CNC Gunworks Akira

The Akira is CNC Gunworks' flagship double-stack 2011, and it's easy to see why competition shooters are talking about it. Built in Frisco, Texas, this pistol takes the classic 1911 trigger feel and pairs it with a modern high-capacity frame, then adds the kind of machining you'd expect from a shop that CNCs its own parts start to finish.

The steel frame and slide are hand-lapped for a smooth, almost silky rack, and the fit shows in how cleanly the slide tracks the rails. Up front, a 4.6-inch bull barrel with eight ports and three slots keeps muzzle rise in check, so follow-up shots land faster and flatter. The slide carries an optics cut ready for any RMR or SRO footprint red dot, plus a 6.4-inch sight radius with a fiber optic front sight and iron backups if you ever need them.

Grip feel matters as much as barrel work on a gun like this, and CNC Gunworks didn't cut corners there either. The CNC-machined aluminum grip module is hand-fitted to the frame, with a medium texture that stays grippy without chewing up your hands over a long match day. A flared tactical magwell speeds up reloads, and the trigger, an AGW Medium unit, breaks clean between two and three pounds with almost no take-up.

Safety features lean towards practicality. A high-grip ambidextrous safety works for right- and left-handed shooters alike, and it's shielded for IDPA competition use. The recoil system uses a toolless guide rod, so field stripping doesn't require extra tools at the range.

Finished in a deep, glossy coating that casts a faint blue hue in bright light, this Akira looks as sharp standing still as it does in motion. It arrives in a branded hard case, equally ready for the range bag or the display shelf.