[crazyneddie]

Hi all, I have had a small single stack on the brain for a while. So today I happened upon a used Colt Defender, in brand new condition; I'd be surprised if it was fired more than 50 rds if at all, it's mint and the bore looks brand new, hardly a smile on the barrel from slide wear. Anyhow I'm not up on Colts, but I think I did real good at $475 w box & two new mags. I'm a lefty so my only concern is lack of an ambi safety on both sides of the frame, although none of my other Da/SA autos have it either, but I'm able to "reacharound" with my right hand to operate the controls. However, since it's a carry gun, what if I can't get my right hand into the action for whatever reason, I'd be in trouble.
So that promted me to notice a Springfield Ultra Compact (new gun of course) that did have the ambi safety. Loved that too. However the gun although the same size is all steel I believe because it was about 1/2 lb heavier I'd say. I'm a scrawny guy and I think it may be pulling up my pants all day. I think my price was about 700 bucks.

So I put down a C note on the defender and figured I'd do some research. Is it a no bs affair tohave an ambi safety smithed onto a defender? And is that trigger aluminum or plastic??
I appreciate any comments or insight, thanks

[DHart]

crazyneddie... the Defender is arguably the most reliable "micro" 1911 available. No doubt there are owners of the Springer who have good running guns as well, and I'm sure they will chime in. Just be aware that if any 1911 is going to have reliability issues, the micros are the ones to have them! I'd rank the micros in order of reliability #1 Defender, #2 Springfield, and Kimber a distant third. (Certainly there are Kimber owners who love their micros, I'm sure.)

At the price on that Defender, you have a steal in the hand. New ones go for around $750-800 or so. And you can easily install an ambi safety on the Defender for very little money. There is a company that makes ambi safeties with mil-spec style thumb pads... something I highly recommend as the extended ambis can have a tendency to "snick" off by themselves in fanny packs, etc. The mil-spec style thumb safeties stay put where you want them and are less likely to break under pressure. Brownell's offers them.

Keep the Defender. Here's my new one. Only modification I did was install a $35 Wilson drop-in grip safety and changed out the grip panels. Runs flawlessly.

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/Def_LF9201.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/Def_L9190.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/Def_R9192.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/Def_RF9196.jpg

[Shorts]

I voted for the Springfield UC. We had for for a while before we traded for a fullsize my husband really wanted. I found it to best the shortest-barrel 1911 .45 that was most comfortable for me to shoot and still be fairly accurate with. It was concealable and ultimately reliable.

I've never shot a Defender, nor handled one. I have shot a Springfield MicroCompact and I don't like it one bit, and it wasn't as reliable as I hoped. But I can't comment on the Colt, only what I know.

Again, this is completely up to you. You've found a great deal on a Defender. If you got it an it didn't end up working out like you had hoped, you have a great trade on your hands for something else.

[hightech]

I would take the good deal on the Colt now. You can pick up an SA later. There will not be any more of the Defenders with Colt out of the hand gun business.

[DHart]

Don't worry about Colt, they'll be around. They're selling every gun they make... People have been trying to spread rumors of Colt "going out of business" for decades... it's become a very old joke at this point. Guess what... they're cranking out awesome pistols and rifles these days and buyers are loving them.

[ulflyer]

Like Dhart said. Better jump on the Colt you'll not find that price again. If not, email me the dealer phone nr.

[halvey]

There will not be any more of the Defenders with Colt out of the hand gun business. Not again... :banghead:

[crazyneddie]

Thanks Folks, when I woke up this am after sleeping on it my gut was for the Colt, thanks for wefifying it's a good deal, after the wait period I'll file a report! Thanks again forthe insight and the safety tip.....that will be a top priority!

[MICHAEL T]

Check If I remember right Defender has a short life on recoil springs. Their are post on this around. If I find one in my area for 500 range I will own one . I will buy no weapon I can't handle and check out. Cant do that on net and I like buying local.