FIRST S&W 1911: STAINLESS OR BLACK?

[Dirty.Harry]

Hi! :D

It's my first post. I'm great lover of S&W guns. I have three revolvers: .22 LR S&W M34-2 Kit Gun 4”, powerfull Dirty Harry's .44 Mag S&W M29-6 6” with loveley Goncalo Alvez grips, the legendary Czech target revolver 6” ZKR 551 (.38 Spl) and two pistols: 9 mm Para Glock 17 and the Russian target pistol MC Margolin (.22 LR). And now I kept dreaming about S&W 1911 – first for all shooting for a pleasure and for IDPA Custom Defensive Pistol Divison. I can get the basic 1911 stainless SKU 108282 or black SKU 108285 for the same price (3800 Polish Zloty = ca. 1200 USD). Any suggestions from the group?

Thank you for advance! :D

Best greetings from Poland! :) :) :)
DH

[jaybo292]

I have a SW1911 SS 108284 and love it. I believe it is the same as the 108282 except for the sights. mine has had zero malfunctions in a little over 500 rnds. I think either of the two would great. Just get the finish you like the most.
Welcome to the forum. We are getting people here from all over the world. That is very neat.

[KY NIMROD]

I too would like to say welcome to the forum. I agree with Jaybo about the choice of finish it should be what appeals to you best but, I just want to give you one thing to consider. Poland is a tough climate in the winter months and SS is more weather resistant but, if the gun won't be outside in the weather then the blue might work also if you will carry the gun then SS will resist showing of wear more then blue. Don't get me wrong I love the look of a high luster blue gun it is so pretty to look at but as I get older I find myself looking at things in a more practical view. Just something to consider before you spend all that cash. As far as the two guns you are interested in they are both S&W and you can't go wrong with either IMHO.

[pa_guns]

Hi

Both the blue and the stainless are very good pistols you can't go wrong with either one of them.

The stainless pistol has blued parts on it. Some people like this and others do not.

All of my SW 1911's are stainless. I happen to like the look.

Bob

[Baldy]

Welcome Dirty Harry to our little world. I have the 108282 all ss and it is a great gun. Never has had a jam in closes to 3000rds. I also have the scandium 108283 PD, and it also is a great gun. So really the choice is up to you. Good luck.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/4Baldy/Best45.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/4Baldy/test2.jpg

[1911 Shooter]

It's all up to personal preference. I own more blued weapons than stainless. I just love the looks of a blued pistol or revolver. My daily carry is stainless, but if I could have found a Colt XSE in blue at the time of purchase, it would have been the one I took home. My S&W 1911 PD is blue. My Kimbers are blue or really the TLE is black. My kimber Royal is an awesome blue and does not go into a holster.
I only have one issue with blue carry weapons is that holster wear requires more attention. I train often and my blued weapons show it. That is where the stainless has the advantage.
Heck, just buy both, it works for me!

And by the way, Welcome to the forum!

[Baldy]

Hey Shooter show him that beauty you got. Shooters got it right,buy both of them.

[Frank]

Welcome, and I agree with KY NIMROD. A blue gun may be prettier, but a stainless steel is more practical, especially in a harsh climate.

DVC

[pa_guns]

Hi

I often wonder if a stainless steel pistol simply gets you in more trouble. A blued pistol obviously is not rain and water compatable so you treat it that way. You *think* the stainless pistol is in vulnerable so you don't worry about it as much. A lot of the parts inside aren't stainless ....

I will freely admit that when it comes to holster wear the blued pistol won't hold up as well. The stainless pistol will shine up at contact points, but it won't degrade much past that.

Don't get me wrong here, I own a number of stainless steel pistols. I think they are very neat. You just can't treat them quite as badly as some people seem to.

Bob

[Frank]

+1 Bob, stainless steel is only stain and rust resistant -- NOT stain or rust proof. And the internal parts aren't necessarily stainless. They still requires care.

In fact I treat all my guns, whether stainless steel, blued, polymer finish or hard chrome, pretty much the same. They all get wiped down with a little oil.

However, stainless will hold up to holster wear and moisture a little better than blued steel.

DVC

[1911 Shooter]

My 1911 PD.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k276/Zerphyl/1911PD0008.jpg

Frank hit the nail on the head. I treat both blued and stainless the same. To me firearms are an investment. Both in safety and in monetary value.
Stainless weapons get the same TLC as my blued guns. I just need to get a blued gun a refinish job after a while. The stainless will not need it.

[Baldy]

Thanks Shooter for posting that beauty again. Now there's a in sevice 1911 that looks good all the time.

[1911 Shooter]

I just treat her like a lady.

[Dirty.Harry]

Hi! :D

Great thanks for the warm welcome and for all suggestions! :D I personally like black guns, all my handguns are black, in my opinion dark finish is prettier. But your arguments for stainless steel are strong :) I still not to know once's mind, but... perhaps... now is the time to buy my first stainless pistol...? :D

Warm greetings from Poland! :) :) :)
DH

[vashooter]

I have a S/S steel target ,zero malfunctions and zero problems with scratches ,rust etc and it shoots like a custom pistol Floyd