Cabot Guns Introduces the $4,300 GI 1911

What happens when you turn engineers loose on JMB’s timeless 1911 design, give them near infinite time and resources, and tell them “do it right, do it better, and do it American?” The answer comes to us from the rolling hills of Cabot, Pennsylvania via The Cabot Gun Company. Cabot’s making it’s world premier today at the NRA National Meetings. They came to play, rolling out four new guns . . .

So just how do you improve on manufacturing a design that’s remain largely unchanged for 100 years? Simple; you control every aspect of the build, and chuck variables out the window like illicit shrooms pre traffic-stop. Parts. Process. Product. In that order.

Cabot controls the variables by using precision machinery in their manufacturing process (tolerances guaranteed to be .001 inch), and ultrasonic testing of raw materials to ensure consistency. Cabot goes so far as to make the machines that make their guns. Cabot reckons their machining tolerance are so tight that all of their 1911 parts are 100% interchangeable, with no fitting required.

In a partnership with Penn United Technologies, the folks at Cabot have taken OCD to the extreme (the only US firearms manufacturer with a metallurgist on staff). They’re even mixing their own carbide. Crazy? A little. The type of company philosophy that NEEDS to permeate the industry? Definitely.

“1911 OCD” translates into guaranteed “post custom” quality and accuracy (their term)—performance exceeding match-grade standards right out of the box. They hand polish each trigger and test random guns with a variety of weights and brands of ammunition.

Cabot 1911’s are formed using a solid block of American 4140 billet steel, wear American wooden grips, sport a “100% American” label, and are built right in Penn’s woods – Americana if it’s ever been imagined. Currently, the company offers four products, all variants of the 1911. “No Frills” starts at $4,300 and “loaded” sets you back $4,950. Want to fondle one of these puppies at the show? Grab a pair of white cotton gloves first.

Is Cabot going to knock the likes of Kimber, Dan Wesson, Wilson Combat and company out of the high-end 1911 game? Not likely. Can they hang with the big boys? Time will tell. With the guarantees Cabot Guns posts on their website, they better be producing a product that matches up to the hype. They’ve made some steep claims, and it’ll be interesting to see if they’re able to follow-through with them. These ain’t your Gran-Daddy’s 1911’s, but they’re sure pretty enough to sit on the mantle beside them.

Function testing, and validation of Cabot’s accuracy and interchangeable parts claims to follow . . .