Smith and Wesson Introduces Model SW1911 .45ACP Sub Compact – Pro Series Pistol
BySmith and Wesson has brought a new subcompact 1911 in .45 ACP to the market in their SW1911 line. The SW1911 Sub Compact Pro Series is a tiny 1911 with an obvious eye on the concealed carry market.
The SW1911 features a Scandium frame, carbon steel slide, and stainless steel barrel, which all weighs in at only 24 ounces unloaded. The gun is offered in matte black.
The gun loads 7+1 of the venerable .45 ACP and launches the rounds through a 3″ barrel. Sights are typical three-dot.
Due to the reliability problems sometimes encountered with shrinking the 1911 platform, S&W installed an oversized external extractor to ensure positive extraction. Smith and Wesson also equipped with subcompact 1911 with a three-hole trigger and a full-length guide rod. I personally do not care for the skeletonized-type triggers, but your mileage may vary.
List price on the SW1911 Sub Compact Pro Series is $1264.
8 Comments
January 4th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Im buying this for my son-in-law for Xmas.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Good Day!
I am selling my Beretta 92F .9mm and Walther PPK .380 to purchase a compact 1911, for concealed carry.
I want a .45 caliber and have been looking for the Kimber Ultra Carry II (blue), but so far I haven’t found one.
So, could anyone provide some comparisons between the S&W and the Kimber? (Or any other choices in that size range)
Thanks in advance
Tony Ellis
1975 USN 1988
May 28th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I own a full sized S&W 1911 and I absolutely love it. It has very little recoil. You can fire it over and over without hurting your hands. I am very impressed with the engineering behind the 1911 and I trust the S&W brand so it was only natural that I would buy their version of this historical firearm. My next purchase is going to be their sub compact 1911 for concealed carry. I own a S&W Model 442 revolver that uses .38 and .38 +P. Given the small size and the large bullet, it is just too painful for my hands to fire it repeatedly.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I would like to see some real reviews on this piece.
Can’t find much on the forums and I don’t trust the gun rags.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Talk about hype! Talk about fanfare!!! Here it is, almost a year later, and the much touted piece STILL hasn’t hit the streets! Maybe we should all become gunzine writers to try one out? Sorry, S&W, I got tired of waiting & went out & bought a Nighthawk lightweight 4″ Officers model instead.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Bought one about a month ago. Three range sessions so far; fired 300 rounds with only malfunction an ftf. I’ve shot only 230g. fmj factory loads to date. Ergonomics perfect for my hand; its a great fit. I shoot ambidexterously so I had an ambidexterous safety installed; that’s the only modification. Pistol very accurate; I have been consistently shooting 1.5-2″ inch groups from 10 yards. Recoil noticable but manageable; double taps easy enough. Muzzle flip more noticable than 5″ Gold Cup I shoot and I’m glad the grip and frontstrap is generously stipled to assist in the grip. Quality control and finish on the pistol is excellent. I think it’s a excellent CCW service caliber weapon which is exactly what I purchased it for.
June 17th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Pat, just one ftf out of 300 rounds? Did the bullet not seat in the chamber all the way or did the bullet jam nose up in the slide? I had a kimber ultra that jamed on feed like a stove-pipe but on a feed cycle. I just purchased the sw1911 3″ today and have not been to the range yet. I have the 5″ sw1911 stainless and love it. I hope the 3″ is as good…
August 30th, 2010 at 12:18 am
Purchased S&W and have put over three hundred (300) rounds through it. It works well, has suffered two (2) feed failures. One (1) with factory magazines, and one (1) with after market magazine(ProMag). It appears to be related to the extractor. Assisting slide forward put the weapon into battery and was able to fire. Will get back to you after one thousand (1000) rounds.