Are Colt 1911s really all that?

[Koda]

More than anything I mean compared to other 1911 manufacturers. I have a few and I like the platform, just curious if Colts are as good (or bad) as I hear.

I have Colts, Springfield and a Dan Wesson and the Colts are every bit as good.
The Colts tend to have a looser slide to frame fit but that doesnt matter, in the same price range they shoot as precise as my Dan Wesson.

 

[bcp]

Yes.
I was referring to those who like the 1911 ( fans ) and those who don't like the, 1911 ( detractors )
sigh
Andy

If those who don't like the 1911 are detractors, those who like it must be protractors.



Bruce

 

[monks]

When you buy a colt you're buying the name mostly. Some of them are great and some aren't. That seems to be the way it goes with any company that's been producing a product for so long. When I think of the 1911, I automatically think of Colt and a lot of other people do too since Colt was the originator. I know that there were a ton of other companies who built/build them and I'll bet it's the most copied gun of all time. That's good and bad because it shows what a great design it is but also means a lot of shooters have had a bad experience with mismatched and out of spec guns. I'm not just a 1911 fanboy as I own many different designs of pistols but I do own more 1911's than any other type. They have their strong points and they have their weaknesses. I would trust my life to all of the ones I own including the 1920 commercial which is the worst of the lot. I've had a few duds over the years and they either got fixed (Kimber) or sold (Springfield x2). If you were to go buy a Colt to have the real deal I wouldn't hold that against you. Just don't expect it to be the best 1911. There are better guns for the money but there's nothing wrong with wanting the real deal. I bought a peacemaker some years back to have a real colt and paid much more then I would have for a better vaquero. As far as production 1911's go I think that Dan Wesson is or was at the top of the pile. Kimber custom and stainless base models are great for the price as well. For me the best thing about my 1911's is that they are easy to shoot well. The sig p210 and hk p7's are the only other auto pistols I've encountered that rival them for accuracy. Well, maybe the Cz shadow 2 also but that's kind of an apples and oranges thing.

 

[orygun]

More than anything I mean compared to other 1911 manufacturers. I have a few and I like the platform, just curious if Colts are as good (or bad) as I hear.

The old Colts are works of art, along with being good guns. The first one I had was a 1951 Government Model. The bluing was unlike any other 1911 ever made. It was a very accurate and reliable gun. It had been reworked and had a Kings barrel bushing, so who knows what other attention it had been given. I sold it, bought it back and then sold it again.

All the Colts I've seen had a fair amount of play in the slide to frame area... Definitely more than I'd expect to see for the price point, especially when a $500 RIA has a tighter fit. Otherwise they're pretty... I have a half dozen 1911's and none are Colt

The loose slide to frame fit of a Colt is to ensure it works as it should, when it should. Remember, this gun was designed as a fighting un for use in the harshest environments. It also has very little to do with accuracy, no matter what you heard. The 1951 rattled when shook and was target grade accurate.

The reason I don't have any Colts left (I've had a few) is because I don't feel guilty using my Dan Wesson as a tool. Scratches and bumps on that gun don't bother me at all.

If y'all want a fantastic 1911, I have an Ed Brown I'd sell. It's too nice to beat up like my DW.

 

[RVTECH]

The 'best' Colt 1911 I have ever owned (and I have owned several) is my Series 80 1991-A1.

Excellent fit and action, shot well from day 1 and is EXTREMELY accurate. Heck I even got the Series 80 trigger pretty nice and about a crisp 4 lbs.

I didn't say excellent finish as it is parkerized and nuthin' fancy but when new it was pretty good for being parked. Mine is an early one and later models they offered them in a brush blue.

Next in line was a 80s era LW Commander. I bought it used but it was in very nice shape and shot well and accurately.

 

[Catbox]

Right next to the blinker fluid

I looked, couldn't find it....

 

[Tlock]

I looked, couldn't find it....
View attachment 2166591

Dam!

 

[Kruel J]

I wouldn't buy a Colt today. Too may other/better options.

 

[Catbox]

Dam!

My son worked at the Baxter Auto Parts store on Barbur BLVD for a while.
One of his friends found the sticker and put it on a random bottle of something and had it on the counter.
Until some A-hole stole it from the counter.

 

[RVTECH]

I wouldn't buy a Colt today. Too may other/better options.

Neither would I unless the Colt was a REALLY good deal.

I'm not going to say my RIA is 'better' than a Colt but a pretty dang good 'runner up' for the price!

Actually I DID pass on a good deal on a Colt a while back. A 70's era GCNM for a $1000!

It was in really nice shape and the price was right but I knew if I bought it I'd probably shoot it a few times and it would go into the safe and probably forgotten about.

 

[Kruel J]

Modern Colts aren't great, both pistols and rifles. If you can find an old series 70 go for it.

Colt is kinda like Blaupunkt. Back in the day they were considered the best. Now they're just a shell of their former selves in a sea of better options.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Used to be custom 'smiths would only work on Colt's, not sure if that's changed

 

[po18guy]

I still want a fan for mine.

The fan would have to be synchronized with the barrel, like WWI fighter planes.

 

[roseburger]

The fan would have to be synchronized with the barrel, like WWI fighter planes.

Mine is railless, so it can't be a pic rail.

 

[thorborg]

Where might I find a fan for my 1911?

 

[Member 45541]

I don't know about all that! I've never even had a woman that was "All That"! I've always wanted a Colt 1911 and always seemed to end up with something else. When one finally came available, and I had the funds, I grabbed it. Series 70 classic and it shoots fine. Is it the best 1911 I've ever owned? No, but it will never leave the stable because it's one I've always wanted. Would I trust my life to it? So far, yes, as I've had no issues with it. I did not read all the comments so, I'll only say this, "Good journey in finding something that you like. Whether it be Colt or another, the 1911 is a timeless classic.

 

[orygun]

I also had a 1964 vintage National Match, also known as a pre-Gold Cup. It was absolutely gorgeous and shot very well.
However, like @RVTECH hinted, it was far to nice to actually carry. This was back when we could buy and sell without Big Brother's intervention so it went down the road and I bought some other cool toy.

You have to buy something very expensive now to match the quality of those older Colts. My Ed Brown is equally as nice, but no where near as pretty.

 

[RVTECH]

However, like @RVTECH hinted, it was far to nice to actually carry.

Actually the RECENT GCNM I turned down would have been #2 for me.

The first I had was 1911 # 2 for me and I actually carried it quite a bit, holstered when hiking, out shooting etc. I mean hey, it was a nice, blued gun but not gold plated so I wasn't going to treat it like a museum piece. I will admit I DID at the time line it's holster with a thin, felt liner to 'kind of' protect it and that really helped but it still got carried.

NOW - would I have carried the 'recent' one I turned down? Most likely not as well, it had it's classic 'charm' to it - and VERY nice finish so no, I wouldn't have carried it and that MAY have been part of the reason I ultimately turned it down.

 

[po18guy]

With Gold Cup Trophy models selling for about $1200, they are worth a look. THey are better fitted than the standard models.

 

[orygun]

I have this and now it's kind of a beater because of the use it's incurred. The wife can do something when I leave this planet, cuz it's not going anywhere while I'm still alive.
If I ever trip across a Colt from the 50's or earlier that's been used and abused, I'll probably pick it up and use it like I use this one.
Dan Wesson CBOB