slide and then fitting the bushing to the barrel.
 
I own the Trojan, and had a chance to fire Kimber SIS & Custom II multiple times since my buddy in Detroit is a 1911 'enthusiast'. Trojan has a lighter, crisper factory trigger, even when compared to his SIS which had a trigger job done - but that's just IMHO.

Both Kimbers & the STI Trojan are fine guns - but I enjoy shooting my buddy's tricked-out Nighthawk Predator the most. :D - Sorry, couldn't resist...
 
Just one? Get the one that you like, shoot it until you break something then fix it and then repeat the process. When you get tired of it or want something new buy something different. Nothing is perfect (unless you ask Glock). Soon you'll have an STI, Colt, Kimber, Dan Wesson, Springfield..... Post some pics in the 1911 picture gallery.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
Since I import both, I can tell you there is a huge difference between the two in fit; of course - that's reflected in the price.
They're two different markets.
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Hi Sean (?),

If we're comparing Taurus 1911's with STI 1911's, I would agree there is a difference in fit but not a "huge" difference as you state. Both companies use a "custom shop" approach to manufacturing.

Taurus barrels, slides and frames on both the blued and stainless versions are Taurus-forged, not cast, and are individually hand-fitted to match-level tolerances during assembly. Some people claim forged components are superior in strength to ones that are cast.

STI slides and frames are either cast (e.g., Trojan) or forged (e.g., Legacy). To some people this makes a difference. Personally, I'm not fussed either way.

All parts on the Taurus PT 1911 are manufactured by Taurus, including the magazines and the custom-style accessories, and they are specific Taurus configurations and not copies of any other brand-name designs.

Even the Heinie sights on the guns are actually fabricated by Taurus, under license and according to Heinie’s specifications. Most of the small parts are manufactured through metal injection molding (MIM).

STI also uses MIM small parts that are fabricated by outside contractors to close tolerances.

I guess I'm saying that we have to get beyond thinking that just because something costs more it's got to be better.

The Taurus 1911 costs less than the STI 1911 because it's made "in-house" using "smart" manufacturing processes. Lower labour costs in Brazil also help to lower the cost of the product.

I own or have owned STI and Taurus pistols and I haven't had any problems with them. Both companies produce a very good product and appeal, as you say, to different market segments.:)
 
Canuckistanman said:
Hi Sean (?),

If we're comparing Taurus 1911's with STI 1911's, I would agree there is a difference in fit but not a "huge" difference as you state. Both companies use a "custom shop" approach to manufacturing.

Taurus barrels, slides and frames on both the blued and stainless versions are Taurus-forged, not cast, and are individually hand-fitted to match-level tolerances during assembly. Some people claim forged components are superior in strength to ones that are cast.

STI slides and frames are either cast (e.g., Trojan) or forged (e.g., Legacy). To some people this makes a difference. Personally, I'm not fussed either way.

All parts on the Taurus PT 1911 are manufactured by Taurus, including the magazines and the custom-style accessories, and they are specific Taurus configurations and not copies of any other brand-name designs.

Even the Heinie sights on the guns are actually fabricated by Taurus, under license and according to Heinie’s specifications. Most of the small parts are manufactured through metal injection molding (MIM).

STI also uses MIM small parts that are fabricated by outside contractors to close tolerances.

I guess I'm saying that we have to get beyond thinking that just because something costs more it's got to be better.

The Taurus 1911 costs less than the STI 1911 because it's made "in-house" using "smart" manufacturing processes. Lower labour costs in Brazil also help to lower the cost of the product.

I own or have owned STI and Taurus pistols and I haven't had any problems with them. Both companies produce a very good product and appeal, as you say, to different market segments.:)
Click to expand...

Wait wait wait, I thought Taurus was a super cheap knock off company. Our version of Norinco. Didn't they get started by flooding the US market with cheap beretta 9mm copies?
 
carsmovies said:
Actually all STI slides are forged. I've also owned both and although the Taurus was fairly tight it was no where near as tight and match fitted as the STI.
Click to expand...

You're right, a few years ago STI moved to forged slides on the Spartan, which used to come with a cast slide. I should have said their frames are either forged or cast.

C:redface:
 
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