SVI strayer signature pistol- any experience out there?

[skorittnig]

Tonight I was flipping through my Mar/Apr issue of Front Sight, and inside the front cover is an ad for the Infinity Strayer Signature Pistol. I didn't know Infinity was making personal defense pistols- so I thought I'd check to see if anyone has any experience with them? Any info. will be greatly appreciated.

Have a safe and enjoyable 2010 season guys!

Shay

[fastarget]

I have seen my brother's, he has one. He thinks they are "the" custom manufacturer. They seem to be nicely fit and have great triggers, I think there is a few month's waiting to receive one....pretty and unique.

Edited March 8, 2010 by fastarget

[dcmdon]

I saw it also and immediately wanted one. BAD.

Fastarget - do you have any idea how much they are going for?

[skorittnig]

i received an email from Brandon stating that they would be approx. $4500, +/- any upgrades you opt for. Not cheap, but very well built (from what I've heard).

I'd be interested to hear about their reliability. I've read (on a few sites) about sub-govt. length 1911's having some issues---I'd like to know how SVI weighs in. I should just email them, they answered my first question about pricing within 24 hours.

I'll let you guys know what I find out.

[Pezco]

If it is like any other SV I have it will rock!

[dcmdon]

Wow. Thats 3x what a Les Baer cost. I'm sure its nice and all, but I'd never buy a $4500 carry piece. Maybe a match gun, but not a carry gun.

Don

[sgtis108]

Wow. Thats 3x what a Les Baer cost. I'm sure its nice and all, but I'd never buy a $4500 carry piece. Maybe a match gun, but not a carry gun.

Don

I think we are polar opposites Don

[dcmdon]

Well, my logic is that money doesn't buy you reliability beyond a point. And defensive combat accuracy is certainly less than match accuracy.

The truth of the matter is that a $460 glock in .45 ACP or .45 GAP would be an excellent carry piece.

Glocks are the industry standard for reliability.

Is it really accurate? No, but its accurate enough.

Is it pretty? No, but thats not the point.

Is there tremendous pride of ownership? Not for me.

So I "get" the Strayer. But I think I'd get more out of it shooting a $4500 gun competitively.

As such, as much as I lust after that compact hi-cap 2011 in all black, I have no real use for it.

Don

p.s. this is my DIY carry project gun. So I'm certainly not anti-1911

Edited March 27, 2010 by dcmdon

[Too_Slow]

I have handled the one in the picture and I will tell you it is SWEEEET. I will also say that it came with two top ends; one for carry and one for L-10. The guy that had that pistol built now has my copy of Front Sight because he is not a member as of yet.

Brian

[sgtis108]

Well, my logic is that money doesn't buy you reliability beyond a point. And defensive combat accuracy is certainly less than match accuracy.

The truth of the matter is that a $460 glock in .45 ACP or .45 GAP would be an excellent carry piece.

Glocks are the industry standard for reliability.

Is it really accurate? No, but its accurate enough.

Is it pretty? No, but thats not the point.

Is there tremendous pride of ownership? Not for me.

So I "get" the Strayer. But I think I'd get more out of it shooting a $4500 gun competitively.

As such, as much as I lust after that compact hi-cap 2011 in all black, I have no real use for it.

Don

p.s. this is my DIY carry project gun. So I'm certainly not anti-1911

My take on this is that I want my carry gun to be the best.

I shoot an SV in open. In my humble opinion they are the best. The fit the finish the quality of the parts used are all top notch.

I have others that I like and shoot but the SV is better in all aspects.

I'm comparing these to what I have in my safe. One could get caught up in here say, advertisements, magazine articles etc.

My SV makes the rest look mediocre.

So if my ass is on the line a few grand is nothing.

I shot a glock in production for about 5 years. I've got a wall full of plaques to show how much I like a glock.

When I shot that platform I carried a glock.

Now I shoot an SV so carrying that platform is natural.

So to wrap up I'd spend 10 grand on the best carry gun in my platform.

I respect your choice and ideas though.

[dcmdon]

SGTIS108,

It seems we agree one something more important than whether you carry a custom 2011 or a Glock. Its that you should carry what you compete with.

I've shot IDPA with a Glock of some sort since 1998. Because of that I've always carried some kind of gun with a similar action. (Seecamp, Ruger LCP, S&W 340, Kahr PM9).

