Colt 1911 Quality

I have over 2 dozen 1911 Colts in various models. I've only shot about 6 of them. But I can assure you, they are some of the nicest pistols I own. This 1934 version is the most accurate.View attachment 898162 View attachment 898163

Hmmmm.....

I guess the magazines were run by advertisers back then, too.

Maybe things have changed at Colt, the last one I bought had a plastic mainspring housing made of a gray plastic designed to look like a real steel part. I hope they have changed, I felt sorry for Samuel Colt's ghost when I saw that.

9mmepiphany said:

Back then it was pretty well known what those phrases meant.
"Combat accurate" meant "not very"
"Excellent customer service" meant "you'll be needing it"

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LOL

I have only purchased one Colt made this decade. M45A1 from the Custom Shop.
Gun runs great. However, dont buy one of the cerakoted ones. The damn thing will loose finish if you look at it hard enough. Luckily its SS underneath, and I dont really care about what a firearm looks like as long as it shoots reliably and accurately.

My 1979 bought Combat Commander was a total piece of trash. For many many years it was the most expensive handgun I had ever owned, and while not the worst, it was in the top five. Bad machining, bad finish, unreliable, it had it all. All bad. Probably the root cause of my dislike of 1911's in general, but the 2nd and third ones I owned were also worthless, so.... I haven't owned a 1911 since about 1981, and will almost for sure go to my grave without owning another one. Give me a CZ or a CZ clone, a Sig P22X series, and I'm happy, and I have some money left in my pocket besides.

I have a MK IV series 80 thats a pretty good shooter. It's the first Colt I've owned and I didn't buy it because it says Colt on it. I bought it because it was a really good deal, has a decent trigger and it's not put together loose as a goose.

Quality? Yes. On par or better than much of their competition.

Overpriced? Also yes, IMO, not the best bang for your buck when you consider quality and commonly sought features.

It depends on what you are looking for, there are a number of good models of Colt, but personally I'd rather get a Dan Wesson, at the prices they are going for now.

hemiram said:

My 1979 bought Combat Commander was a total piece of trash.

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OP's question:

roo_ster said:

Does Colt build a quality 1911 nowadays?

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Although it has been several years since I was behind the counter at a LGS on a regular basis, it does seem to me that the quality of Colts is better today than it was in the mid-1990s. In that period, after one of Colt's many financial crisis, the quality was pretty questionable. I can remember opening boxes of new Colts on several occasions only to find that the front sight had fallen off! And there were other problems as well, but yes, at that time -- mid 1990s -- things were not too good at Colt. Today, based on the few I've seen, yes, quality if much better. However..... if you're really considering putting a grand or more into a 1911, and you really want a high quality pistol, you might want to save up a little more money and get a Cabot 1911. Yes, I realize that you might not have heard of them, but all the competitive shooters have and once you've held a Cabot 1911, all the others pale in comparison! The difference in quality between a Cabot 1911 and Colt 1911, is like the difference between a Colt and a Charles Daly. Once you buy a Cabot, the only thing you will regret is not buying another one. Keep us posted on what you decide.

My 1st colt is an Officers ACP series 80. Quite reliable but wasn't super accurate until I had a new bushing fitted and few other bits (beaver tail, full guide rod trigger etc). Back in those days mid-80s, their engraving/stamping was pretty crappy (Colt logo barely had half the pony...). Otherwise a great gun. A few years back, I sent it to Fords custom finishing to have it chromed and properly engraved with original marks. Holy cow, they do incredible work.

I also have a stainless Delta Elite that was well used but very clean with a super smooth action. The factory engraving on it was better but still not what we see today. It has also had a variety of improvements over the years. Quite accurate w my handloads.

My 1987 production Colt Government .380 was made in one of the company’s worst quality control eras, but it is a really nicely made little gun and shoots very well.

Armybrat

My 1987 production Colt Government .380 was made in one of the company’s worst quality control eras, but it is a really nicely made little gun and shoots very well.

