LOL at the front sight comment.

The finish is definitely unique. I think you also get the fancy dynamic trigger, special grip panels and a flared magwell. Possibly better fitting, but I'm not entirely convinced based on a few examples I've seen in person (admittedly a very, very small sample size).

Black Ties are cool, but I think you're largely paying for the "look at me" factor. There isn't much about them that can't be replicated with the Q5SF or QF S5 Pro.

If you want something a little unique and special, it's a great choice... but if you're worried about performance you'd probably be better served with taking the extra grand a Black Tie costs and buying a few extra thousand round for practice.

 

There are two different versions of the Q5 Match SF, the Standard and then the Pro. I'm going to compare the Pro version to the Black Tie, because they are a little bit more similar.

Both the Pro and the Black Tie have the magazine well, extended metal baseplates on the magazines.

The Pro has a fiber optic front sight (I know some have said the front sight is loose. I've never had an issue). The Pro has the adjustable rear sight that also can be removed for an optic. The grip is palm swelled standard plastic. Trigger is the blue plastic, which is supposed to be a little bit better than the black trigger, but I don't know if it's really noticeable.

The Black Tie is Tennifer coated, polished then coated in Stinox, which gives extra protection against corrosion and gives a satin look. The front sight is black (no fiber), and the rear sight is adjustable, but there's NO optic cut capability. There is an oversized magazine release button. The Black Tie comes with the aluminum grip, instead of the plastic palm swell grip. The trigger is the upgraded Dynamic Performance Trigger.

As for accuracy, they are both the same.

Basically you can turn the Pro into a similar configuration with the upgraded trigger and oversized magazine release button and still be cheaper than the Black Tie. But you won't get the shiny metal look.

 

There are two different versions of the Q5 Match SF, the Standard and then the Pro. I'm going to compare the Pro version to the Black Tie, because they are a little bit more similar.

Both the Pro and the Black Tie have the magazine well, extended metal baseplates on the magazines.

The Pro has a fiber optic front sight (I know some have said the front sight is loose. I've never had an issue). The Pro has the adjustable rear sight that also can be removed for an optic. The grip is palm swelled standard plastic. Trigger is the blue plastic, which is supposed to be a little bit better than the black trigger, but I don't know if it's really noticeable.

The Black Tie is Tennifer coated, polished then coated in Stinox, which gives extra protection against corrosion and gives a satin look. The front sight is black (no fiber), and the rear sight is adjustable, but there's NO optic cut capability. There is an oversized magazine release button. The Black Tie comes with the aluminum grip, instead of the plastic palm swell grip. The trigger is the upgraded Dynamic Performance Trigger.

As for accuracy, they are both the same.

Basically you can turn the Pro into a similar configuration with the upgraded trigger and oversized magazine release button and still be cheaper than the Black Tie. But you won't get the shiny metal look.

I second P88 but want to add something………i was looking at the black tie and even the patriot etc……having bought last year a pro and loving it I thought that having a second one to celebrate the first one would justify the price….then I realized that no optic can be on it………I like that option…..thats the key differentiator besides the nicer finish.

I decided to buy all kinds of upgrades for my first one, walther DPT, 21 mag extenders, cowithness optic and front sight higher replacement, mag release upgrade, and brass grip and mag well……went all out and then something started to crave….realized I needed a second one regardless…….having not bought the black tie I was price wise justified to do so!


P88, the pro and standard are identical except for the 17 vs 15 mags and the mag well……..so I believe, right?