Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns UTC Decision

Yep. I found it. A new 1.5" UTC, NFCS, just like I've always wanted. Gonna' pull the trigger and order it Monday, unless you fellers can talk some sense into me. The fellers on the 1911 forum were no help at all, as they all vigorously cheered me on. The problem is, if I order this pistol, I'll blow my budget by at least $700.00. My thinking is, what the heck, I've wanted one of these for years and years, and I'm not getting any younger + NFCS Baers are not easily found on the used market. I know I'll love it (a considerable amount more than my first wife) but I don't really want to spend this much cash on a 1911... but there it is, ready for the taking. How can I pass it up?

I have also wanted a blued carbon steel Valor for quite some time and, in fact, I found one a few weeks ago; bought it on the word of the seller that it was in 9.5 condition. Unfortunately, when I received the blued Valor, I found that his description was overly optimistic - the finish was beat to hell with scratches and dings all over it. Needless to say, I returned the pistol during my inspection period.

The Baer was the first semi-custom 1911 I've wanted... Well, second, after the Wilsons I drooled over as a teen. So, I've looked at Wilsons, Nighthawks, Ed Browns, the Springfield Professional and a few others, but all those were really just a pipe dream, b/c even used, I wasn't willing to spend nearly 3K or more for one of them.

I strongly dislike spray and bake finishes, I'm not wild about SS, and finding a blued version of any of the above 1911s on the used market is extremely rare. So, my choice basically boiled down to the following: 1) wait for another blued carbon steel Valor to come up for sale, 2) Get a Colt Wiley Clapp and send it in to a 'smiff, to get it wrenched on the way I want it, or 3) bite the bullet and blow my budget to get the 1.5" UTC, NFCS I've always wanted.

So I'm gonna' order the 1.5", UTC, NFCS, on Monday...

I'm stoked to order it, but hesitant to spend the cash.

Let me be the first

What exactly is a 1.5" UTC NFCS?

When I googled it all that came up was your post...

Don’t know about a 1.5” probably a typo. Les Baer 5” Ultimate Tactical Carry, No Front Cocking Serrations

Swifty52: Correct. 1.5" is not a typo. For certain pistols that are exceptional, Baer offers a 1.5" guarantee; Guaranteed 1.5" groups at 50 yards.

Buy it. You will not regret this purchase. I owned that very pistol for some time and it shot like a finely tuned sniper rifle. Should have never let it go.

Money well spent. Les Baer guns are tight and well made.

Your OP is a little misleading for my old brain, if you would have put guarantee after 1.5" it would have clicked.

Got it...

Beautiful choice. I go practically right by Baer's shop on my way to and from work. Love their stuff. Won't pay the price...

johnw:

Believe me, I understand & as I stated above, I am hesitant about spending this amount on a 1911. For years, I have periodically looked for a premium 1911 at a reasonable price. I wanted a blued Valor, which I considered relatively expensive for around $1.3 - 1.5K, and that was my budget, but I've had a hard time finding one (I really didn't want a SS or Duty Treated SS Valor).

Then I considered a Colt Wiley Clapp, and while I realize that the Clapp is perfectly fine out of the box, I would want to send it into a competent 1911 'smith to customize to my liking, which would probably end up costing as much or [likely] more than the Baer UTC, 1.5," NFCS, not to mention the long wait associated with such custom work and thus the time without my new pistol.

I've wanted a Baer for a long time and and I now have an opportunity to get one, the way I want it; albeit, at a price that blows my budget, but for a reasonable price by Baer standards, and certainly less than a Wilson, Ed Brown, Nighthawk or Springfield Professional - even used examples.

I know it's gonna' be an outstanding pistol.

CrimsonTide: I tend to agree w/ your assessment.

CraigD: Yessir.

Swifty52: No sweat.

UTC is ordered.

You will not regret it.

Long after your finances are back to normal, you will still be enjoying your Baer. They are superb, and spending the extra for the 1.5" is money well spent for the satisfaction in my opinion. Same with getting the build the way you want.