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I would say the same thing for my Colt Officer's ACP and Mustang. Great guns but you had to be very careful looking them over as there were also a lot of clinkers out there!

I have an old WW2 Colt 1911 that runs like a swiss watch. Nowadays Colt 1911's are banking off thier name. Not saying they're bad, but for just a couple hundred bucks more you can get a Dan Wesson.

Mn Fats said:

Nowadays Colt 1911's are banking off thier name.

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How do you know that if your only Colt is a WW2 model? Pretty certain quite a few members have chimed in to speak of the quality of recent production Colts ... but then, folks need to read through the entire thread.

Mn Fats said:

Not saying they're bad, but for just a couple hundred bucks more you can get a Dan Wesson.

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No, not really. Maybe for four or five hundred bucks more, you can get a Dan Wesson, unless the only Colts you're seeing are the new Gold Cup NM or Combat Elite models ... but the basic Colts are going for $700 - $999 ...

Old Dog said:

No, not really. Maybe for four or five hundred bucks more, you can get a Dan Wesson, unless the only Colts you're seeing are the new Gold Cup NM or Combat Elite models ... but the basic Colts are going for $700 - $999 ...

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You can find Vigils and Pointmans, some Valkyries and Guardians for $1000-1100 right now. Crazy considering the quality of my Valkyrie compared to other $1K options. I think the $1300 old model Valors have dried up, but a relative got a stainless VBob for $1200 a while back, crazy deal.

So only a couple hundred more depending on model.

I own three Colt handguns. Two are 1911's; an old Army issue purchased in 1975 and a Colt National Match purchased in 2000 but made much earlier. The third is a Colt Python purchased new in 1972.

All three guns have been shot quite a bit and aside from recoil springs and magazines nothing has been changed or modified in my 1911's and nothing at all has ever gone wrong with the Python. I've heard comments from guys that believe there are better, more accurate 1911's than my NM and that the Python is way overpriced.

Maybe I lucked out but the quality of my three Colts is excellent.

Old Dog said:

How do you know that if your only Colt is a WW2 model?

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Only model??? I've owned and handled a few new models that were rattle traps. 1911 owners know that doesn't necessarily effect accuracy. You can stand by Colt all you want. A lot of 1911 guys do. The reality is, yep, Dan Wesson crushes the Colts. I'm talking about mass production, not custom jobs. DW is the best value out there imo. And yes, I stand by the couple hundred bucks more comment. Shop around.

Mn Fats said:

Only model??? I've owned and handled a few new models that were rattle traps. 1911 owners know that doesn't necessarily effect accuracy. You can stand by Colt all you want. A lot of 1911 guys do. The reality is, yep, Dan Wesson crushes the Colts. I'm talking about mass production, not custom jobs. DW is the best value out there imo. And yes, I stand by the couple hundred bucks more comment. Shop around.

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JR24 said:

You can find Vigils and Pointmans, some Valkyries and Guardians for $1000-1100 right now. Crazy considering the quality of my Valkyrie compared to other $1K options. I think the $1300 old model Valors have dried up, but a relative got a stainless VBob for $1200 a while back, crazy deal.

So only a couple hundred more depending on model.

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I would look again. The recent run has those removed those deals. Look around and they are gone. Most of those were odd configurations. They were CCOs, 9mm or other less desirable setups. You can still find some 10mm DW in that price range. Compare what you can find in a 5" Govt model 1911 in 45 with a steel frame from DW vs a Colt Competition. They can be had right now for $800. Find me a similar setup in the DW lineup for $1000. Send me a link and I will buy it. LOL

Gotta love it when someone says, "shop around;" almost as though one is being challenged like they're a total newbie. For the record, I'm pretty up on the current firearms market.

