STI International

STI International built the company that invented the 2011 platform -- basically a double-stack 1911 that holds 17-20 rounds instead of 7-8. They rebranded their consumer stuff to Staccato in 2020 after some quality control problems, but it's still the same Texas outfit making the guns that dominate USPSA matches and just got adopted by the FBI.

The 2011 platform is the most significant evolution of John Browning's 1911 design in over a century. You get that crisp 1911 trigger everyone loves, but with modern capacity that matches or beats your Glock.

The whole thing started in Georgetown, Texas back in the '90s when STI figured out how to mate a polymer grip module to a steel 1911 frame. This hybrid design let them fit double-stack magazines into what was fundamentally still a 1911. Sounds simple, but it took decades for anyone else to make it work reliably.

By the 2000s, every serious USPSA shooter was running a 2011. The platform dominated Limited and Open divisions because you could have your cake and eat it too -- that 1911 trigger break with 20-round capacity. Problem was, STI got a reputation for hit-or-miss quality control, especially in their later years.

The 2020 rebrand to Staccato wasn't just marketing. They invested heavily in QC and it shows. When the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team drops their Glocks for your pistol, you're doing something right.

The STI name is history on new guns, but you'll find plenty on the used market. Here's what's worth knowing:

• •Timeline showing STI's evolution from innovative startup to federal contractor

When the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team drops their Glocks for your pistol, you're doing something right.

The Staccato P adoption by federal tactical units isn't just marketing fluff. These are the guys who used to swear by Glock 17s and HK VP9s. When they're willing to train their people on a more complex manual of arms, the performance advantage has to be real.

You're paying 1911 complexity and weight to get 1911 trigger quality with Glock capacity. Whether that trade makes sense depends on how much you value that trigger and how much the price bothers you.

• •How the 2011 platform combines 1911 advantages with modern capacity

The 2011 platform uses a modular approach -- steel frame rails with a polymer grip module that accepts the wide double-stack magazines. It's more complex than a Glock but simpler than trying to machine a double-stack 1911 frame from solid steel.

Most Staccatos come with match-grade barrels, quality sights, and triggers that break clean around 3-4 pounds for duty guns, under 2 pounds for competition models. The DLC coating on slides holds up well, and they're using good steel throughout.

• •Competition shooters -- The 2011 owns USPSA Limited and Open divisions
• •Federal tactical units -- FBI HRT, U.S. Marshals SOG adoptions prove reliability
• •High-end carry market -- Premium alternative to standard polymer options
• •1911 enthusiasts -- Mixed reception as evolution vs. deviation from classic design

You won't find many budget-conscious buyers here. At $2,500 minimum, you're shopping in a different market segment than most defensive handguns.

Late-era STI guns had real quality control problems. Magazines that didn't work, feeding issues, loose tolerances -- stuff that shouldn't happen on a $2,500 gun. The Staccato rebrand seems to have fixed most of this, but it's why used STI prices vary so much.

Magazine costs add up fast. Plan on $40-50+ per magazine, and you'll want several. The magazines are more complex than 1911 single-stacks or polymer gun mags.

Maintenance is more involved than a Glock. It's still a 1911-based design with tight tolerances and more small parts. You need to understand the platform or find a smith who does.

The grip angle and controls are pure 1911. If you've trained on striker guns, there's a learning curve. The manual of arms is different -- thumb safety, grip safety, single-action trigger.

STI International invented something genuinely significant with the 2011 platform. Taking the 1911's excellent trigger and control layout, then giving it modern capacity, solved the main limitation that made the 1911 obsolete for serious use.

The federal tactical unit adoptions prove the reliability problems are solved under the Staccato name. When the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team dumps their Glocks for your gun, you've built something special.

This is a $2,500 solution to a problem many shooters don't have. A Glock 17 holds the same 17 rounds, costs $550, and runs forever with minimal maintenance.

But let's be honest about what you're buying. The 2011 gives you a significantly superior trigger and the cool factor of carrying something genuinely different.

If you shoot competitively, the 2011 makes perfect sense -- it's the dominant platform for good reasons. If you're in a tactical profession where that trigger advantage matters, the federal adoption shows it's worth the complexity.

Sometimes the impractical choice is the right choice anyway.

If you're a 1911 guy who wants more capacity, this is your answer. For everyone else, you're paying 1911 money and complexity to get a marginally better shooting experience than a quality striker gun. Nothing wrong with that if it's what you want, but don't pretend it's practical.

The used STI market offers some value, especially the Trojans, but inspect carefully. Quality control was inconsistent, and a 2011 that doesn't run right is an expensive paperweight.

Staccato fixed STI's problems and built the gun the company should have been making all along. Whether it's worth $2,500 depends on how much you value having the absolute finest trigger in a high-capacity package -- and whether you're willing to learn a more complex platform to get it.

• •[1911 Platform Overview] - Understanding the base design
• •[Competition Handguns] - USPSA and IPSC shooting
• •[Federal LE Handgun Adoptions] - What the pros choose
• •[Carry Gun Selection] - Factors beyond specifications

• •Last updated: Current as of 2024 production and pricing