The unique grips are made out of black G10 in a Starburst pattern that proved as handy to shoot as it is good looking. The flat mainspring checkering is 30 lpi.

The slide is machine-engraved on both sides. Behind the rear grasping grooves, the Wilson Combat eagle and the number "30" are framed in a box with double borders.

The left side of the slide has "30th Anniversary Limited" and "1978-2008" framed in a double border with a bit of scroll engraving in each corner. The right side has "Classic 130" and "Master Grade" framed in the same border and scroll work. The slide also has forward grasping grooves and the same border, sans engraving or scroll work, at the muzzle end.

The front sight is a black, serrated blade, and the rear sight is Wilson's adjustable unit with a plain black blade. I have these sights on another gun, and they're rugged, easy to use and simple to adjust. They match the pistol's theme perfectly and are mostly well-fitted On my sample, there was a tiny gap between the slide and the front sight that I am not used to seeing on Wilson guns.

Wilson Combat MASTER GRADE LIMITED
Type:	1911 semiauto
Caliber:	.45 ACP
Capacity:	8 + 1
Barrel length:	5 in.
Overall length:	8.7 in.
Height:	5.8 in.
Weight:	40 oz.
Sights:	adjustable rear; serrated black front blade
Trigger:	Single action; 2 lb. 15 oz. as tested
Grips:	black G10 with starburst striations
Price:	$2,995
Manufacturer:	Wilson Combat 800.955.4856

The Government Model-size slide is fitted perfectly to the frame. It reciprocates smoothly and is tight enough to make it accurate but not so tight that it hampers reliability. The ejection port is lowered and flared for enhanced reliability; a full-length guide rod and plug are standard.

The five-inch barrel is one of Wilson's stainless match units. It and the stainless match bushing are hand-fitted with a great deal of expertise, as evidenced by the pistol's smooth, positive lock-up and the nice, even wear that indicates a properly fitted barrel. The throat is polished to ensure reliable feeding; the extractor is one of Wilson's Bullet Proof models.

The Limited comes as a complete package: test target; bushing wrench; instructional video; two magazines; and an attractive soft case with two large pockets on one side and seven magazine pouches on the other.

I really wanted to shoot the new pistol, but I must admit that I felt like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar when I popped the first cap out of the elegant, limited-edition pistol. But I had a job to do, so shoot it I did.

It was cold and rainy for the better part of the month I had to test the Limited, so I did my testing indoors. Though the lighting is not conducive to great photography, the 50-foot range allowed me to run each pistol through a wide range of accuracy and reliability tests.

I started out at seven yards to get a feel for the pistol. It was no surprise, given my familiarity with the 1911 platform, that I felt right at home with the gun. The sights were dead-on, and the crisp, light trigger pull made breaking accurate shots easy. In fact, it didn't take long to chew a gaping, fist-sized hole in the middle of an IDPA target from the seven-yard line.

Next, I shot some controlled pairs. Recovery time was standard for a 1911, and accuracy was exceptional thanks to the great trigger. Pairs went well, so I sped things up a bit and shot some double taps. Once again, speed was pretty the same as with my other 1911s, though I did have a bit of trouble picking up the black sights quickly in the reduced light of the indoor range. Nevertheless, my hits were fast and true, and the pistol ran like the proverbial top, ejecting empties well clear of the gun, and not off my forehead, which is a good thing.