I've owned carry glocks but found that I never carried them. Too big and heavy for the way I carry. I'll admit it I'm lazy.

So anyway, I've always carried a DAO gun because that is how I instinctively run a gun. I've only recently started to shoot 1911s. I'm still not intuitive enough with a 1911

to carry it as effectively as something like the Kahr. But I'm making progress.

I'm getting better at instinctively sweeping the safety off when I get on target. I'm having a harder time sweeping the safety ON when I come off target.

Either way, we both agree that being able to shoot instinctively with whatever gun you carry is more important than whether its a $4500 custom job or a $450 off the rack Glock.

Don

[RangerTrace]

When I started shooting USPSA, two years ago, I competed with a custom 2011 and carried a Wilson Combat 1911 at work. They weren't exact copies of each other, but close enough for me. However, after reading an article in Front Sight, written by Mike Seeklander, I decided to have SV build a pistol that would make a great match gun as well as a duty gun. I've only shot two matches with it so far, but I absolutely love the pistol!

[dcmdon]

Thats really a beautiful piece of work. I think a $4000 gun is definitely justifiable (in my mind) if it was a) used for work used for competition.

[stockton]

My .02...

I agree a G23 would be just as reliable as an SV Signature. That ain't the point. An Acura is more reliable than my 911. I just don't want to drive an Acura.

Les Baer makes great guns, but they are not in the same league as SV. Don't compare an Acura and a Bentley.

SV had SOME issues for a bit on reliability, but that was more on their open 9mm competition guns. They have those kinks worked out now and the guns I've seen coming from them the last couple years have run like sewing machines. Down here in North Texas, a good 10% or so of us have SVs. I will FOR SURE say they are the best machined components bar none.

For a defense gun, though, I carry a G23. Why? Well, if I shoot some A-hole that desperately needs it, I won't go into tears when the cops take my gun for 2+ years for evidence. But that's just me. One of my best friends who is a Mckinney cop, carries a double stack SV 9mm Commander off-duty. That gun has been passed around about 3-4 of our local guys for the last ten years and was used as a competition gun for 3-4 of those years and it is still as tight and accurate as the day it left SV.

That said, the chances of you having to shoot anyone is about zero. So, if you have the coin and want to know you got the best, get it!

[kylethunder380]

For a defense gun, though, I carry a G23. Why? Well, if I shoot some A-hole that desperately needs it, I won't go into tears when the cops take my gun for 2+ years for evidence.

I get upset when I have to send my pistol off to the gunsmith for work. The thought of having it stuffed into some evidence locker for 2 years makes me shudder. Yes, the chances of actually having to shoot someone are near-zero, but the way my luck has been going lately I would end up having to shoot someone the first day I decided to carry my competition gun. Long story short, I don't carry my 'baby'. I do like the idea of carrying something with a similar action/feel/safety-location, so that muscle memory/habits don't end up hurting you (or worse) on a very important day.

-Kyle

[dcmdon]

My .02...

I agree a G23 would be just as reliable as an SV Signature. That ain't the point. An Acura is more reliable than my 911. I just don't want to drive an Acura.

Les Baer makes great guns, but they are not in the same league as SV. Don't compare an Acura and a Bentley.

SV had SOME issues for a bit on reliability, but that was more on their open 9mm competition guns. They have those kinks worked out now and the guns I've seen coming from them the last couple years have run like sewing machines. Down here in North Texas, a good 10% or so of us have SVs. I will FOR SURE say they are the best machined components bar none.

For a defense gun, though, I carry a G23. Why? Well, if I shoot some A-hole that desperately needs it, I won't go into tears when the cops take my gun for 2+ years for evidence. But that's just me. One of my best friends who is a Mckinney cop, carries a double stack SV 9mm Commander off-duty. That gun has been passed around about 3-4 of our local guys for the last ten years and was used as a competition gun for 3-4 of those years and it is still as tight and accurate as the day it left SV.

That said, the chances of you having to shoot anyone is about zero. So, if you have the coin and want to know you got the best, get it!

And a 911 makes a great toy. An accura, a better commuter car.

You carry a G23, so you are in a way agreeing with me. A carry gun, to me, is a tool. Its to be treated well and respected, but not fawned over. A competition gun (again, this is just me) is a toy. Not unlike something like a track day car.

I don't make enough money to not worry about a $4000 carry gun. I think your carry gun should be semi-disposable. Maybe thats overstating it. But hopefully you get my point.

