By Mike Schoby
If I was pressed to name the one gun I have carried more than anything else, it would easily be the 1911. Not the same 1911 mind you, but collectively, I have carried this model of pistol more than probably all other gun types combined.
Of course, when it is batwing hot, and shorts are the only dress option I’ll carry something sub-compact like the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0. And when it is cold, I open carry a larger-caliber revolver in a shoulder holster while hunting. But for daily carry outside of these two extremes, a full-sized 1911 is more often than not tucked inside the waistband in a Milt Sparks holster.
So why, after 115 years is the 1911 still the go to choice for me as well as so many others? The answer is simple. The grip dimensions and angle fit my hands (and 99% of all other people out there) perfectly. The platform is extremely accurate. The trigger is unmatched and it’s a redundantly safe design, even when carried “cocked and locked.” As a bonus, it is thin enough to be able to comfortably carry and concealed inside a waistband (or if you don’t fancy your dick, appendix).
Sonny Had it Right
But just because I am a traditional, old-school dude, doesn’t mean I can’t change with the times. As good as the .45 ACP is at putting down axis villains, a 10mm is better. I will go so far to say the .45 ACP should have been dumped for the 10mm years ago. Sonny Crockett realized this in the ‘80s and carried a Bren Ten, the first 10mm auto pistol as Miami drug lords need more killin’ than a 45 can provide. But despite Jeff Cooper’s involvement in the Bren Ten development, us public-school-educated Americans just weren’t ready to adopt the metric system yet.
Despite what some bear guides would have you believe, a 10mm isn’t a super-magnum caliber. In fact, it is about half as powerful as a .44 mag. It is about 35-percent more powerful than a 9mm +P or a standard 45 ACP. My go-to load is the Federal 180-grain Trophy Bonded soft point, which comes out of the 5-inch muzzle at a little under 1,300 fps with about 650 foot-pounds of energy.
When loaded in a 1911 there is another advantage to the 10mm—one more round. With a standard 1911 government model in .45 ACP and you get seven-plus-one. With a 10mm in the same flush-fit magazine, you get eight-plus-one, and about 100-to-200 more foot-pounds of energy per round. In a gunfight it might make the critical difference.
So, the numbers and features point to only carrying a 10mm 1911, but which one?
Dan Wesson Razorback
I could never fault anyone for carrying a Colt Delta Elite. Introduced in 1987, it was the second 10mm auto, much more reliable and successful than the Bren. It has OG charm and red diamond bling on the grip. It is a pretty rad ‘80s gun and after a hiatus is still offered by Colt. But recently I started carrying a Dan Wesson Razorback. While I’m not a fan of the name, as it reminds me of the quarter-operated vending machines found in trashy bar restrooms, but other than that there is a lot to love and not much to hate.
For starters, the slide-to-frame, as well as the barrel-to-slide fit, is damn near perfect. Not so tight that it won’t go into battery if a mote of dust settles in, but precise enough that you know the gun will put all bullets into a ragged hole at 25 yards if you do you part.
Full stainless construction (nice for sweaty, against-the-body daily carry), the flats of the frame and slide are perfectly polished, while the bevels are a subdued matte. The slide is traditionally cut with only rear serrations—something I appreciate. I don’t need dozens of ways to rack a gun … one is just fine.
As you would expect of a gun of this quality it has the typical bells and whistles—extended single safety (honestly, I abhor ambidextrous safeties on a 1911 as they are prone to being swept off while carrying cocked and locked), extended slide and extended mag release. Beavertail grip safety and checkered back strap round out the package. Smooth front strap, solid trigger and thin, checkered rosewood grips add an element of class and tradition. One modern feature I enjoy is the undercut trigger guard. I’m sure when John Browning invented the 1911, men’s fingers were slimmer and the 1911 fit perfectly … in today’s fat, reality-TV, couch surfing society … not so much, and I appreciate a bit more breathing room below the trigger guard.
The Battlehook rear sight is married to a removable plate for optics, which is a nice touch even though I don’t need it. For an inside-the-waistband gun, I’m never going to run an optic, but the ability to rack a slide off your belt with the sight is nice if you choose to not carry cocked and locked. To each his own—you may desire an optic such as the Aimpoint Acro and now you have the option. What also are nice is the machined lines along the top of the slide, which reduce glare and ease sight picture.
Big Boy EDC
All in all, the Razorback is what 1911 aficionados want in a gun. Clean lines, aesthetic appeal, pinpoint accuracy, ultimate reliability and functional improvements where needed and none of the fluff.
As a side note: if you want fluff, you will appreciate the Dan Wesson packaging. Unboxing the pistol is like witnessing Rolex and Apple on Bang Bus. It is an experience to say the least and is a box you will for sure keep in your basement to pass to a grandchild along with the gun.
Price: $2,750.
Pros: Classic design, no 29 pieces of unneeded flair. Shoots great and won’t let you down.
Cons: I will replace the front fiber-optic sight with a brass bead front sight from Novak.
