Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade
A combination of aesthetics and functionality, the Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade is one of the highest-grade 1911 pistol variants currently offered on the defensive handguns market: let’s take a look!
Bill Wilson – founder and owner of Wilson Combat – is definitely a household name among 1911 pistol shooters, collectors, and enthusiasts at large. His company started as a small gunsmithing shop in the back of his family’s jewelry store in Berryville (Arkansas) in 1977, and as the years went by it evolved in a major global player, expanding quite rapidly into the manufacturing of components and now offering custom-grade variants of the Remington 870 pump-action shotgun under the Scattergun Technologies brand as well as a line of AR-10 and AR-15 rifle and carbine variants, and 7,62mm bolt-action high accuracy rifles.
While Wilson Combat’s ventures on the custom field went as far as to cover the Beretta 92FS, the 1911 pistol design has always been the company’s core business. Wilson Combat’s 1911 variants are designed and manufactured completely in-house every since 1996, and are the only ones in the world to guarantee a 1-inch at 25 yds (25mm groups at 23 meters) accuracy level.
The Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade semi-automatic pistol – one of the Company’s flagship 1911 variants for service, defensive and tactical purposes – is a perfect example of the levels of quality and performance that a Wilson Combat pistol can achieve.
A full-size pistol, the Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade is 22 cm / 8.7” long overall, sports a 1,7 cm / 5” barrel and weighs 36.6 oz (approximately 1 kilogram) when empty.
Calibers available include 9mm, .45 ACP, .40 Smith & Wesson, .38 Super Auto and 10mm Auto.
Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade
Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade
The Wilson Combat Tactical Supergrade is compatible with any stock eight-rounds single-stack 1911 magazine, but that’s more or less all the “stock” you’ll find on this pistol.
The Tactical Supergrade is entirely made out of carbon steel, hand-made and hand-assembled.
The full-size frame is free from a tactical accessory rail and features a high-cut front strap and a high-ride beavertail grip safety for a more comfortable handling, and is embellished by Wilson Combat’s own, black G10 Starburst grips.
Both the front strap and back strap are checkered for a firm, slip-proof grip in all conditions; the hammer and trigger feature lightening cuts, and offer a crisp trigger pull at about 1,5 to 2 kilograms (3.½ to 3.½ lbs).
The slide stop release lever and the magazine release button are located only on the left side; the left grip panel is slightly beveled at thumb’s height to make the magazine release button easier to reach.
The beavertail grip safety, the beveled magazine well and ambidextrous frame-mounted safety are all hand-picked from the Wilson Combat Bullet Proof line of parts, CNC-machined entirely in-house following stringent tolerances and proprietary specifications, and also available as aftermarket components.
The carbon steel slide features a 30 LPI checkered anti-glare top and 40 LPI rear serrations, a Wilson Combat Battlesight rear sight designed by Bill Wilson himself and a tritium front sight. The Match Grade 5” carbon steel barrel is hand fit, along with a Match Grade hand-made barrel bushing to go along.
Wilson Combat defines the Tactical Supergrade pistol as “the finest full-size defensive pistol in today's market”; advertisement and exaggerations aside – and leaving all considerations about calibers, capacity, double-stack vs. single stack and personal considerations apart – there is no doubt in our mind that what we have here is really one of the finest 1911 pistol variants currently available among those specifically developed and manufactured for everyday carry, defense, and service issue. And quality reflects on the price tag.
