Is the Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Really Worth $8K?

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous engraving — The Wilson Combat Pinnacle is expertly hand fitted and finished by a Wilson Combat Supergrade Pistolsmith.

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous lead — The immaculate hand engraving of the Wilson Combat Pinnacle is expertly applied over the complete pistol by renowned firearm engraver Wayne D’Angelo.

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous detail — “Without hesitation I will say, ‘Yes.’ The gun is absolutely worth $8,000.”

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous grip — “This gun is as much, if not more so, a work of art as it is a handgun.”

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous barrel — “The Pinnacle is truly Wilson’s pinnacle of craftsmanship and in the world of bespoke, custom pistols it truly stands alone.”

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous slide

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous magwell

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous hammer

Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous right

The Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol brings with it a very deep conversation. Before we get there, a quick philosophical note.

“Life is too short to settle for less than spectacular.” That is a phrase I was taught early on and I have done my best to adhere to it. Whether it be food, drink or even guns, I have tried to stay with the best.

The reality for most of us though is the real cost of “spectacular.” While a bottle of the Macallan Lalique 62-Year Old Single Malt Scotch is certainly spectacular, it is also $30,439. So, we must learn to deal with different levels of spectacular. The question I always get when I talk about this subject is, “Is it worth it?” Well, that depends.

This question was raised again during a very interesting conversation on guns. The conversation quickly turned to price and in turn, ultimately to 1911s.

While the market is full of a variety of handguns at different price points, high-end 1911s still hold the title of “priciest guns.” The specific gun in question is the aforementioned Wilson Combat Pinnacle Pistol.

The pistol is based on Wilson Combat’s Classic Supergrade model and is completely detailed inside and out with “a full suite of options specially selected by Bill Wilson.” The reason the Pinnacle jumped into the discussion is because this nice 1911 from our friends at Wilson Combat comes in at a breath less than $8,000.

So the question was, ”Is it worth it?” Before we can render judgment, let’s take a closer look inside.

The Details

The Wilson Combat Pinnacle 1911 is expertly hand fitted and finished by a Wilson Combat Supergrade Pistolsmith. To the uninitiated this sounds like someone assembling a gun. That is like saying Salma Hayek is just cute. This is an understatement of epic proportions.

Pistolsmiths are as much artists as they are mechanical geniuses. This is especially true in the 1911 realm.

Following the fitting an application of spectacular hand engraving in a traditional classic scroll pattern is applied. Like the pistolsmiths, hand engravers are artists and are also becoming rare. After hand engraving, a Master Pistolsmith will then further hand detail and finally apply a rich, deluxe blue finish.

From the blued-steel trigger and spiral-fluted guide rod to the custom burl walnut grips, there are several minor and unique differences from a typical Supergrade.

The immaculate hand engraving of the Pinnacle is expertly applied over the complete pistol by renowned firearm engraver Wayne D’Angelo. D’Angelo is one of the world’s foremost engraving artists and his attention to detail is legendary. He is the former chief engraver for Smith and Wesson and contract engraver for Colt. Wilson Combat is proud to work with him on this project.

The Pinnacle is truly Wilson’s pinnacle of craftsmanship and in the world of bespoke, custom pistols it truly stands alone.

That Trigger Though

While the looks of the gun are stunning, the function is just as great.

The Pinnacle has the same trigger heritage as the Super Grade. It is a spectacular trigger with a butter smooth press and short clean reset. Simply one of the finest 1911 triggers available.

“Is it Worth it?”

So with that we need to answer the question. Without hesitation I will say, “Yes.” The gun is absolutely worth $8,000. My reason for this belief is straightforward: This gun is as much, if not more so, a work of art as it is a handgun. This is an heirloom piece and they are only being made in very small numbers.

Ultimately, it is an investment piece for those of you looking to one day expand your bottom line.

I would also point out one very important thing in this discussion: The question is whether the gun is worth the price on the tag. Many people conflate this with, “Can I afford it?” That, my friend, is a totally different measurement. Honestly $8,000 for a pistol is not an easy purchase for most. However, I would say that if the gun is indeed in your price range, that you would be well served to invest in this fantastic gun.

For more information on the Wilson Combat Pinnacle, please visit WilsonCombat.com.