I’m wanting to pick up a solid but affordable 1911. I’ve researched until I can’t anymore, and have narrowed it down to an original model SW1911 (~2004-2011?) vs an E-Series. I like the looks of the original better, more traditional, but the E-Series seems to be just a bit better in most features.
The original is 80 series or Swarze(?) style grip safety, the E is roughly what we refer to as a 70 series. The original has ambi safety vs single on the E. The E has a supposedly better external extractor, serrations on top of barrel to reduce glare, 3-dot Novak-type sights (vs Bomar-style on original), improved trigger (though both can be tuned to be better), and front and rear scalloped slide serrations (vs traditional serrations on the front and rear of the original).
The sight difference doesn’t really matter, I may even prefer to Bomars on the original since I don’t plan to carry, only to target shoot. The extractor isn’t a huge consideration, but if one is significantly better I’d be inclined that way. I think I prefer the ambi safety on the original, but as a righty I guess it ain’t a deal breaker (though IF I ever wanted to sell it may increase the pool of potential buyers). Serrations on original are my preference since I lean more traditional. I “think I prefer Series 70 over 80, but being relatively inexperienced with the 1911 platform I think I’d be fine w/either. Prefer the serrated top slide on the E, but prefer the ambi safety on the original. Now the “out of the box” better trigger on the E is more appealing, though I have found in my research that the original trigger is still a good one and can be tuned to be even better.
All this being said, the answer seems to be the E-Series - by a hair. But I’d like to get some real-world opinions from those who may have experience with either or both. Is the difference so slight that I should go with the more aesthetically appealing original model? Price is the same, but I’m open to either.
Thanks for any feedback. I’ll hang up and listen.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The original is 80 series or Swarze(?) style grip safety, the E is roughly what we refer to as a 70 series. The original has ambi safety vs single on the E. The E has a supposedly better external extractor, serrations on top of barrel to reduce glare, 3-dot Novak-type sights (vs Bomar-style on original), improved trigger (though both can be tuned to be better), and front and rear scalloped slide serrations (vs traditional serrations on the front and rear of the original).
The sight difference doesn’t really matter, I may even prefer to Bomars on the original since I don’t plan to carry, only to target shoot. The extractor isn’t a huge consideration, but if one is significantly better I’d be inclined that way. I think I prefer the ambi safety on the original, but as a righty I guess it ain’t a deal breaker (though IF I ever wanted to sell it may increase the pool of potential buyers). Serrations on original are my preference since I lean more traditional. I “think I prefer Series 70 over 80, but being relatively inexperienced with the 1911 platform I think I’d be fine w/either. Prefer the serrated top slide on the E, but prefer the ambi safety on the original. Now the “out of the box” better trigger on the E is more appealing, though I have found in my research that the original trigger is still a good one and can be tuned to be even better.
All this being said, the answer seems to be the E-Series - by a hair. But I’d like to get some real-world opinions from those who may have experience with either or both. Is the difference so slight that I should go with the more aesthetically appealing original model? Price is the same, but I’m open to either.
Thanks for any feedback. I’ll hang up and listen.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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