The great thing about the Wilson Combat CQB pistol is that it is all you need in a 1911 without a lot of the add-on, bolt-on accessory stuff. It's utilitarian, not of a shiny, fragile beauty that would make it a "safe queen." It cries out for use - to carry concealed, in a SWAT leg holster, in taking a training class at Shootrite, and for executive protection. What makes Wilson Combat's CQB pistol so popular is that you can get a 100% reliable, very accurate, easily maintained 1911 without the need to take out a 2nd mortgage on the old homestead. If you add a few frills to the CQB without loading it down with minutiae, the CQB Elite is the result. There is nothing added that is extraneous. They are work-intensive additions but they add little to the cost of the piece. For example, the additional metal work on the Elite is something to behold. The slide's top is nicely serrated with lines running the length front to back. The rear of the slide is serrated (at 40 LPI) as is the rear of the extractor to match. A spare extractor is packaged along with the gun. The stocks are Mil-Tac G10 with Wilson Combat medallions installed. A trough is cut out of the left stock panel in line with the magazine release button, so we can more easily reach the magazine release button. The base of the frame has a Speed Chute, an opened and flared magazine well, installed. A lanyard hole, cut in the bottom of the mainspring housing and through the back of the magazine well, is also featured - very handy if the CQBE is to be carried in a tactical holster. The sample had a trigger break at four pounds, crisp. A fellow trainer noted that it was the trigger break he more expected on a rifle! The standard Wilson touches are present: The frame and slide are fully machined from steel forgings. The barrel is match grade stainless steel, well fitted to the match bushing. The recoil spring system is standard 1911 - a short guide and a recoil spring plug. A Wilson Combat Shok-Buff is attached to the recoil spring guide. The slide has front and rear cocking serrations. The magazine release button is the Wilson Combat "semi-extended" version. The ejector and slide stop are machined from bar stock and the hammer is cut from tool steel. The grip safety is the Wilson beavertail with a speed bump. I had no trouble getting either Elite to fire even though I shoot with thumbs high. The front strap has checkering, 30 lines to the inch. The Elite is finished in the (appropriately named) Armor-Tuff. The slide and frame are black on this sample. The coating is non-reflective and uniform in application. I've found the finish to be quite resistant to wear and abrasion. It's slick too, owing to the molybdenum disulfide in the mix. Armor-Tuff passed the salt water test at 1,000 hours exposure and 1,000 hours of salt water immersion. Wilson's Combat Pyramid sights with tritium inserts are fitted to the top of the slide. New to the line is the U-notch rear sight. Don't worry about having to get used to the difference. If you notice the "U" when shooting, your focus is on the rear sight. Shift your focus to the front. The sample has the Wilson Combat Ambidextrous Safety. With all that, there's less than $400 difference between the CQB and the CQB Elite. The movement of the slide on the frame was like it was on roller bearings. The trigger was tight and sturdy, but fairly light for me. The required one-inch accuracy standard was met just shooting over a range bag from 25 yards - and I don't shoot that well! I've always want the CQB. It was altogether enough to do the job. I admit to a hankering for the Elite Model. It's just that little bit nicer. For more information, see http://www.wilsoncombat.com/.