Anyone versed in the makeup of the 1911 will have no trouble disassembling the Single Stack, and the green Recoil Master sleeve makes the chore of disassembly a cinch.

At the bottom of the grip frame is a moderately sized magazine well funnel, a device that many combat purists scorn. While originally designed with competition shooting in mind, I believe that anything that can make reloading smoother, faster and more positive has a definite place on a combat handgun.

All internal parts are polished and hand fitted to provide a crisp, light trigger let off. The Single Stack's ramped, fully supported barrel is held in place by the traditional 1911 muzzle bushing, albeit a match grade unit that ensures consistent tight lock up and functioning. Disassembly is greatly facilitated by the use of the STI Recoil Master spring system, which uses a simple plastic sleeve that makes removing and installing the tensioned spring unit fast and easy.

The Single Stack has extended thumb and grip safeties and Commander-style hammer, and the Sabertooth cocking serrations on the rear of the slide provide excellent purchase.

I'm sure some of the readers out there are thinking, "Sure, it's pretty but it ain't a combat handgun!" Well, all I can say is Au contraire. Do cosmetics really make any difference as to whether or not a pistol is suitable for defensive, tactical or service use? Does a handgun have to be ugly to be considered a true combat pistol? Remember, beauty is only skin deep. The Single Stack contains all of the features that you see on top-dollar combat 1911s from other shops--just in a more attractive package.

I arranged for my friend Rusty Rawsen to help me put the STI through its paces at Trigger Time Valley (trigger-time.com), a professional firearms training facility in Carthage, North Carolina. Our first task was to check the STI for accuracy with four factory loads, firing it from an MCM rest at a distance of 50 feet, the results of which can be seen on the accompanying chart. It showed a slight preference for slower moving loads, with honors going to Cor-Bon's Performance Match ammunition--with which I fired a group measuring a mere 1.13 inches.

ACCURACY RESULTS: STI USPSA Single Stack
.40 S&W Ammo Type	Bullet Weight (gr.)	Avg. Velocity (fps)	Avg. Group (in.)
Remington JHP	155	1,187	2.25
Cor-Bon Performance Match	160	889	1.75
Winchester FMJ	165	1,109	2.00
Hornady XTP	180	924	1.88
Accuracy of three, five-shot groups fired from a rest at 50 feet. Average of five rounds chronographed 15 feet from muzzle.

A simple and moderately sized magazine well funnel speeds up combat reloads without adding bulk or height to the pistol.

We then set up a pair of D-1 targets and ran the STI through a series of offhand drills at five, 10, 15 and 20 yards, firing the pistol both supported and one-handed. While Rusty does not normally shoot 1911 handguns in competition, he found the STI provided handling, reliability and accuracy far above average and was soon running speed drills with no troubles whatsoever. After perforating D-1 targets we used up the rest of the ammo we had on hand engaging steel targets on the rifle range and found that, with careful aiming, we could consistently ring targets out to 75 yards. This is one very accurate pistol.

The following weekend I competed in a local USPSA match and found the STI perfectly suited to this discipline. And while my normally modest nature makes it difficult for me to mention it, I managed to take first place in Single Stack division the first time out. Okay, there was probably a bit of luck involved, but using a quality pistol like the STI sure didn't hurt the odds.

I found the STI USPSA Single Stack to possess all of the features one could wish for on a competition or combat 1911 pistol. Could I suggest any changes? Well, I have found that an arched mainspring housing allows me to shoot a 1911 a bit more accurately, and if I was going to keep this particular pistol I would have one installed. Other than that one caveat, I can't think of a single thing that needs improving. Any way you look at it, it's a winner.