Wilson Combat CQB Elite Compact

Wilson Combat traces back to 1977 in Berryville, Arkansas, when Bill Wilson, who trained as a watchmaker, started building custom 1911s. Every Wilson 1911 uses the company's Bullet Proof parts, machined from bar stock or forgings rather than cast or MIM parts. The CQB, short for Close Quarters Battle, is one of Wilson's classic working 1911 lines, and the CQB Elite adds a standard package of custom features. It was designed to meet the needs of tactical shooting professionals.

This is the CQB Elite Compact in its base configuration. It's offered in .45 ACP or 9mm with a 3.6-inch barrel, the shortest in this group of Wilson pistols. The frame and slide are carbon steel, and Wilson offers Armor-Tuff or matte stainless finishes.

Even at this size, it keeps the CQB Elite's features. The front strap and mainspring housing are checkered, the slide has serrations, and Wilson's Bullet Proof components are used throughout. You get a high-ride Bullet Proof beavertail grip safety and a tactical thumb safety.

The grips are G10 Starburst with a flat bottom and pewter medallions. The sights pair Wilson's Battlesight rear with a fiber optic front, and the trigger has a long pad with a crisp 3.5 to 4.5 pound pull.

It measures 7.25 inches long and 5.6 inches tall, and it weighs about 36 ounces empty. The magazine holds eight rounds of .45 ACP.

If you want a short-barreled 1911 that's easy to carry but still has Wilson's full set of working features, the CQB Elite Compact makes a lot of sense. It's a practical gun from a maker with a long history of building them.