Edited March 29, 2010 by dcmdon

[RangerTrace]

I agree that it's highly unlikely that I'll use my pistol for anything other than match shooting. I hope that is always the case. But, in the unlikely event I do have to shoot someone in self defense or the defense of a third party, I want (demand) the most accurate/reliable firearm I can possibly afford. SV fills that role for me, perfectly

As far as the 2 years in an evidence locker goes, I'm not too worried about that one

Also, I have Wilson Combat 1911s that are nice looking, very accurate and extremely reliable. But, I shoot Limited and prefer a double stack platform because that is what I practice with. Not to mention that a Wilson costs about the same as an SV

Edited March 29, 2010 by SV-COP

[grkmec]

So does anyone have one? If not, I may need to suck it up and order one myself!

[Sandro]

So does anyone have one? If not, I may need to suck it up and order one myself!

I just got my sight tracker from SV today. everyday with a new gun is a good day. the best parts in the market today are SV, the best guns in the market base on parts and finish work is SV also. There are a lot of REALLY Good gun smiths building nice guns as well, but they are limited to parts that "today" cannot touch the SV quality.

I hope this helps. Buy two guns, lots of ammmo, read Brian's book 10 times and shoot 100,000 rounds and you will do great!

DVC,

Sandro

[GForceLizard]

stockton +1 on the evidence lock up.

We need to take to heart the idea that if we are unlucky enough to be involved in a shooting we may NEVER get that gun back. It might take some time if things work for you to see it again but I would not be surprised that in some jurisdictions it would be just as cheap to buy another than the legal cost to have it returned.

[dcmdon]

stockton +1 on the evidence lock up.

We need to take to heart the idea that if we are unlucky enough to be involved in a shooting we may NEVER get that gun back. It might take some time if things work for you to see it again but I would not be surprised that in some jurisdictions it would be just as cheap to buy another than the legal cost to have it returned.

Combine that with the practical fact that a $1600 baer or even a lightly tuned glock on a practical level is its functional equal (lets not dwell on details, but Glocks and Baers run very very well) for between one third and one ninth the cost. i.e. a person armed with a glock or a baer would not be at any real disadvantage against anyone armed with any hand gun.

Don

p.s. That doesn't mean i don't WANT of those black beauties inside the front cover of front sight. Just that I'd be far more likely to actually buy a larger match style gun.

[pjb45]

I first purchased a Trojan .45. It sits in the safe. I had a STI built. Sold it. I have three SV-two limited, one open. I have a SS SV being built by Kodiak Precision. I had a SS built by Tripp while waiting for my SV SS.

i am a huge fan of SV products, their stuff is excellent. It is worth the money if you have the money.

[dcmdon]

Back when I was single and childless. (sigh)

[joerocket]

I also saw it and wanted one. I sent off for some info and got a super fast reply from them.

General Tiki Information

Barrel Lengths:

Officers 3.9in

Commander 4.3in

Configuration:

Hicap

Single Stack

Materials :

Full Titanium Slide, frame, and components with tool steel rail inserted frame and slide Approximate Cost $9700.00

Carbon Steel Approximate cost $4500

Stainless Steel Approximate cost $4750

Aluminum Frame with Stainless Slide Approximate cost $5250

Calibers:

9mm, 9x21, 9x23, 38 super, 38 super comp, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, .45 ACP : Suggested Calibers: 9mm, .40, .45

Do not suggest longer cases such as 10mm or 9x25

Weight is Caliber dependent, All weights are in the Officers configuration, These weights are with an unloaded 113mm magazine. Capacity in 9mm is 16 rounds and 11 rounds for 45.

Titanium Tiki Officers Approximate weight in 45 ACP 25oz

Carbon Steel Approximate Weight in 45ACP 32 oz

Stainless Steel Approximate Weight in 45ACP 32 oz

Aluminum Frame with Stainless Slide Approximate weight in .45ACP 25oz

As shown in photo#161 the approximate cost is $6000.00 with one magazine.

7075 Aluminum Hicap Frame with Tool Steel Rail Inserts,

416 Stainless Steel Slide,

45 ACP Hybrid AET Barrel (multiple calibers available),

Infinicoat Jet Black Finish

We do not offer a hard chrome finish on our products.

With a stainless silver finish on the slide and the aluminum finish on the frame like the photo attached the approximate cost is $5400.00

A light rail cut is available in the hicap configuration.