STI 1911 w. Rail Reviews

STI 1911 w. Rail Review

As with most things mechanical, despite the 1911’s sterling reputation, down through the years there have been those who have tried to “improve” it even more. Case in point: In 1992 Virgil Tripp and Sandy Strayer formed a company named STI International to market a high-capacity 1911 pistol that used a modular frame made from fiber-reinforced plastic. This plastic portion combined the trigger guard, grip and integral magazine well, and it was attached to the upper portion of the frame—a metal part that comprised the dust cover and frame rails.

STI 1911 w. Rail Review

The 1911 is a funny thing. With more than 100 years of age on the platform, it seems that more companies are making these guns than ever before.

That’s pretty amazing when you think about it. What other technology developed before World War I is relatively unchanged and in such widespread use today? The car of 2015, for example, looks and drives nothing like the Model T.

STI 1911 w. Rail Review

STI is under new management. A gentleman from Taos, New Mexico took a shine to the Texas gunmaker and added it to his portfolio. Smart move. (They’ve got an average eight-month backorder for their firearms.) As regular readers will know, STI makes top quality guns for the top end of the market, designed and hand-finished for both carry and competition. The STI HEX Tactical SS single stack is one their newest models, blending 1911 functionality and concealability with 9mm capacity and reduced recoil. Best of all worlds? .