I think I want a horse

Blued Series 70.

Go a little modern and get an XSE with Novak night sights. If you want to keep going the the model with the rail, XSE Rail Gun.

Blued Series 70

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I second that. Trigger job and aftermarket GI sights and you're done.

TALO exclusive Wiley Clapp Government Model, followed by any other blued Series 70.

ugaarguy said:

TALO exclusive Wiley Clapp Government Model, followed by any other blued Series 70.

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This. I was looking for a blued Series 70 repro when I came across my Wiley Clapp Government and decided to purchase it instead. It is fantastic. I don't think you can go wrong with a Series 70 repro, whatever flavor you choose.

I have a Colt Lightweight Goverment for both range use and concealed carry.

Yip, Colt

The new Colt Series 70 Repro is a great choice, but they are hard to come by. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a new Colt Series 80 Government Model. They may be easier to find.

"The current catalog is a bit confusing, so I thought I would ask the experts: If you could have only one, traditional, full-size Colt 1911 for range use and occasional open carry, which would it be?"

I'm not an expert, but.........Another vote for a new, blued series '70 Colt or NIB Colt 1991. I'm about to "pull the trigger" on the latter myself. (I've got a bead on one at a good price locally and haven't really seen a NIB '70 available - the series 80 safety does not bother me.) I have a Springfield "Loaded" model with all the bells and whistles and that's not going anywhere but I've always had a hankering for a stock, blue Colt GM. I've been doing some homework lately and it seems IF you can find an "unmolested" example of a used one these days you won't save much money over buying a new one, and if you want a new, stock 1911 to keep as-is and forever, you want a new, blue Colt.

Edit to add: You might still be able to find a decent deal on the Colt TALO "CCG" model. Just a few nice upgrades but still a basic blue 1991 underneath. If you could find both new you would likely pay about $200 more for the TALO. (Novak rear sites; fiber-optic front site; "National Match" barrel; extended thumb-safety; slim grips and beaver-tail/elongated slot hammer)

Take a look at the new Concealed Carry Government model in their 2013 catalog. It started like as a special edition Talo gun, but it turned out to be so popular they added it to the regular catalog. It's next on my list of handguns.

Horse give me a pony anyday.

If I was limited to just one, it would be a Colt.

Naturally I would do whatever it took, to not be limited to just one.

What is a TALO Colt???

TALO is distributor that gets exclusive production runs made of guns from various manufacturers. http://www.taloinc.com/

For me...

1. COLT Gunsite Pistol.



However ANY of the pistols recomended above would be a good choice.
Will

Try a Springfield Armory M1911A1. I have two of them, and I love them both.

The new CCG (Custom Carry Government) is a beautiful pistol, if I could only have one it would be that. It's basically a Colt Gunsite however Colt added it to their regular production lineup and named it the CCG so we should be seeing more of them.

Truly, for pride of ownership and the ultimate satisfaction, the sentimental favorite will only be a Colt.

I regret selling my first 1911 . . . a 1st generation Colt Combat Elite. I shot it in competition and lord knows how many thousands of rounds I ran through that gorgeous pistol.

I eventually quite shooting competitions, and since the Colt was a tad "loose" then, I traded it for a brand new first generation Kimber Ultra CDP officer's sized 1911 type for concealed carry use. That was around 1990, and the high dollar Kimber has never replaced the feeling I got every time I picked up the Colt Combat Elite!

One day I'll get another Colt 1911, and it will be a bright polished blue full size model and almost surely a Series 70 type. Then, I'll be happy again with a new horse in my stable!