Personally I picked up a 1.5" PII, and it shot phenomenally well. However there were a few things I did not like, such as the black front sight, or the huge boat paddles they use for ambis. I had a very competent 1911 smith put a old school Colt style single sided safety on mine as well as a fiber optic sight, and an S&A magwell. If you are going to spend the $$ on a Baer, shoot the heck out of it and carry it, you might as well customize it.




Enjoy your new Baer!

Mackay: Agreed. I'm stoked - I've wanted a UTC for many years. Since the UTC does not have an ambi., I should be safe there; however, I've read that they can be incredibly tight and that the edge is quite sharp and may need some mild filing - or maybe I'll replace it w/ a Wilson thumb safety. Regarding the sights, I'll see how I like them as configured, but I may change to a .140 Novak or possibly a gold bead or a green fiber optic, since my ageing eyes would likely benefit. Maybe some new shoes as well, but I'll see how I like the slims. Not sure if I'd like a magwell, as I've never used one before. I may also fit an EGR slide stop and maybe an Ed Brown Magwell, if I decide to get one. I certainly look forward to shootin' the snot outta' it.

Any Baer 1911 blows a Colt Wiley Clapp out of the water.

High Noon, I think you're going to love that pistol. Every guy I've ever talked to that actually owns one does.

Agreed. I prefer Colts, but there is no comparison.

I hardly (if ever) do this, but I took a representative sample of a Baer, Wilson, Brown and Nighthawk (5" guns chambered in .45 Auto) to the range a few weeks ago and spent some time shooting them back-to-back. As close as they all are in terms of bells and whistles, there are in fact little nuances you can discern between them when you shoot them comparatively ..... but most (if not all) of the differences are fairly subjective in nature.

I remain personally convinced that Baer offers a lot of gun for the money and in my experience some really good deals can be readily found on new or like new guns at steeply discounted prices. I haven't found that to be the case nearly as often with the other brands.

THR: Indeed, hence my previous plan of sending a Clapp into a 'smiff to get it wrenched on, which would likely increase the cost North of what I paid for the UTC.

local_dirt: Yep. That's what I've read and I'm sure I'll love it.

Mackay_Sagebrush: I like Colts as well, but I don't want to have to deal with sending it in to modify and the high expense and long wait associated with that whole endeavor.

41magfan: I think your comparison holds true, and you're correct that Baer is probably one of the best values out there. Baers are certainly one of the most accurate as well.

Just a quick update: The Baer UTC 1.5 NFCS, a Boyt canvas pistol rug, 2 Chip McCormick 8 round Power Mags & 500 rounds of Federal American Eagle 230 grn FMJ ($18.45/box inc. tax & shipping) are on order. I should have everything in ~ 5 business days. I'm a'hankerin' to get shootin'.

I consider most any 1911s as diamonds in the rough. They are going to need to be cut and polished to shine. The amount depends on what you start with, and Colts are the baseline I tend to prefer, though I own other brands. High end guns like Baer, Wilson and Brown usually need very little if anything and often it is simply a matter of refining them to suit personal tastes. Reliability and accuracy, (more often than not) are already there.

I agree with the observation/opinion that Baer tends to be one of the better values when it comes to guns that are not mass production types. Their accuracy takes a back seat to no one, they tend to run well (for guys who run guns a lot, vs the guy who puts 150 rounds a year through his). The only ding I would give Baers over others, is that their blued finish in the past has been thin, and my own is no exception. That however is not big deal for me, as I tend to wear the bluing off guns anyway through use, but for some people who are more into ownership, fondling/collecting etc it may be a valid concern.

Mackay: Agreed. I read that Baer has changed his blueing chemistry to combat both the thin blueing and the pluming common on his slides, but I have not been able to confirm this yet.

The UTC, 1.5," NFCS has arrived and it's outstanding:









Planning to shoot it this wknd.

Now THAT is a proper 1911.

CrimsonTide: Thanks for chiming in. I was a bit disappointed no one has commented about such a stellar pistol, until now, so again; many thanks.

That is heirloom quality right there, in the age of cheaper and cheaper plastic guns.

