THE EVOLUTION OF THE SPECIES: 1911 ROUNDUP

* KJW M1911A1 * Army Kimber Warrior * TM Hi-Capa 4.3 *

The 1911 model has been around for more than a century, and in recent times there have been several attempts to update its otherwise proven design. Many agencies and military units are going back to this old workhorse, maybe out of patriotic chauvinism or due to “the bigger the better” reasons.

In any case, we have chosen three airsoft examples of different stages in this sort of evolution: One is your classic no-nonsense Government Model, with its long barrel and single stack magazine, followed by a customized version which retains these two features but adds a railed frame, and the last one is a compact double-stack with a polymer lower body.

The three pistols compared here showed pretty similar performance, finish and overall quality. It must be noted that the single-stack/double-stack distinction affects only the capacity of the gas reservoir, not BB capacity, as all the mags hold 20+ BBs in double stack configuration.

KJW M1911A1

FEATURES:

-Standard model length and overall dimensions

-Combat sights

-Standard short trigger

-Right handed only safety

-Single stack-like magazine

PROS:

-Tight fitting parts

-Hefty

-Strong kick

-Great range and accuracy out of the box

-Suitable for any time frame reenactment

 -Can take CO2 mags

CONS:

-No trades (well, unfortunate “Made in Taiwan” ones)

-Poor gas efficiency

-Not compatible with aftermarket grips, due to CO2 ready frame

-Ugly orange blowback unit

-Combat sights are unobstrusive but hard to aim with

The KJW is the one that both feels best and shoots best, only that it will also be the first to stop shooting due to its poor gas efficiency. You may luckily get one full mag per fill if you space your shots, but any rapid fire will anticipate the end of the show to a half magazine.

Army Kimber Warrior

FEATURES:

-Railed frame

-Front serrations

-Detachable sights

-Guide rod

-Long match trigger

-Long tang

-Skeleton hammer

-Ambidextrous safety

-Single stack-like magazine

The Army aka Kimber Warrior is a crossbreed between a service pistol and a match one. You get all the good features of the classic design together with all the modern tacticool bells and whistles. However this model feels too loose, it will actually rattle if you shake it. That and the poor accuracy out of the box lowered the score a bit.

PROS:

-Hefty

-Well finished

-Full, quality trades

-Dotted sights

-Lower price tag

CONS:

-Quirky hop up out of the box

-Weak safety lever, hard to keep in place

TM Hi-Capa 4.3

FEATURES:

-Compact barrel/slide

-Railed frame

-Front serrations

-Detachable sights

-Guide rod

-Short tang

-Skeleton hammer

-Hidden lanyard attachment

-Double stack-like magazine

PROS:

-Fast blowback

-Good gas efficiency

-Smooth operation

CONS:

-Lightweight, plasticky feeling

-Fictional cheesy trades

-Expensive

The Marui Hi-Capa is a fictional model derived from futuristic IPSC race gun designs, with a tacticool twist. Like all Marui pistols, it offers an excellent performance out of the box, but –yes, the “Tokyo Marui-But”- it feels a little toylike and costs a little fortune. It is also the only one with double gas capacity due to the double stack type magazine. In addition, the lightweight plastic slide cycles faster and with less gas consumption.

The final veredict is that to each its own. If you plan to use a flashlight, get any of the railed models, if you are left handed take the Kimber, if you are a 20’s gangster or a GI, take the KJW...