Alchemy Quantico HiCap Review: The 2011 Project

The 1911, at its core, is a fighting pistol. It served with the United States military through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and into the Global War on Terror. It is as American as a pistol can be.

Many view the 2011 platform as the modern incarnation of the fabled Browning design, and I think that’s true. We generally think of these pistols as high-speed, low-drag competition guns that turn heads with their modern design cues. We don’t see “classically” stylized 2011s.

That fact drew me to Alchemy Custom Weaponry. ACW is a division of Cabot Guns, which produces some of the most radical 1911s and 2011s on the planet (they use materials such as mammoth molars and meteorite). ACW stands in stark contrast. They embrace classical Americana—just in a badass way.

The Alchemy Quantico HiCap is the de-evolution of the 2011 pistol. While it looks like a gun of the future, the Quantico HiCap is infused with traditional 1911 styling, making it feel like something straight out of a 1980s catalog. I’m excited for this one. 

To understand the history of the 2011, Staccato, and the rise of this pistol classification, check out “Party Like It’s 2011: Staccato and the 2011 Revolution,” which tells the origin story. That article lays the groundwork for what follows.

The 2011 Project is meant to give you honest opinions on this growing market. Unlike other trends that come and go, this one has staying power. Still, pistols in this class can cost thousands of dollars.

The goal here is to give you an unbiased opinion on how these models stack up and help you decide which is best for your needs and budget. You can find every pistol we’ve tested so far on the 2011 Project tag page.

Thank you to Alchemy Custom Weaponry for providing a sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

WHO IS ALCHEMY CUSTOM WEAPONRY

Alchemy Custom Weaponry builds classic custom 1911 (and 2011) pistols, and its motto sums up the approach: “three steps forward, one step back.” In other words, push performance forward without losing the craftsmanship and character that made the 1911 an American icon.

Each ACW pistol is hand-fit and hand-polished by American gunsmiths, and ACW says each one is built in the USA with American parts. The company backs its pistols with an accuracy guarantee and a lifetime warranty.

Quantico HiCap Specs

Standard Specifications

FEATURES

Think of the Quantico HiCap as a Government-size, double-stack 1911 wearing a classic John Browning profile. The frame and slide are forged 4140 carbon steel, and the 5-inch match-grade barrel and bushing are fit by hand.

ACW’s newer grip module is a carbon fiber and Kevlar polymer with a high undercut, so your hand rides up close to the bore. The hand-beveled edges, beveled magwell, and 30 LPI hand-checkered mag catch are the kind of details you’d expect on a classic custom 1911.

The Quantico HiCap features an ACW-designed fixed rear sight with a serrated blade, a low-profile tactical hook, and a .140-inch-wide U-notch, paired with a serrated black fiber-optic front sight. Like the Nighthawk Combat Special, it offers many options, including an optic cut. 

An ambidextrous thumb safety, an extended billet-steel pinned ejector, a forged-steel slide stop, a tuned and polished extractor, and a traditional guide rod and cap complete the controls.

A hand-polished ignition system delivers a 3.5- to 4-pound trigger pull, and ACW guarantees 1.5-inch accuracy at 25 yards. The Bead Blast Blued finish highlights the pistol’s classic character, with Hard Chrome and DLC available as options.

Setup

Like a few other pistols in this category, this is a sample model, meaning plenty of people have used and abused it. Whether by other writers and creators or at range days, this pistol shows some wear. So, it’s well past “broken in.”

That matters with 1911s and 2011s, which usually have a break-in period. They’re finely tuned machines, and it can take time for the parts to wear in to each other. This one has thousands of rounds behind it.

It came from Alchemy with a Trijicon SRO already installed, which I appreciate. Otherwise, this is a relatively “stock” Quantico HiCap. A prospective buyer can choose from plenty of other options to make the pistol uniquely theirs.

I’ve also added a Streamlight TLR-1 HL-X. This proven light offers good value.

For a holster, I’m using the Safariland 6354RDSO ALS Holster w/ QLS19 Fork and a mid-ride QLS adapter. This is my go-to setup for any kind of “tactical” shooting or training. It rides on the Safariland BASELINE MOLLE Belt, which I’ve grown to like quite a bit.

Now, let’s head to the range.

