Trade my Kimber stainless TLE II for Colt 1911 WWI Collector Ed.

[Retro]

Well, I have been having problems with my Kimber stainless TLE II in terms of the practical aspects of shooting. My TLE II always shoots 2 inch higher at 25 yards, and zeros at 50 yards, and the trigger hurts my finger after 100 rounds. And I wasn't entirely satisfied with the satin stainless finish of Stainless II. And most important of all, the gun looked way too modern. I originally paid $700 for the Kimber, and $200 for the custom job (magwell and tritium sight installations).

Since I have always been a fan of original 1911 in blued finished, I caught a glimpse of a Colt 1911 WWI reproduction pistol in collector's box, etc going for $999.99. The gun is carbonia blued and with all the original reproduction markings duplicated, down to the horse symbol.

So I traded in my stainless TLE II for the Colt 1911 WWI. And I am very satisified. The store owner was wondering why the hell did I do that? And he literally said: "You know, your Kimber is a way better gun than the Colt 1911 reproduction." I told him I know but I still wanted the Colt. So I paid $100 for difference of the trade.

I didn't have a ounce of regret about this trade. I loved the way a original Colt 1911 reproduction looked and felt in my hand. And Kimber was just a phase in my life...

Question: Why is this gun illegal to own in California? So weird....

 

[HPJeep]

Congrats! I've always wanted the WWII and now the WWI Colt repos. If I only had something to trade for them!

 

[Retro]

Thanks, I think a lot of the 1911s carried by GI in WWII were in fact Colt 1911 WWI version since the army recycled 1911 over and over again... in my opinion, blued 1911 WWI is far more elegant than the packerized 1911 WWII.

 

[Helstrm]

I have a 1911 Black Army that I will leave to my kids. I fire this maybe once per year.

 

[Retro]

I noticed one inaccuracy in the Colt 1911 reproduction. See picture from this website which showed the exact same gun that I have:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=57355108#PIC

It is the trigger. I thought the WWI 1911 came with slim trigger instead of the thick ones found on WWII 1911. See this original colt 1911 WWI:

http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/graphics/colt1911.jpg

But the WWI reproduction used thick trigger instead of the slim one.

Anyone to confirm this?

 

[Geronimo45]

Illegal in Cali - because it wasn't offered up for the gun tests that Cali has to do. It's a rigamarole to get the gun into the tests, so manufacturers just pick the most popular models. I guess the Colt WWI isn't popular enough to include. I think it costs some money.

 

[Eightball]

blued 1911 WWI is far more elegant than the packerized 1911 WWII.

Oh, my, yes. A buddy of mine mailed his home from Vietnam (Bless him!), and it's the most beautiful 1911 I've ever seen, bar none. Sheepskin holster to boot. .......<drool>........

 

[.45FMJoe]

The store owner was wondering why the hell did I do that? And he literally said: "You know, your Kimber is a way better gun than the Colt 1911 reproduction."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA.

Thanks for the comedy, it has been a boring day at work. I needed that.

 

[Retro]

should I fire defense Winchester whitebox JHP .45 through this piece? I thought 1911 WWI were made for FMJs...

 

[JohnBT]

Mine shoots anything, and accurately too.

My '99 Kimber Gold Match doesn't get out much anymore since I bought the Colt Repro. I'll get back to it eventually since it's been such a workhorse.

Re: Colt triggers. Go to the following site and click on the ID Pages button and then the Triggers button to see pics of early Colt trigggers.

www.coolgunsite.com

1916 to 1919 milled long trigger




John

 

[Retro]

Thanks, John, for the clarification! Retro