There are a few brands in this world that speak luxury when you hear them. Rolls Royce, The Four Seasons Hotel, Gucci, and Rolex are examples. A company that holds the same rare air in the gun world is Cabot Guns, with pistols like its Insurrection.
The Cabot Guns Insurrection Double-Stack 1911
Cabot has carved a niche for itself by building high-end 1911-style handguns. In fact, Cabot pistols are one part art and one part fighting pistols. The newest offering from the team at Cabot is the Insurrection.
This gun is much more than just a new, pretty face. It is Cabot’s entry into the double-stack 1911 world, and the company has a winner on their hands.
This is Cabot’s first gun in the double-stack 1911 market. As you would expect from Cabot, the Insurrection is not just another double-stack clone. Rather, it is a handgun that was essentially designed and engineered from the ground up.
Cabot shared with me that the Insurrection is “a doublestack 1911 pistol that’s been meticulously crafted to redefine the very essence of American firearms innovation. This exceptional pistol has been two years in the making, and every moment spent in development is evident in its flawless design and performance.
“Crafted exclusively from 100% US-sourced stainless steel, the Insurrection is not just a firearm; it’s a testament to Cabot Guns’ unwavering commitment to quality and precision.”
The Cabot Double-Stack Difference
The gun is chambered in 9mm Luger and compatible with all STI/2011 magazines currently on the market. On a side note, the magazine provided by Cabot is an improved version of the STI magazine. While others will work, I am inclined to stay with anything that has been improved by Cabot.
“We’ve been working on this for more than two years,” said Nick Morrow, Cabot Guns director of sales and marketing. “A lot of people think, out there on the market, that a double-stack 1911 is no big deal. Obviously, Para had their high-cap style back in the ’80s and ’90s, and then in the ’90s, STI introduced the 2011 style.
“There are a lot of other options coming to market right now, and it isn’t just as simple as slapping a 1911 upper on a double-stack lower and going off to the races. There’s a lot of different things you have to look at. And we came up with what we believe to be the best double-stack 1911 platform on the market,” he finished.
Digging Deeper into the Insurrection
The Insurrection starts from U.S.-sourced 416 stainless steel and features a five-inch hand-fit, match-grade barrel with a flush cut and crown. In addition, Cabot offers the Insurrection with barrel ports. When incorporated, their inclusion is said to reduce perceived recoil by as much as 22 percent.
The barrel and the rest of the gun are treated with a plasma DLC coating. Below the barrel is a full-length, stainless-steel guide rod. An 11-lb. recoil spring is installed from the factory, but Cabot includes a 9- and 10-lb. recoil spring with each gun. This enables owners to fine-tune the gun’s operation with various 9 mm loads. As factory-configured, Cabot specs the Insurrection to run with 124-grain 9 mm ammunition.
The insurrection includes a reverse dovetail fiber-optic front sight and ledge rear sight. An RMR-compatible optic mounting point is also available as an option on the gun. Likewise, a set of backup iron sights that offer a lower 1/3 co-witness sight picture are included. This ensures a clear view of a mounted optic’s dot through the window.
The tri-top slide is cut with serrations at the front and rear, and there are also serrations running from front to rear on the slide’s top. Additionally, the slide also includes Cabot’s Advantage internal extractor. This is unlike the traditional extractors we see in 1911’s and works flawlessly.
The frame is a proprietary design from Cabot with a stainless-steel double-stack frame and grip. In addition, the trigger is solid and is tuned to break at a very comfortable 3.5 pounds. Likewise, the gun’s operation and controls are all classic 1911 style. The frame also features a Picatinny accessory rail.
Finally, the pistol ships with two 17-round magazines, while 20-round magazines are also available.
Sometimes, It’s in the Finer Details
I was fortunate and honored to get an Insurrection prior to the release date. Cabot is meticulous about everything related to their guns, all the way down to packaging. My box included a note affixed to the inside of the case stating that the gun had been built for me and my testing.
Anyone who says it doesn’t matter how the gun arrives is the kind of person who drinks vodka from a plastic bottle.
I have had other Cabot pistols on my desk before, and they were all spectacular. The Insurrection was no different, with a beautiful fit and finish. While hard to quantify, the gun simply felt like a high-quality gun. Cabot takes the time to remove blocky, sharp edges, making it comfortable to run. And it came complete with a Trijicon SRO.
I was soon at the range loading mags.
Running the Cabot Insurrection
I wanted to run a spectrum of ammo during the test, so I chose Federal 147gr American Eagle, Hornady 115gr FTX Critical Defense, and Blazer Brass 115gr FMJ. Yes, I know that Cabot suggests 124gr, but I wanted to see how everything else fed.
After a short moment to zero the SRO, I was off to the races. The gun sat well in my hands, and the texture provided a good purchase. The first shots were good, and at 10 yards, I had a nice single, ragged hole made by five rounds. At 15 yards, it became a one-inch group in slow fire, and at 25 yards, it was an impressive one-and-a-half inches.
Likewise, at speed, the gun performed equally well. While I would not classify the Insurrection as heavy, it had some heft. This slight additional meat on the bone does contribute to recoil management and reducing muzzle rise.
At the end of the day, the pile of brass said it was time to wrap up. While not a durability test by any stretch, the 500 rounds I put through the gun all ran without issue and had zero malfunctions.
I would be hard-pressed to say which ammo performed best. However, the 115 gr Hornady seemed to have the best feel. Short of running junk, I don’t think this gun will ever be ammo-sensitive.
A Growing 2011 Market
There are many who say the 1911 is past its prime and should be put out to pasture. I disagree wholeheartedly and obviously, Cabot does as well. The market for quality 2011s is real and growing.
The Insurrection is a solid addition to the double-stack market and is worth a serious look if you’re shopping for one.
For more information, please visit CabotGuns.com.
Cabot Guns Insurrection Double-Stack 1911 Specs
| Type | Single-action, semiautomatic pistol |
| Chambering | 9mm |
| Capacity | 17+1 (tested) |
| Barrel | 5 in. match |
| Overall Length | 8.75 inches |
| Height | 5.9 inches |
| Width | 1.5 inches |
| Frame | Machined 416 stainless steel |
| Slide | Machined 416 stainless steel |
| Sights | Serrated black, 1/3 co-witness with Trijicon SRO (tested) |
| Trigger | 3 pounds, 8 ounces (tested) |
| Safety | Ambidextrous thumb lever, grip safety |
| Weight | 2 pounds, 9.6 ounces |
| MSRP | $5,995.00 |