At the Range

A note on ammo. All “range ammo” is Blazer Brass 115-gr FMJ (5200). For accuracy testing, I used Hornady American Gunner 115-gr XTP. I picked up all the ammo for testing from Ammunition Depot.

 Let’s get into the drills and accuracy testing.

Bill Drills

From a low ready, with the target about 7 yards away, the goal is six A-zone(ish) hits in 1.25 seconds or less.

My average time over six attempts with the Alchemy Quantico HiCap was 1.02 seconds. First shots were at 0.29 seconds, while follow-ups hovered around 0.133 seconds. The gun just runs fast. But with a demo gun that has thousands of rounds through it, I’m not surprised. Also of note, even though the Quantico HiCap isn’t compensated, the 5” barrel helps the gun track well.

Accuracy Testing

For this portion, I’m shooting from a pistol rest mounted to a tripod. This keeps things as stable as possible and really showcases the pistol’s capability.

At 10 yards, the Quantico shot a group measuring around 7/8” center-to-center. At 25 yards, it put four shots inside an inch. Then I threw one to the right by about an inch. ACW has a 1.5” group guarantee at 25 yards, and even with my poor skills, this sample meets that claim.

1-and-1 Drills

I start this drill the same way as the Bill Drill, from low ready. 1 shot fired, slide lock, reload, 1 shot. My goal is to hit a 3.25-second par time.

I have small hands, which can make shooting 2011-style pistols interesting. For this, I’d roll my strong hand to engage the magazine release, then use my support hand to hit the side release before moving back into position.

For a handgun with standard-size controls, I was surprised by how well it performed in this drill. To me, the grip module feels slightly thinner than other 2011s, which helps me. I also think the magwell is about perfect size.

My average time was 2.86 seconds, with a first shot of 0.348 seconds and reloads of 2.51 seconds. That’s pretty darn good, and a testament to how a well-built gun can help the shooter.  

The Humbler

This is a good finisher I picked up from James Williamson of HK—no, not the 700-point Humbler. This Humbler has a 10-second par time. Either start from the pistol holster or from a bench. Ten shots into the A-Zone, then reload and take two shots into the head A-Zone.

I was a touch slow on this run, and honestly, I missed the slide release on the reload. My time was 10.98 seconds, but a clean run.

Sizing Up the Alchemy Quantico HiCap

Where the Quantico HiCap Delivers

The best part of this pistol is that it is a truly custom gun. You start with a base and add or remove features you want. That makes the gun uniquely yours, which is huge at this price point.

The trigger is excellent, with 1 to 2 mm of take-up before a clean break and a very short, crisp reset. 

The texture is perfect for me and leans toward the aggressive side. The optic plate is very robust, and the iron sights are at a cowitness height. Instead of a solid black front sight, ACW opted for a red fiber optic, which I think is the right choice.

Also, for a gun that’s on the lighter end of the spectrum for this series, it managed recoil really well. The combination of recoil spring and mainspring that ACW uses makes it shoot like a dream.

Mixed Results Here  

While I like the look of the Quantico HiCap a lot, others may not. ACW sticks to more traditional 1911 aesthetics rather than the futuristic, sci-fi looks of contemporary 2011-style pistols. If you want something that’s out of this world, check out their sister company, Cabot Guns.

I’ve already mentioned the controls, so I won’t harp on them further, but I’d prefer this pistol had front cocking serrations—however, that is an option. It’ll set you back $100.

Where It Falls Short

This isn’t so much a bad thing; it’s just a reality when it comes to custom guns: the waiting game. Unless there’s a canceled order or you stumble into one of their authorized dealers, you are going to have to wait a long time for your pistol to be ready. Current lead times are in the 12-month range. 

Zooming Out

The Alchemy Custom Weaponry Quantico HiCap is one of my favorites from the 2011 Project. It performed well and was a blast to shoot. I was impressed. ACW might have found a new customer.

But what’s interesting about the recent trends in 2011s is that they mark a departure from the past. 2011s were built as race guns, so it’s about time we looked at one.

Featured Gear

BASELINE® MOLLE Belt

$170.00

CUBL – Cantable Universal Belt Loop with QLS 22 Receiver Plate

$50.00

6354RDSO – ALS® Holster w/ QLS19 Fork

$257.25