Colt 1911 Gov't vs... Everything Else

Mr. Mosin said:

Wowza. I'd at least hoped Colt would live up to their name.

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The Prancing Pony is just brand recognition that's all. They don't make terrible guns and they don't make guns that at the price point stand above the competition and in some of cases fall behind the competition.

Colts work and if they don't Colt fixes them. But for the money I find when I shop I can get more for the same price or more for less from other makers.

I really liked the custom GI Colts tuned and refinished by Nighthawk Custom. Colt is pretty much the only $1000ish pistol that I'd fix up. The competition model is sharp as well.

The thing is......all of the lesser brands, don't have the ''Colt cool'' brand name and roll mark. But all of those brands put their HUGE ugly logo's all over the pistol completely ruining the aesthetics of the pistol. Good airplanes, look like good airplanes. If you're not Glock or Colt, consider toning down the ugly logo's.

You can sell a Colt used, if you have to. The others are a bit harder. Even some of the hardcore good, custom 1911's can be a pain to sell, because nobody's ever heard of them.

But if you can swing the extra cost, Dan Wesson is where it's at right now. My Valor feels like a million dollars when you compare it side by side with my other 1911's. Which is why those are gone.

When the 2nd block of DWX's get made in .40, I'll be one of the first in line hopefully. The 9mm's are being made first. At least I won't be a beta tester.

I’ve owned Springfield and Ruger and the Ruger also represents a good value at its price point. I’d probably buy that one before a Colt.

Mr. Mosin said:

How do current production Colt 1911 Gov't's (specifically the "traditional" model) ...

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9mmepiphany said:

They do...Dan Wesson is just a much better value as to build quality

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To be fair, is there a Dan Wesson within $500 of a Colt like the OP is looking for? Those Colts are $750 - $850 (non-Corona Virus pricing) guns.

Colts are a bit more around here.

But DW's start around $1200 usually for the A2. Cco 1300. Valor SS 1800. Valor black 2100. Guardian 1200.

Mr. Mosin said:

Wowza. I'd at least hoped Colt would live up to their name.

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It isn’t so much that colt isn’t living up to its name, it’s just that everyone else has gotten better.

9mmepiphany said:

The only price requirement that the OP set was : "I'm not talking a several thousand semi custom or full custom 1911, just the equivalent production 1911's "

And I did preface my response with "mid-priced"...which to me sets the price at $1k - $2k

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I think the OP stated he is talking about the Colt Govt 01911C because he called it a “traditional” model. To me that means basic Govt which these days from Colt is the 01911C which is a $650-$725 gun if you are buying smart. Price is not mentioned but I think you are talking about a much higher price point than the OP is.

My current stable of 1911s include a 1943 Govt made at the Springfield Armory and issued to my Father sometime during the war and shot very, very little thereafter, seeing as he was a Navy officer; a Kimber Team Match II, and; an RIA Compact. I have owned a Tisas " GI" 1911 (mine sucked), a hodge-podge Colt 70 Series abomination assembled out of rejected parts by a moronic cousin with inner ear issues that was minute of ***, and very, very briefly, a cool looking (gamer gun) STI that I got in trade and quickly sold.

RIA a makes a good basic 1911. They add bells and whistles and improve finish as the price goes up. But these are working guns. Good, but, really, value-for-money good.

My WWII 1911 with the gray-green Sprinfield Armory Parkerizing is 100% original and I love it. Only eats hard ball - poo's the bed with anything else. Great quality, but those tiny GI sights...

My Kimber is exceptional. I know Kimber gets bad press and trash talk. I don't know why. Gorgeous.

I really like the looks of the Sig Emperor Scorpion.

Of the Colts I've handled and own, I don't think any stand out above the price-point crowd. You should buy the features you want, not the name.

The one brand that consistently out-shines at its price point: used Kimber.

I think the Colt Government is still a pretty decent buy for the money in either configuration.

9mmepiphany said:

And I did preface my response with "mid-priced"...which to me sets the price at $1k - $2k

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I see your point, and in general agree a Dan Wesson could fall into a mid-price range in the 1911 world, but...

WVsig said:

I think the OP stated he is talking about the Colt Govt 01911C because he called it a “traditional” model. To me that means basic Govt which these days from Colt is the 01911C which is a $650-$725 gun if you are buying smart. Price is not mentioned but I think you are talking about a much higher price point than the OP is.

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I believe this is what the OP is talking about.

