Famed M1911 builder Bill Wilson got his start in 1977 and quickly forged a reputation for making some of the most accurate and reliable handguns on the market. This led to the establishment of Wilson Combat, a company that would bring innovations to the handgun, rifle, shotgun and ammunition markets. To continue that spirit of innovation, Wilson Combat has announced “Division 77,” a new R&D department that will be “a proving ground for advanced research and development…while pushing the boundaries of modern weaponry.” The first product of Division 77, new for 2025, is the aptly named Project 1.
The Project 1 is the inaugural model to come from Wilson Combat’s new Division 77 R&D department.
The Project 1 is based around the architecture that Wilson has developed with its EDC line of compact 9 mm Luger handguns that carry a double-column magazine. It starts with an aluminum alloy X-frame with Reliability Enhanced frame rails, machined-in TRAK checkering on the front and back straps, and an integrated competition-flared magwell. Grips are G10 with a TRAK Starburst pattern. Magazines have 18 rounds of capacity and custom aluminum base pads and three are supplied with each pistol.
Parts, including the hammer, magazine release and ambidextrous safety, are Wilson’s Bullet Proof designs. The stainless steel Tri-Top slide houses an external extractor and a 5” stainless steel bushingless fluted bull barrel. Other custom touches on the slide include unique Project 1 front and rear cocking serrations, 30 LPI top serrations, 40 LPI rear serrations, a heavy machine chamfer on the bottom of the slide, and ball endmill and carry cuts.
Based on Wilson’s X-frame, the Project 1 was the test platform for several new Wilson innovations.
The Project 1’s frame has an integrated flared magwell and uses extended 18-round magazines.
Frame and slide are given a black Armor-Tuff finish with a copper PVD finish on the barrel and small parts. The Project 1 has an overall length of 8.7”, a height of 5.5” and weighs 33.8 ozs. empty. Each pistol comes with Wilson’s 1” at 25 yards five-shot group accuracy guarantee.
To reduce recoil, the Project 1 has a barrel with an integrated compensator that mates to ports cut into the slide.
The Project 1 showcases several new innovations for Wilson, including a new optics mounting system. Starting with a wider slide, it moves the optics cut rearward and uses a pin system that allows for direct mounting optics with RMR, RMSc or DeltaPoint Pro footprints. For use with iron sights, the Project 1 has a newly designed cover plate that includes a rear Battlesight fitted to a dovetail and an integrated firing pin stop, allowing the user to switch back and forth between optical and iron sights without needing to re-zero.
Wilson used a Dynamic Recoil Analysis System (DRAS) to develop the Project 1’s integrated compensator barrel, resulting in a claimed reduction in recoil energy of 42 percent over the company's standard EDC X9. The Project 1 uses the company’s Advanced RPG Guide Rod, which enhances reliability, increases recoil spring life and is easier to maintain.
The Project 1 uses Wilson’s new optics mounting system that allows several optics footprints to mount into the same optics cut.
According to Wilson, the Project 1 is “delivering unmatched speed, accuracy, and reliability through cutting-edge features.”
The Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1 has an MSRP of $3,995. The first 100 pistols produced will ship in a custom metal commemorative case and have an MSRP of $4,295. For more information, see the company’s website.
The first 100 Project 1 pistols built by Wilson will come in a metal commemorative case.
