Wilson Combat is heading to the SHOT show with six new models. The first one’s above: the CQB Light-rail Lightweight. The weapon’s available in 9mm, .38 Super, 10mm and (of course) .45. Wilson touts the pistol as “a full size working gun in a compact weight class” that “guarantees that you always have a weapon mounted light at hand.” Provided you don’t remove it. The forged aluminum-framed pistol weighs 31.2 ounces unloaded. Yours for $2800 plus. No? Let’s try again then . . .
For another $50 the weird can turn pro (Hunter Thompson reference) with the CQB Light-Rail Lightweight Professional. Designed for the “well informed gunman,” this bad boy combines a full-size grip with a compact slide assembly and a light rail for those hard-to-reach places in your darkened home or nightclub alley. The smaller forged aluminum-framed gun sports a larger price tag but you drop some oz’s, weighing-in at 28.5 ounces unloaded. No 10mm here, obviously.
Smaller? Sheesh. OK, how about the CQB Light-Rail Compact at 27.3 ounces unloaded? You gotta deal with a smaller grip but you get more bits and pieces. And a bigger price tag ($2920). Same forged aluminum-framed construction, caliber choice and Wilson Combat CQB QC.
The Professional Lightweight is another forged aluminum-framed full-figured gal like the CQB Light-Rail Lightweight, without the Light-Rail. For $50 less ($2750). No 10mm option, though.
“The Ultralight Carry Compact has all the cutting-edge features of the Ultralight Carry in a lighter smaller package. A 1″ shorter slide and ½ inch smaller gripframe than a full-size 1911 ensure that you will always have your Ultralight Carry Compact when needed.” Unless you forget it. “The fluted heavy bull barrel is not only attractive, but also functional-it traps dirt and debris that can otherwise cause a malfunction.” Not that Wilson’s 1911s—or any 1911—ever malfunctions.
And last, and in weight terms least, Wilson Combat offers the Ultralight Carry Sentinel. It’s 25.2 ounces unloaded, available in 9mm only. All that less—including a lot less trigger pull weight than any striker-fired polymer pistol—costs more: $3300.
I don’t shop in those price ranges, so I wouldn’t know, but …
I would think when you’re approaching $3 grand you would talk to the gunsmith actually working on your piece, and get a “true” custom job exactly how you want it. Right down to my initials monogrammed on the slide. Not buy one “off the shelf”, as it were.
No problemo! These are Wilson’s entry prices. Everything else, and there’s plenty of choice, is extra,
If you think $3k is a lot, try talking to a true custom 1911 maker. Last time I checked, most of them wanted about $6k. The quality that wilson puts out these days doesnt justify the extra 3 grand to go full custom.
I wonder if they actually work…
Oh yeah- they work. But the problem is aluminum is much more malleable than steel so they can get marred up real quick during everyday carry. Gonna get dinged up the first time you smash a new mag in to practice a reload under stress. If you got the cash, this is the way to fly. But for most, a Wilson Combat is going to be a steel model on a nice velour pillow in the safe only taken out for nice drives on the weekend.
Wow, a gold bead front sight is extra?!?! at those prices it should be included and 24 carat!
$2800-$3300 may seem like a lot of money, but as they say, “If it saves just one life, it’s worth it.” Also, think of the children.
They are expensive but fire one and you will sell every other gun you have to get one.
3k? Ill give you $800. Its always amazes me when people buy these “custom” guns that are mass produced just like any other gun. I have looked at a lot of brands, and there are only a few that are truly custom.
Here is my definition of a custom gun: You actually talk to the gunsmith that will build your gun. You select frame size, material, checkering, finish, and additional parts (extended slide release, ambi safety etc).
Then, you wait months while your gun is built.
I paid about $600 for mine in 1986. It works just fine.
Some people actually carry these expensive (I didn’t say over priced) guns every day. To me, a gun that pricey falls into the family heirloom class. I would be hesitant to even take it out of the house, let alone use it for EDC.
But hey, its not my money, so do what you like.
Am I the only one who thinks it’s funny at the name “CQB?” “CQB” is, of course, the military acronym for Close Quarters Battle. And I find it hard to imagine that anybody who does “CQB” for a living (i.e., a military person or a SWAT cop) would actually have that kind of money to spend on a pistol. Not to mention the fact that you can get a pretty sweet true “custom” gun for a lot less than $3k.
Martin, please give me the name of a known, widely respected gun smith who can build me a true custom gun for under $3K. If there were such a person, everyone would be using them and, guess what, due to the law of supply and demand, their prices would go up drastically above the $3K mark. The only way to get a sub $3K custom is to find a local-yocal GOB (good-ole-boy) who just happens to be REAL good at building guns.
For that kind of cash I’ll buy POF or LWRC .308 rifle.
Purchasing a WC of choice is like buying a piece of America. The guys who make the guns are among the best craftsmen in the world. If you only own one gun, this should be it.
Some of the best 1911’s made in my opinion, but those are like a**holes, we all got’em and most stink, lol. They are so expensive because of how many different hands they see. They are great pistols (tolerances,accuracy,etc.) and have great tooling in each one of them. You can call Wilson Combat and have them do anything to the 1911 you purchase that you want done. They know what there doing, or they wouldin’t be this big and reputiable. Just my two cents, Thanks!!