The 1911 platform has a long and storied history as one of the most reliable and beloved handguns ever made. From military service to competitive shooting and personal defense, few designs can claim the kind of loyalty the 1911 has earned over the decades. And when you pair a well-built 1911 frame with the mighty 10mm cartridge, the result can be a real powerhouse. Enter the Girsan Influencer X—a modern take on a classic design, packing serious performance at an aggressive price point.

Girsan Influencer X: 10mm and the 1911

The 10mm cartridge has always been a bit of an overachiever. Originally developed in the 1980s to deliver better ballistics than the .45 ACP, the 10mm offers impressive power, higher velocity, and greater range. However, the downside has always been the pressure and recoil generated by such a hot round.

Fortunately, the 1911 platform is uniquely suited to handle the power of the 10mm. Its all-steel construction provides enough weight to mitigate recoil, while its design ensures that the slide-to-frame fit can be finely tuned for optimal performance. A well-built 1911 chambered in 10mm offers an incredible shooting experience—one that balances hard-hitting power with surprisingly smooth operation.

The Girsan Influencer X takes full advantage of this pairing. Built on a classic 1911 frame with a five-inch barrel, it’s designed to handle the higher pressures of the 10mm cartridge while offering the shooter a lot of flexibility for customization and practical use.

Impressions and Quality of the Influencer X

Right out of the box, the Influencer X makes a strong impression. It’s a full-size 1911, weighing in at 2lbs 9.3oz empty and 3lbs 2oz loaded with a Wilson Combat 9-round 10mm magazine. The weight feels well-balanced, giving the gun a substantial, but not unwieldy, presence in the hand.

The slide-to-frame fitment on this gun is genuinely impressive. It’s incredibly smooth—surprisingly so for a gun at this price point. I’ve seen firearms from much more prominent 1911 manufacturers that didn’t show this level of precision. If smoothness were the only metric, the Influencer X would be worth it for that alone.

The gun also features a super-thick front bushing and full target crown, which speaks to its potential accuracy. It’s a “bushing gun,” but the precision and durability of this design choice are evident the moment you start running rounds through it.

This Rear Sight

Girsan made an incredibly clever design choice with the rear sight system on the Influencer X. At first glance, it looks like a standard Bomar-style rear sight—a classic feature that many 1911 enthusiasts will recognize and appreciate. But here’s the twist: that rear sight is actually hiding an RMS-c cut.

All you need to do is remove the screws on top of the sight, and the RMS-c cut is revealed, ready to accept micro red dot optics. It’s a simple, elegant solution that retains the classic aesthetic of the 1911 while allowing for modern upgrades. The execution is seamless, and it’s hard not to be impressed by the ingenuity of this design.

Feeding the 10mm 1911

The Influencer X ships with a polymer magwell, which is an interesting choice. It’s a robust material that offers good impact resistance. Likewise, it offers a great benefit when it comes to feeding magazines quickly.

The magwell adds value to the gun at this price point. However, it’s worth noting that the Check-Mate-branded magazines that ship with the gun are of fantastic quality but don’t have base pads.

Fortunately, the mags are “two-hole” models. So, adding base pads is a simple matter if you’re looking to get the most out of the magwell. That’s one of the little quirks you’ll have to sort out, but the overall package is impressive.

Influencer X in Hand

Handling the Influencer X feels intuitive. The controls will be immediately familiar to anyone who’s spent time with a 1911. It features a three-hole style trigger (no set-screw), an ambidextrous safety, a large memory pad on the rear grip safety, and checkering along the front strap and mainspring housing.

The slide serrations are deep and tactile. The forward serrations even include lightening cuts that enhance grip and give the gun a purposeful, aggressive look. They’re well-executed, providing solid traction whether you’re running the slide from the front or rear. The edges are broken and soft to use.

The grips are fantastic—super grippy sandpaper texture that locks your hands in place. Even if you’re running the gun hard, the entire system feels firmly planted in your hands.

The 10mm 1911 on the Range

The Influencer X proved to be a serious performer on the range. Testing was conducted with a variety of ammunition, including Wilson Combat, Lehigh Defense, and HOP Munitions.

The Wilson Combat 155g XTP was a standout, delivering a consistent 2-inch group at 50 feet, with a velocity of 1263.9 fps over a four-round average. Lehigh Defense’s 115g XD round was an absolute screamer, clocking in at 1660.0 fps. HOP Munitions’ 180g TMJ in 50-round boxes was perfect for plinking and offered reliable cycling throughout testing.

The trigger, which snaps at just under 4lbs (3lb 14.2oz) according to my Lyman trigger scale, has a little creep but provides a pronounced reset. It’s good as-is, but I may swap in an adjustable trigger down the road.

Accessories on the Influencer X

I mounted a Meprolight MPO PRO-s optic on the Influencer X, along with a Streamlight TLR9. The MPO is built to take abuse, and even under the fierce slide speed of the Influencer X, it stood its ground. Similarly, the Streamlight TLR9 fits seamlessly on the full-length rail, providing ample illumination for low-light situations.

The optic-ready design and under-rail mean this gun can be easily set up for tactical use or even competition. And the fact that the optic cut is hidden beneath the rear sight is an aesthetic bonus that should appeal to just about anyone.

An Impressive Value

The Girsan Influencer X in 10mm offers impressive value for the money. With an MSRP of $729 and a street price hovering around $629, it’s a slam dunk for anyone looking for a rugged, reliable, and high-performance 10mm 1911. Sure, there are fancier models with finely tuned components, but for the price, the Influencer X delivers a ton of quality and practical features.

It’s a solid workhorse, and for this gunwriter, it’s hard to find a better value in the 1911 market.

The Girsan Influencer X proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a high-performing, versatile 1911 in 10mm. If you’re in the market for a do-it-all pistol with serious stopping power, it deserves a spot on your list.

Shoot Safe.