Two similar platforms, two very different price points. Select a model below to check live inventory and pricing.
Budget 1911: Dickinson Arms Adam 45BB
The Dickinson Arms Adam 45BB is a traditional 1911 with a classic bushing barrel design. It’s made in Turkey, and like many budget imports, quality can sometimes vary. In fact, my first unit had reliability issues, including failures to feed and go into battery. Even after lubrication and attempted break-in, it didn’t improve. This second sample performed much better, which highlights one of the realities of budget 1911s: they can be hit or miss.
That said, the Adam 45BB offers a surprising number of features for the price. The overall fit and finish is good, the barrel lockup is tight, and the slide-to-frame fit is above-average for a duty-grade firearm.
It uses a flat wire recoil spring, which is a nice upgrade over standard springs due to increased longevity. The pistol comes with Novak-style rear sights that are low-profile and snag-resistant, though they lack a ledge for one-handed manipulations. The rear sight notch is relatively narrow, which helps with precision but slows down rapid target acquisition.
Up front, the gold bead front sight stands out. It provides a clean and easy-to-acquire sight picture, especially in good lighting conditions. The slide includes front and rear serrations. While not overly aggressive, they are functional. The front serrations are somewhat sparse, so you have to be deliberate about where you grip the slide.
Adam 45BB Features
The ambidextrous safeties are a welcome feature, though they are smaller than those found on higher-end guns. They engage positively, and the grip safety includes a memory bump that disengages easily at around 50 percent.
The trigger was better than expected for a budget gun. It broke at just under 4 pounds with a clean break and short reset. There is some play in the trigger, but overall performance is solid for the price.
The grip panels are wood and provide a good balance of texture and comfort. However, there is no front strap checkering, and only minimal serrations on the backstrap.
The pistol ships with one ACT eight-round magazine and includes a full cleaning kit and bushing tool. For testing, I used a mix of Mec-Gar, Brownells, and Chip McCormick magazines.
Overall, the Adam 45BB offers a lot of value and delivers more performance than you might expect at this price point.
Premium 1911: Kimber Gold Combat Stainless II
The Kimber Gold Combat Stainless II represents the higher end of factory 1911s. It features the same traditional bushing design but with a higher level of fit, finish, and refinement. The barrel fit and slide-to-frame fit are noticeably better, and the slide cycles more smoothly.
The sights are three-dot night sights with white outlines. While I generally prefer a blacked-out rear, the white outlines make the sights easier to pick up quickly. The rear sight also has a snag-free profile. The slide serrations are more aggressive and easier to use than those on the Dickinson.
This model uses a full-length guide rod, which adds some weight to the front of the gun. While some shooters believe this reduces muzzle rise, I haven’t found a significant benefit. I prefer the simpler GI-style guide rod for easier disassembly.
Gold Combat Stainless II Features
The ambidextrous safeties are larger and better blended into the frame, making them easier to use. The grip safety functions similarly to the Dickinson, with a cleaner looking memory bump and easy disengagement.
The trigger is lighter, breaking at just under 3 pounds. It’s a refined trigger with less take-up, though not dramatically better in practical use. The trigger shoe itself is more stylized, with cutouts and serrations.
Where the Kimber really stands out is in the grip. It features aggressive front and backstrap checkering along with higher-quality grip panels. This significantly improves control, especially when shooting .45 ACP.
The pistol also includes a flared magwell, which makes a noticeable difference in reload speed. Single-stack 1911s can be slower to reload due to their narrow magazine well, and this addition helps mitigate that.
Specs Comparison
Performance
On the range, both pistols performed better than expected. Reliability was solid for both guns, though not perfect. I intentionally did not tune either pistol to specific ammunition or magazines. As many 1911 shooters know, these guns can be particular about both. It’s not uncommon for a 1911 to prefer certain loads or magazine brands.
Both pistols experienced a few minor malfunctions, but neither stood out as significantly more reliable than the other. One interesting observation was that the Kimber’s slide felt slightly more sluggish, even when properly lubricated.
Accuracy was good across the board. At 15 yards, both pistols produced consistent groups, and the Kimber did not show a significant advantage over the Dickinson in this regard.
The biggest difference between the two guns comes down to handling and refinement. The Kimber feels tighter, more polished, and offers better grip traction. The Dickinson, on the other hand, delivers comparable performance at a fraction of the price.
Pros & Cons: Adam 45BB vs. Gold Combat Stainless II
Final Thoughts
The biggest takeaway from this comparison is just how capable a budget 1911 can be. The Dickinson Arms Adam 45BB delivers a surprising level of performance for under $400. While it may lack refinement and consistency, it offers tremendous value and is more than capable on the range.
On the other hand, The Kimber Gold Combat Stainless II provides a higher level of fit, finish, and overall refinement. It looks better, feels better, and offers features that enhance handling, particularly in terms of grip and reload speed.
But when it comes to pure performance, the difference between the two is not as large as the price gap would suggest. At the end of the day, everyone should own at least one good 1911. The real question is how much you’re willing to spend to get there.