Unless it has changed (generalization): Dan Wesson uses all tool steel small parts, Colt has three / four parts that are MIM, Kimber & Ruger more MIM.
I've got all of those. All are reliable, magazines can make a difference if a 1911 is picky.
Basic non-negotiable features I want on a 1911: a beavertail grip safety and decent sights.
Ruger is nice for the price, works reliably and feeds whatever I give it. I have one in 45 acp and 10mm.
Kimber - I've got the 10mm TLE - no complaint.
Colt - I have a Delta Elite - non-ramped barrel bulges brass that the Ruger & Kimber don't. I still like the pistol.
Dan Wesson - I have a Valor 45 acp. I initially bought it so as to have at least one 1911 that didn't compromise on small part quality.
All of them work reliably, I'd trust my life to either Ruger just as much as the more expensive pistols.

Edit to add pic. My 10mm 1911's
Ruger, Ruger, Kimber, Colt

This is a current production O1911C Colt Govt Classic. The are basically the same as the 80 series Colts with no firing pin safety, some refer to it as a 70 Series, a national match barrel and with new rollmarks.





I shot it recently back to back to back with a Guncrafter GI and Full House Custom Colt 1911 from Don Williams. Here are 3 targets at 15 yards. Not really a test of the guns accuracy but in my hands a demonstration of shoot-ability. It was not slow fire but it was not as fast as I can shoot fast. The shooting was done offhand.



The basic Colt for me shot as well as the guns cost 3X as much as the Colt Classic. Now all that said there are somethings that the stock Colt did not do well. When people ask what is the difference between a $700 1911 and a $2000+ 1911 it is not just about accuracy. It is not just about its ability to fire reliably. It is about the overall workmanship, refinement and shootability of the gun. The stock Classic needs to be dehorned. It has sharp edges all over it including in the beavertaill area of the grip safety. I was tearing my hand up after about 50 rounds through it. The other 2 guns can go all day long. The same can be said about my stock Dan Wesson CBOB, Colt 70 Repro or Colt Combat Elite but those are both upgrades from the basic GI Colt.

Without a doubt you are paying extra for the Pony but it is not as much as people claim. These guns were selling for $650-$725 before the panic buying. A similar SA Milspec with a Parkerized finish sells for $550. So depending where you are buying smart you are paying roughly $100 for the Pony.

Many years ago I had a Colt Gold Cup 1911 45ACP (like 40 years ago) ended up with my brother in-law, long story. About 10 years ago I bought a Kimber Custom II 45 ACP. I like that Kimber just as much as the Gold Cup. Both are excellent and accurate pistols.

Didn't we just do this topic a month or so ago?

WVSig nailed it. For $800, you can't get a better basic 1911 than the Colt Classic. And for less than a grand, for me, the only other reasonable alternative would be Springfield's Mil-Spec.

CDW4ME said:

Unless it has changed (generalization): Dan Wesson uses all tool steel small parts, Colt has three / four parts that are MIM, Kimber & Ruger more MIM.
I've got all of those. All are reliable, magazines can make a difference if a 1911 is picky.
Basic non-negotiable features I want on a 1911: a beavertail grip safety and decent sights.
Ruger is nice for the price, works reliably and feeds whatever I give it. I have one in 45 acp and 10mm.
Kimber - I've got the 10mm TLE - no complaint.
Colt - I have a Delta Elite - non-ramped barrel bulges brass that the Ruger & Kimber don't. I still like the pistol.
Dan Wesson - I have a Valor 45 acp. I initially bought it so as to have at least one 1911 that didn't compromise on small part quality.
All of them work reliably, I'd trust my life to either Ruger just as much as the more expensive pistols.

Edit to add pic. My 10mm 1911's
Ruger, Ruger, Kimber, Colt

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Don't forget the plastic mainspring housing.

9mmepiphany said:

In mid-priced 1911s, I'd place the current Colts behind the Dan Wessons and S&W. About on par with Springfield Armory and SIG...even Rock Island Armory depending on the specific model

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Agree.

Texas10mm said:

Don't forget the plastic mainspring housing.

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You are not getting a Dan Wesson for under $1000 unless you are looking at one of their alum models like a their Valkyrie CCO or other less than popular model. The lowest priced readily available DW currently in production is the 1911 A2 which is a $1200 - $1250 OTD gun. While I replace the plastic mainspring on mine the reality is the plastic mainspring works without issue.

It would help us help the OP if they would address the feature set in addition to the under $1000 price point they are looking at. This would help people separate the wheat from the chaff.

WVsig said:

It would help us help the OP if they would address the feature set in addition to the under $1000 price point they are looking at. This would help people separate the wheat from the chaff.

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He should also identify what he expects from a grip safety, GI or beavertail, and sights, adjustable or fixed. Choose wrong and he'll spend some time, money, and effort fixing his choice.

Most folks new to 1911's don't realize the different grip tangs required for a GI or beavertail grip safety, and the different sight dovetails.