And yeah,I'll stand by recent production Colts, as I own a few. I also own Dan Wesson pistols (in fact, one is my favorite carry 1911 out of some thirty-plus I've owned in the past forty years), but I agree with WVsig:

WVsig said:

I would look again. The recent run has those removed those deals. Look around and they are gone. Most of those were odd configurations. They were CCOs, 9mm or other less desirable setups. You can still find some 10mm DW in that price range. Compare what you can find in a 5" Govt model 1911 in 45 with a steel frame from DW vs a Colt Competition. They can be had right now for $800. Find me a similar setup in the DW lineup for $1000. Send me a link and I will buy it. LOL

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WVsig said:

I would look again. The recent run has those removed those deals. Look around and they are gone. Most of those were odd configurations. They were CCOs, 9mm or other less desirable setups. You can still find some 10mm DW in that price range. Compare what you can find in a 5" Govt model 1911 in 45 with a steel frame from DW vs a Colt Competition. They can be had right now for $800. Find me a similar setup in the DW lineup for $1000. Send me a link and I will buy it. LOL

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I literally just looked at in stock options on gun.deals when I posted that...

Simple enough to look yourself, still deals out there in both 9mm and .45.

Now, yes, the good deals on the old Valors are indeed mostly gone short of a GunBroker miracle.

Edit: for instance

https://dahlonegaarmory.com/product...stol-acp-5-81-wood-grip-black-stainless-steel

I was skeptical the Vigils were as nice as other DWs at first but the few I've looked over have been very well fit.

Edit 2: i see you said steel frame. I did not see the OP specifying a steel frame or caliber.

Still

https://www.themodernsportsmanonline.com/products/handguns-dan-wesson-01946-806703019468-01946-2954

WVsig said:

I would look again. The recent run has those removed those deals. Look around and they are gone. Most of those were odd configurations. They were CCOs, 9mm or other less desirable setups. You can still find some 10mm DW in that price range. Compare what you can find in a 5" Govt model 1911 in 45 with a steel frame from DW vs a Colt Competition. They can be had right now for $800. Find me a similar setup in the DW lineup for $1000. Send me a link and I will buy it. LOL

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Ha! Your the 1911 man, many of your posts have helped me out big time, so thanks. I'm just trying to figure out the appeal of a modern day Colt for the price. I reload so I appreciate bomars. The Gold Cup I compared to the DW Pointman I eventually purchased was massively different. One felt like a toy and one felt like a piece of art. Purchased through Armslist for less than the Colt.

Anyone can have thier opinion. Mine is Colt isn't all that special. I treasure my WW2 Colt 1911. But brand loyalty is ridiculous. I'll shoot Rock Islands, I own a Ruger 1911, a Clack Kimber, and in my opinion, my DW is the best. I shot against an Ed Brown, definitely felt a little slicker, but the owner was out shot. I guess buy what suits you.

Target Colts are available for $900 to 1200 depending on the model and configuration, The DW Pointman is $1400 new at the cheapest price I see.
In 1999 I bought new Gold Cup for $799. Stainless steel Old steel Trigger Eliason sights, staked front sight, and a plastic mainspring housing. The front sight flew off the slide the 3rd time I shot the gun and the ejector also came loose. I bought a staking tool and staked the sight back on the slide. I replaced the ejector pin which was loose and re-staked it. The 1999 Colt had Razor sharp edges all over it, I noticed this after I stripped it the first time and noticed the small paper cuts all over my hands when I washed them! I stoned all of the edges of the slide and frame. In 2016 I bought a brand new Colt Series 70 Gold Cup. It is a much better made gun than the 1999 model, Dovetailed sights, nicer finish, de-horned slide, tighter slide to frame fit.
My go to gun for lots of Bullseye shooting and range practice is a Kimber Classic Custom Target I bought in 2000. That gun is much tighter and better finished than the Colt Gold Cup. I have over 40,000 rounds of LSWC ammo through that Kimber it was my bullseye league gun for 7 years. I have replaced the springs on it but nothing else. Since then I have also bought two other Kimbers, A TLE II 2008, and a Eclipse Target 2018, All three of my Kimbers are my best shooting 1911's. I have had zero problems with the Kimbers, and they are tight accurate and reliable, they are Much better guns than any of my Colts.
The prancing pony has it's nostalgic appeal.
Colts are good guns, but expensive for what you get.