Shop for Wilson Combat Bill Wilson Carry online at GunBroker.com

Famous arms maker Wilson Combat has the eponymous Bill Wilson as founder and chairman. What does he carry (most days)? Easy: the original of the Bill Wilson Carry M1911A1-type hammer-fired semi-automatic pistols. And it’s easy to see why. The single stack 7+1 capacity .45 ACP gun is ready to go out of the box with all the technology, looks, functionality and exemplary fit and finish one could want. Naturally, all this goodness comes with premium price tag.

The gun is designed for conceal carry, but it is still fairly good size. The barrel is 4” long. Other key dimensions are a height of 5.1” and width of 1.3”. Distance between the dovetailed sights is 5.6” and the overall length is 7.6”. Empty weight is 29.6 ounces; loaded, the gun weighs 5.3 ounces more (34.9 ounces total).

Major features include the weight-saving compact X-Tac aluminum frame, which has an integrated double slot accessory rail under the recoil spring housing and a gold bead front sight. In fact, it has few options other than the front sight, magwell type, thumb safety or finish color. But this gun is high-end for good reason.

The sights include a simple, but elegant and simultaneously functional, gold bead front sight that works well for quick target acquisition. Bringing up the back 5.6” further back is a Wilson Combat Tactical Adjustable Battlesight. This U-notch blackout dovetailed sight is crafted from block steel and is Parkerized for wear resistance and durability. It slots perfectly into the slide where two Torx screws lock it in place. As would be expected of Wilson, the sight is fully click adjustable for elevation and windage.

Wilson Combat says this arm is accurate to within 1.5” at 25 yards, a deviation of only 1 to 600.

The lines are mostly classic M1911A1. The trigger guard enjoys snag-free curved lines on the outside and encloses a rounded rectangle on the inside. Within it, the solid curved trigger has vertical serrations for improved feel and a superb 3.5 to 3.75 pound trigger pull.

The Bill Wilson Carry also features a grip safety in back that flows elegantly into the beavertail and above it an ultra-light serrated concave skeletonized hammer. Other main controls are on the left. They include the thumb safety at back, slide release and magazine release.

The gun includes several parts from Wilson Combat’s own elite Bullet Proof parts lineup. They include the thumb safety, grip safety, hammer and magazine release. What’s so good about them? Simple. All are CNC machined from solid blocks of hardened, billet tool steel, which is better than injection molded parts, etc., often used in other guns. These Bullet Proof parts end up being virtually wobble free, are very high quality, fit beautifully, etc.

A bit unusual but much appreciated from a styling perspective are the diamond hatched rear slide serrations. These combine to make a nice abstract large X pattern Wilson calls X-Tac.

In a nod to easier holstering, the slide front lacks serrations. Speaking of which, making this semi-automatic easy to holster are the flush-mounted reverse crowned muzzle and matching recoil spring cap. Their stacked stainless-steel looks contrast beautifully with the matte Armor Tuff finished slide.

The slide top has 30 lines per inch serrations that run its length except where interrupted by the ejection port. The back of the slide is also serrated. The slide is barrel vaulted in front. Its lower flanks are chamfered along the left and the back of the right.

If you like increments of 4”, then you’re in luck. This gun has a 4” long carbon steel slide and a 4” stainless steel match grade barrel.

Both the chamber and barrel are fluted, shaving precious tenths of ounces from the gun’s weight.

Naturally, it has some of the usual features of the M1911A1 model. These include the cut-down beveled ejection port

The tall side grips that almost reach the slide have horizontal diamond cutting and appear to be rich black cherry wood, but actually they are simulated cherry ultra-thin G10 polymer grips and are fastened with simple flat-head screws. At their center are the Wilson Combat eagle atop the letter C rondels. The frontstrap and mainspring housing at back share an integrated horizontal diamond pattern that’s part of the X-Tac style. These depart slightly from the side grip panel’s style while echoing them.

Wilson Combat makes the Bill Wilson Carry at its Berryville, Arkansas location. These guns are Made in USA.

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