Is a report correct that Colt is Re-issuing the O1918 WW1 repro?

The most prudent reading of any manufacturer claim of a "limited edition" is that "production will be limited to the number we think we can sell."

Have always kind of thought of my Colt Government 1911 (made in 2011), as being the modern day equivalent to the original "Black Army" 1911, with it's matte blue/black finish, long trigger, and flat mainspring housing. Definitely a lot less expensive than Colt's "new/old" version and I don't have to worry about whether or not I want to shoot something that's a limited edition (and currently out of stock at many dealers).

From Colt's website:

Features: Based on Original 1911 Blueprints/ 1 of 750

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gc70 said:

"Based on"

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In other words, "different from the original in whatever way we felt like changing it."

gc70 said:

1 of 750

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In other words, "We're making 750, because we think that's the sweet spot of how many we can sell and how much we can command for them through scarcity. Until the next run."

gc70 said:

From Colt's website: Features: Based on Original 1911 Blueprints/ 1 of 750

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Sort of like some movies, "based on a true story". However, they always forget to correctly preface it with "very loosely".

Which is worse?

"Based on...."

or

"Inspired by...."

Speedo66 said:

Sort of like some movies, "based on a true story". However, they always forget to correctly preface it with "very loosely".

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Boy howdy you got that right. Read the real story about the jews in Belarus in the movie Defiance. You would think they were right beside the Russians fighting the Germans. Nope. For the most part they cooked for the Russians.

Oh man when I 1 ist read Colt 1918 in the title I thought it was one of these...

wojownik said:

Jeez man, this thread took a wrong turn, real fast Especially that last one ...

My simple question was: in response to that one article I linked in the OP, does anyone have any additional information that would verify the claim that Colt is issuing another run of the O1918 model ...

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Well, its an O-series stock number on Colts website........

Showing out of stock at the moment, though.

I thought they were so backed up with gov't contracts that they couldn't make anything for the open market............

Bit sad, just them living off their past more. Nothing new (that was competitive) in many years.

Well, I will keep my eye out for one of these. I doubt I will see one at the Local Gun Store, there is a dedicated group of buyers who will buy anything with the Pony on it. Especially retro 1911's.

You know... I really wanted one of those carbon blued 1911's they came out with, but I knew I would never get one... and not only because of the price, and this will likely be the same.

One of the 1911 clone makers could seriously cash in if they made a run of pistols like that. I know the purists won't bother with them because they won't have the prancing pony on it, but that means they will be left for the shooters like us... Hope springs eternal in my weary heart.

Send RIA an email.

I really wanted one of the Colt O1918s, but couldn't bring myself to spend that much, so I got a Cimarron.

Here it is (after a few mods):

I also prefer the Pre-A1 look........

01KLR650 said:

I really wanted one of the Colt O1918s, but couldn't bring myself to spend that much, so I got a Cimarron.

Here it is (after a few mods):

View attachment 867027

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A question from the ignorant, What was the price of those O1918s when they came out and how many did they make???

NIGHTLORD40K said:

I also prefer the Pre-A1 look........
View attachment 867033

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My Uncle had a set of those on the wall and when I was a child. I would beg him to take them down off the wall and shoot them, he would look at me like I was insane and tell me NO!!!!..... alas we never did..

indy1919a4 said:

My Uncle had a set of those on the wall and when I was a child. I would beg him to take them down off the wall and shoot them, he would look at me like I was insane and tell me NO!!!!..... alas we never did..

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Mine was unfired when I got it a couple of years ago. Feel like I got a good deal at $1K out the door at a local pawnshop. Those grips had to go though....yuck.
Got maybe 200 rounds through it now. Runs like a champ. Never even considered not shooting it.

01KLR650 said:

Here it is (after a few mods):

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Nice! What all did you mod?

Charlie98 said:

Nice! What all did you mod?

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Thanks! Mostly things that made it a little closer to an original 1911.

The wide-spur checkered hammer and GI-style small safety are from Kahr and dropped right in. The long, smooth trigger is from Harrison and also dropped in.

While the Cimarron smooth mainspring housing was technically correct, the profile was a bit off. I also didn't like the fact that the lanyard loop was cast and not pinned like the original, so I got a more authentic piece from EGW.

I splurged little on the grips and got a nice walnut set from Wood Caliber that doesn't have an ambi cut.

I also tried a Cylinder and Slide GI-style mainspring plug that attaches to the spring, but after shooting it, the tab that holds the spring gets bent back so it no longer holds on to the spring. The Armscor spring guide is not rounded on the end like the GI version and may be hitting the tab and bending it.

It's parkerized and not blued like the original, but the parkerizing is pretty smooth, so I can live with that.

Here's a before shot with the parts:

Makes sense... I was looking at the pistol at Cimarron, and I was noticing the differences. Very well done.

01KLR650 I really like your gun. Thats what a 1911 is supposed to look like. I wish I could afford one. But the dollars are tight right now.

ATLDave said:

The most prudent reading of any manufacturer claim of a "limited edition" is that "production will be limited to the number we think we can sell."

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Dave, if you think about it, everything is a limited edition. Nothing manufactured is made in infinite number, there's always a last one. Might be the billionth or trillionth, but there's not an infinite number made.