Founded in the back of his family's jewelry store in 1977 to help support his competition pistol habit, Bill Wilson's little custom gun shop has grown to become a household name and employs hundreds. 

Bill Wilson was one of the original custom M1911 competitors back in the days when Chip McCormick was on the circuit and a Mickey Fowler was on the cover of American Handgunner beside a young Rob Leatham
 

Wilson, getting it done through the power of the John Holmes stache and ringer tee. (Photo: Wilson Combat)


Beginning with basic gunsmithing and parts, Wilson's one-man operation grew quickly, and many of the world's top pistol shooters were soon carrying guns with some of his ingredients. To this day, the Wilson Combat's legendary 1911 magazines are the go-to for many and often ship as O.E. with some of the better .45s on the market today outside of WC's own creations. 
 

Wilson has evolved from the days of basket weave and two-toned compensated 1911s.  (Photo: Wilson Combat)


Over the years, Wilson Combat has expanded into defensive carry guns and gear, tactical shotguns, and AR rifles. Along the way, the company has brought Chip McCormick Custom, Lehigh Defense, New Ultralight Arms, and Scattergun Technologies under its banner. According to the most recent data available from federal regulators, Wilson Combat in 2020 produced no less than 9,409 pistols and 7,532 rifles in its Berryville, Arkansas, flagship facility. 
 

These days, Wilson Combat still makes lots of 1911s and 1911 stuff – who doesn't like the classics? – but has also designed the popular new EDC X9 series of handguns and partners with industry leaders SIG Sauer and Beretta to produce custom runs and items with those companies as well. (Photo: Wilson Combat)


"It's hard to believe that the one-man gunsmithing shop I started in a 10'x20' area in the back of my dad's jewelry store 45 years ago has grown to a multi-brand enterprise with over 200 employees in three states," said Wilson. "It's been quite a ride, and it couldn't have been accomplished without our awesome team members."
 

45th Anniversary 1911


Wilson Combat just wouldn't be where it is today without Bill Wilson's soft spot for the 1911 platform, so it just makes sense that it would salute the past 45 years of living the dream by crafting a small run of "retro" style guns that would be instantly familiar to those who have leafed through one of WC's late 1970s and early 1980s catalogs. 
 

The 45th Anniversary Wilson Combat 1911. (Photo: Wilson Combat)
The 45th Anniversary Wilson Combat 1911. (Photo: Wilson Combat)
The 45th Anniversary Wilson Combat 1911. (Photo: Wilson Combat)
The gun uses an upswept grip safety, traditional Bo-Mar style adjustable rear sight with a staked ramp front, a retro Commander-style hammer, Swenson-style ambidextrous thumb safety, and a coarsely serrated slide top that WC says is "reminiscent of the finest bespoke guns available to shooters at the time." (Photo: Wilson Combat)


Other features include a fully hand-polished deluxe blue finish with WC's volant eagle logo, and premium desert ironwood grips featuring a smooth finish. As you would expect, it has a three-hole trigger that has a pull weight of between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds. The hand-fit pistol, in a nod to today's shooters, runs a full-length guide rod, an ambi thumb safety, and a 30-LPI checkered front strap.

MSRP on the 45th Anniversary gun is $4K, which is only $725 when adjusted back to 1977 dollars, but good luck getting one for that President Carter-era price point. Who says inflation isn't a thing, eh?
 

 

revolver barrel loading graphic

Loading