Smith 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.
Specifications
- caliber: .45 ACP
- standard magazine capacity: Â seven rounds
- barrel length: Â 3″
- overall length: Â 6 7/8″
- weight (unloaded): Â 24 ounces
- frame: Â scandium alloy
- slide: Â carbon steel
- barrel: Â stainless steel
- full-length guide rod
- oversized external extractor
- sights: Â three-dot
List price on the SW1911 Sub Compact Pro Series is $1264.
Smith & Wesson 1911 Subcompact
2013 SW1911 Update
This SW1911 pistol, introduced at the 2009 SHOT Show, is still in the Smith & Wesson catalog. Â The MSRP has dropped to $1,159. Â While not “cheap” by many people’s understanding of the term, the price is lower than the introductory price of $1,264.
The gun has gained a lot of respect from even the most traditional of 1911 enthusiasts. These guns look good and run great. For the price, they are actually a very good deal. Sure, more than $1k for a handgun is a little over the top for many people, but for a real 1911 fan the price is not bad at all.
I’ve had a chance to shoot these guns on the range, but I have not had one in my possession long enough for a complete review. If this changes, I will update this article with my observations.
14 replies on “Smith & Wesson Model SW1911 Sub Compact – Pro Series Pistol”
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.
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.
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…
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.