Most firearm enthusiasts won’t dispute that 2023 was the year of the double-stack, 1911-style pistol, as half a dozen debuted between SHOT Show and the NRA Annual Meeting. However, the same crowd would likely agree that you still had to make a decision between a bare-bones or an uber-custom pistol. Buying and repurposing the now-defunct F1 firearms, Watchtower Firearms spun the turret and geared its adept team of engineers and machinery to put together a handgun delivering features competitors wanted without having to turn to a custom builder. Dubbed the Apache, this lightning-fast race gun is poised to put a serious dent in your ammo stash—and your wallet.
Let’s begin by looking at the frame, which consists of a steel upper half joined to a polymer grip module. This approach keeps the gun nimble, without sacrificing strength where it counts. It also lends a degree of modularity to the design, leaving the possibility open for Watchtower (or an aftermarket company) to create alternate polymer offerings or even those machined from steel, aluminum or tungsten. A gritty, multi-directional studded pattern encompasses its entirety, producing a texture that digs deeply into your skin and helps you hold on during aggressive strings of fire.
Since the Apache is built for fast handling, it is fitted with an appropriate control suite. On the grip, you’ll find an extended and contoured beavertail safety, driving your hand up higher and allowing deactivation with next to zero effort. Just above that, there’s an ambidextrous, oversize thumb safety, ensuring you can hit it without searching, even if your form isn’t perfect at the time. The same holds true for the magazine release and slide stop, which are finished with a choice of a black or copper Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating. They match the flat-face trigger described as “medium length,” meaning its travel is longer than that of an original 1911, but doesn’t require a yardstick to measure like some of the others out there. This same PVD protective finish is applied to the frame, slide and barrel in a handsome graphite hue.
The Apache’s slide boldly demonstrates the machining might of Watchtower, as it fits flawlessly to the frame. The finished product is polished smooth and features 10 cocking indentations on each side, but realistically you won’t find them necessary to manipulate it. Pulling it to the rear requires minimal effort, so much so that most will be able to “air rack” the pistol without extensive practice. A recoil-spring kit is also included with your purchase, allowing you to fine-tune this relationship for your specific load. Going heavier will make the gun shoot softer, while going lighter will help it to run more reliably with reduced-power ammunition. An entirely separate piece can be written on the science behind selecting the best one, but for my money, nothing is easier than taking all three to the range and experimenting for yourself. This becomes particularly important when you consider the compensator, as higher-energy ammo will drive the gun harder and mitigate muzzle flip. Having the right spring installed will dampen recoil and balance these two desirable qualities. During checkout, you have the choice of selecting a fully adjustable rear sight or a pre-mounted Trijicon SRO on optics plate featuring a fixed rear notch. Either option includes a fiber-optic front sight for rapid target acquisition when there is enough available light present.
From a benchrest, I tested accuracy and dialed in the included Trijicon SRO. Although the Apache isn’t exactly a bullseye pistol, it was uncanny how precise it was. Tight groups mostly come from tight tolerances, but it’s hard to dismiss the validity of a good trigger. The Apache’s broke just shy of 3 pounds with the cleanliness that you would expect from a 1911. It’s fitted with a setscrew to adjust away any overtravel, but I found that unnecessary. That’s not to say there wasn’t any; I just found the way the gun filled my hand didn’t allow me to drive the trigger any farther rearward without deliberate effort.
Moving away from the bench, I was able to develop a feel for just how flat the gun was through a series of Bill and Failure-To-Stop drills. Dumping mags into steel in short order produced controllable results, and when it was time to reload, the mag funnel provided a fumble-free experience. Overall, it was an outstanding range session, and I ate up 400 rounds much faster than I anticipated.
Watchtower’s Apache is far more than a balanced, double-stack 1911; it’s a shot across the bow to competitors and takes the violence-of-action approach to entering the industry. If you’re trying to get your name out there, releasing a product like this is the way to do it: the crowd at its booth at SHOT Show was so deep I had to navigate around it most days to make the rest of my meetings. This feature-rich handgun can help you win your next match or just make you look good at your next range outing. With an MSRP surpassing $4,000, it’s not budget-minded, but considering what the Apache gives you, your wallet just might slowly start to open.
