An all-around, all-American pistol that’s been proven on and off the battlefield for well over a century. Winner of back-to-back world wars. Purveyor of the Lord's caliber. There's no denying the legendary status of the 1911 – everyone wants a handgun with that iconic silhouette in their collection. 
 

What is a 1911?

Designed by John Moses Browning and named for the year it was introduced, the 1911 is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for .45 ACP. The barrel drops downward with the aid of a link to unlock the breech and rises back up during the reloading cycle to lock the barrel and breech.

The M1911 served as the U.S. military’s go-to sidearm through two world wars and beyond, eventually exiting service in 1985. While the design hasn't changed much since John Browning’s patent was issued back on Feb. 14, 1911, modern manufacturing processes, materials, and features make some versions a little better than others.

We're here to help you sort through the heaps of 1911s on the market today with our picks for the best 1911s at every budget, with a few 2011s thrown in for good measure.
 

1911 Buyer's Guide

Budget (Under $600): Tisas Model 1911 A1 U.S. Army, Rock Island Armory GI Standard, Taurus 1911
Mid-Range ($600–$1,500): Springfield Armory Emissary, Ruger SR1911, Kimber Custom II
Modern Carry (9mm/Optics): Kimber 2K11, Springfield Armory Prodigy Comp, Staccato C
Premium/Heirloom ($2,000+): Wilson Combat CQB, Dan Wesson Specialist, Nighthawk Custom 1911s

Budget (Under $600) 

Tisas Model 1911 A1 U.S. Army

The Tisas 1911 A1 US Army is a replica of the U.S. Army GI 1911s that were standard issue throughout the first and second world wars and beyond. Built in Turkey and imported to the States under the SDS Imports banner, this GI-style 1911 hosts only the most basic of sights while still sporting Series 70 internals and nicely textured grip panels made from Turkish walnut. The .45 ACP version (it's also available in 9mm) has a 4.86-inch barrel and has an extended 8+1 capacity or 7+1 with flush-fit mags.

Rock Island Armory GI Standard

Another GI 1911 replica, the Rock Island Armory GI Standard is available in a 9mm, 10+1 capacity version as well as .38 Super and .45 ACP models, both full-size and compact. It even comes in state-compliant versions so you can own a 1911 no matter where you live. Sporting wood grips that offset a black stainless-steel frame, the 9mm GI Standard weighs in at 39.5 ounces with a 5-inch barrel.
 

Taurus 1911

For those not interested in starting with the classic GI model, the Taurus 1911 is an affordable option enhanced with some of the bells and whistles you normally only get on expensive guns. Those include the elongated, ambidextrous thumb safety, high-rise beavertail safety, and lowered and flared ejection port. The Taurus brings an all-black design and packs 8+1 rounds of .45 ACP. With a 5-inch barrel, it weighs 42 ounces. 

Mid-Range ($600–$1,500)

Springfield Emissary

Springfield Armory's Emissary is billed as blending defensive and custom pistols to create a striking .45 ACP (or 9mm) railgun that looks great while still being very capable. With a distinctive railed frame that includes a squared, glove-friendly trigger guard, the Emissary also has wrap-around grip texturing, a skeletonized hammer, and a solid-body, flat-faced trigger. Weight on the 5-inch .45 ACP version is 40 ounces due to its forged steel construction, and it has an 8+1 capacity. 

Ruger SR1911

Backed by the Ruger name, the SR1911 delivers rear-only slide serrations, a bead-blasted satin polish, chamber peep hole, over-travel adjuster, gaping ejection port, high LPI checkering on the mainspring housing (including a flat mainspring), and full-length guide rod. With several models skirting the $800 price range, the SR1911 series offers chamberings in 9mm, 10mm, and .45 ACP. The Standard, Commander, Officer, and Target variants all slip in under $1,000, while the Competition series will push you closer to $2,000. Base models come with the classic 1911 fire control, wood grips, and a stainless-steel frame.
 

Kimber Custom II

Available in a variety of finishes, from classic two-tone wood and metal to blacked-out models, the .45 ACP Kimber Custom II also comes in 9mm or 10mm chamberings. It features upgrades including a beavertail extended safety, beveled magazine well, enlarged ejection port, and lightened trigger with over-travel adjustment. 

Modern Carry (9mm/Optics)

Kimber 2K11

When you start looking for more modern features and upsized capacity on your 1911, you may start to move into the double-stack/wide-body 1911 game. Also known as 2011s, these are usually higher-end, souped-up double-stack versions of the classic single-stack pistols. Kimber's 2K11 is one of our favorites in this category, boasting a 17+1 capacity with its flush-fit mags and 20+1 with the extended mags. It's reliable and accurate with tight lockup and an excellent trigger. While the entry point upward of $1,500 may be a sticking point, these guns are like Cadillacs, and you get what you pay for.

Springfield Armory Prodigy Comp

The Springfield Prodigy Comp is essentially exactly the same design as the original Prodigy – with a compensator. Chambered in 9mm, this double-stack 2011 features ambidextrous controls, an optics-cut slide, and 17 and 20-round magazines. The big upgrade comes in the form of a porting cut on the barrel and slide, directly in front of the front sight post, which helps keep the muzzle down for smoother shooting.

Staccato C

Staccato released its double-stack C in 2024, and we've been loving it. Version 3, or the V3 generation, of the C includes the CS and 2024 C. With a 3.5-inch barrel, the CS is intended to be the perfect carry gun, while the C is a more do-it-all gun, with its 4-inch barrel and 26-ounce weight. The 2024 C hits the sweet spot for grip size and texture, making the gun very controllable. Compact and full-size grips are available on both the C and CS models.

Premium/Heirloom ($2,000+) 

Wilson Combat CQB

Wilson Combat's Close Quarters Battle, or CQB, is a thoroughly modernized version of Browning's original design. Common features across the CQB series include a carbon steel frame and slide, a high-cut checkered front strap, high-ride Bullet Proof or concealed style beavertail grip safety, front and rear slide serrations, a crisp trigger pull in the 3.5-to-4.5-pound range, G10 grips, WC's Battlesight with a fiber-optic front, and a stainless-steel match-grade hand-fit barrel. 

Dan Wesson Specialist

The Dan Wesson Specialist is an operator's 1911 designed for special forces use – hence the name. The Specialist boasts tactical features including a rail and detachable magwell that almost completely swallows an extended eight-round .45 ACP magazine. There's a full-length 5-inch barrel, ambidextrous thumb safety, and stunning “Hyena Brown” VZ G10 grips on either stainless or black frames. This one is a looker as well as a shooter.
 

Nighthawk Custom 1911S

Nighthawk Custom guns are among the top of the line for custom 1911s. The Nighthawk gunsmiths toil over every minor detail of the John Moses Browning platform to make sure the handgun exhibits tight tolerances and premium performance. Nighthawk also has a flair for the dramatic, incorporating rare and custom grips, beautifully detailed engravings, and precious metals into many of its builds. If you're looking for a conversation piece that performs, check out Nighthawk's 1911 pistols.