Super nice!

Is that a NIB gun? Every Baer I’ve shot has been a shooter for sure.

Mackay_Sagebrush: Yessir and thanks. I have no love at all for plastic guns.

K1500: Yes, NIB. I'll take it to the range next week and report back when I get a chance.

I don't believe you'll ever regret bending the budget for something like the Baer custom.

Extreme functionality through detailed execution. Baer certainly has that down...

johnw: Yessir. At some point after break in, I'll send it in to have the lower lugs properly hard fit, a new EGW or Wilson slide stop, mag release and grip safety installed by a competent smith like Rob at Alchemy Custom.

If I had a legit 1.5” gun I would be scared as hell to let anyone change the fit LOL. Awhile back I bought a 1911 costing twice as much as my Baer. In the end I spent more money upgrading it to have a Kart barrel too. It now shoots equal to my Baer. There is not another 1911 on the market (or even close) that offers the same value for price and performance in my opinion.

Congrats on your pistol!

Hawkeye_Reloader: Thanks. I agree that Baer pistols are one of the best values in the industry right now. You'd have to spend significantly more to get the same quality and accuracy. The Dan Wesson Valor was close, but they've been discontinued. Unfortunately, CZ has a history of discontinuing firearms that are expensive and labor intensive to produce, like the 550 American and the 452.

Baer makes a good pistol for the price, but that 1.5" guarantee bullshit detracts from what's otherwise a good piece.

Especially since it appears there's an extra charge for it.

Fubarski: Not sure what you mean by that comment. Baer pistols are guaranteed to shoot 3" groups at 50 yards. Among the pistols he builds are a few that are exceptional & shoot ~ 50% better. I don't believe that's BS, I think it's a fact that certain pistols shoot better than others. If an individual wants one of those pistols, he pays a bit of a premium for it. Do you believe the Alchemy Prime 1" guarantee is BS as well? Granted, most people can't shoot that well anyway, but it sure is nice having a pistol that's capable of doing so - especially if the individual in question is a comeptent and experienced pistolero.

You said you'd been on 1911 forum.

Don't want ta cross forums, but that was the forum that first outed the BS.

Might even been alchemy himself, though it's been so long I can't remember.

Baer has a good product, been around a long time.

Seems like he had a good business goin.

Dunno why he hadda start the 1.5 bullshit.

Give me the skinny.

You can start with this:

https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=961434&highlight=baer+1.5

And there's more if you're still interested after that.

I'm not here ta bag on anything, especially your new rig.

Baer has thousands of satisfied customers, which speaks for itself with regard to his pistols.

Go shoot it, and have fun.

Thanks. Looks like it could go either way, but there is no proof one way or another - other than hearsay - and some from former Baer employees. I do realize that Baer's 1.5" claim is not actually verified at a legitimate 50 yards (as is the Alchemy Prime - but then, the Alchemy Prime is a significantly more expensive pistol), rather that it is extrapolated. Apparently the 1.5 pistols are built as such, but most would need a mechanical rest to realize that accuracy. I am interested in this subject and I will look into it further. At this point, I don't believe the 1.5" claim is a total crock.

At any rate, I plan on shooting it and having fun as you suggested. Thanks again for the info.

Like many of you, I’ve bought a lot of guns, most shot as expected, a very few have shot better and many have disappointed. A recent example was a new lever action 44 Magnum. The first shot always flew several or more inches away from otherwise very acceptable groups at 50 yards benched (handloads and factory ammo). The manufacturer took the rifle back, worked on it and returned it but it was only very slightly better. I sold the gun regrettably as it was a very cool gun and gorgeous to look at. If the manufacturer had offered to guarantee the gun shot fantastic, I would have happily paid the difference and kept it. Unlikely I’ll gamble again.
I’ve met Les and I have a 3” gun that is most likely a 1.5” capable gun. It’s my opinion that Les offers 1.5” guns because to many people it’s worth paying for, especially when his guns are a value to begin with.
Let us know how it shoots!

Hawkeye_Reloader: Will do.