Dan Wesson Pointman PM-45

The Pointman is Dan Wesson's performance-driven 1911, and the Pointman 45 is the .45 ACP version. Dan Wesson built it with competition features that also make it a fine all-around full-size pistol.

This is the base configuration. It has a 5-inch barrel and a stainless steel frame. The finish is a nice touch: the flats of the frame and slide are polished while the rounded surfaces are sandblasted, which gives the pistol a two-tone look in plain stainless.

The Pointman's signature detail is on top of the slide. Dan Wesson machines an inverted rib between the sights, which cuts glare and gives your eye a clean path to the front sight. The sights themselves are a fiber optic front and an adjustable target rear, a good setup for precise shooting.

The frame is set up for control. Dan Wesson adds front and rear cocking serrations, an undercut trigger guard for a higher grip, and 25 lines-per-inch checkering on the front strap. The grips are double diamond cocobolo, a classic choice that suits the stainless finish.

It's single action and holds 8+1 rounds. It measures 8.75 inches long, 5.4 inches tall and 1.5 inches wide, and it weighs 41.3 ounces. That weight makes it very steady on target.

If you want a full-size stainless 1911 with target sights and competition touches, at a price below most custom guns, the Pointman 45 is a strong pick. The polished stainless and cocobolo combination also makes it one of the better-looking pistols in Dan Wesson's lineup, which is a bonus if it spends time in a display case.