JohnBT
Member
The price of everything, and the value of nothing.
Oh, I don't know. It just came to mind. Carry on.
John
Oh, I don't know. It just came to mind. Carry on.
John
- Status
"Colts have been that way for something like the last 5 years. Nice try, tough guy"
Sean Smith, you flexing here or what? I have no dog in this fight but I completely forgot what belt level I'm certified in but I do remember the training on how to use this here keyboard as a lethal weapon.
Dude, CHILL.
Sean Smith, you flexing here or what? I have no dog in this fight but I completely forgot what belt level I'm certified in but I do remember the training on how to use this here keyboard as a lethal weapon.
Dude, CHILL.
Lobotomy Boy
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2004
- Messages
- 2,449
I've been half-heartedly shopping for a 1911 for a couple of years and have read a lot about various makes, both here and on the 1911 Forum. From what I've read, it seems that Colts are at least as reliable as Springfield or Kimber. The experience of people on this thread who've actually owned Colts (amazing how much people without any first-hand information seem to know on these types of threads) backs this up.
The violent and personal reactions of some people towards certain brands of guns with which they have no personal experience make little sense to me. It's as if Samual Colt himself came to these people's houses one morning and personally peed on all their Wheaties. Maintaining this level of rage about the guns other people choose to buy can't be healthy.
The violent and personal reactions of some people towards certain brands of guns with which they have no personal experience make little sense to me. It's as if Samual Colt himself came to these people's houses one morning and personally peed on all their Wheaties. Maintaining this level of rage about the guns other people choose to buy can't be healthy.
LOOK FOLKS... if you already have a good Colt, Kimber, Springer, SW1911, Les Bair, Ed Brown, etc., etc., just get out & shoot it and enjoy it. If you are having problems or want some changes made, just get a good 'smith to set it up the way you want it. I know that a little tuning by a good smith can work wonders on a 1911-pattern pistol.
The rest of all this is really just a bunch of bullcrap, and I plead as guilty as any for adding to the manure pile.
The rest of all this is really just a bunch of bullcrap, and I plead as guilty as any for adding to the manure pile.
Last edited:
larry starling
Member
My Colt's have been excellent! None of the pistol's I have purchased have had any issues at all! I have owned plenty of 1911 from other manufactuers and only my colts have kept there value!!!! 
Larry-you bring up an interesting issue. If Colts are so bad-why DO they hold their value so well? I mean-Colt has had a spotty reputation for decades, if some are to be believed. If that were the case, why doesn't everyone stay away in droves?
Feanaro
Member
Why does Jennings stay in business? Why does A-MERC continue to shoot crap ammo out the door? Taurus has, and has has, a fairly bad reputation. Why don't people stay away in droves? Colt makes good to great products(IMO, of course), not nearly as good as the followers believe but still good to great. But holding value and success are not entirely based on the technical merits of the item. Marketing, nostalgia, hype, personnel attachment, and many other factors come into the fray. A number of people paying a premium for Colt SAA solely for the name, the pony, and it being a "real" SAA.
Nothing wrong with that. If I wanted an electric guitar I would buy a Stratocaster instead of a clone, could I afford it. But as anyone who doesn't like Rap can tell you, popularity ain't all it's cracked up to be.
Stevie-Ray
Member
I personally have 4 Colts and love them all. One is my most accurate. One is my choice for the "You can have only one" thread. One is an heirloom that I wouldn't think of selling, and one I just bought and haven't even had the chance to shoot it much or dress it up. 
Under fear of suffering at Sean's wrath for being an unwashed hysteric ...
I had a couple Series 80 Colts. One was a simple 1991A1 5", and the second was that cute little Officer's ACP model, the plain-vanilla 1991A1 Compact. Bad news, both of them. The former started shearing the barrel locking lugs almost immediately. It received a new fitted Kart barrel and bushing, a Videcki trigger, Ed Brown lockwork, and beavertail grip safety, since I bought it to become my IPSC gun. The latter was breaking the link, and went back to Colt's a couple times under warranty. I didn't even bother to shoot the little gun after it came back the last time. I sold it, and the 5" gun, and used the money to buy several Norinco 1911A1's. I didn't get hysterical, I chalked it up to a bad time in Colt's corporate history, much like Harley's AMF days. My pre-'94 Colt Competition HBAR AR went back to Colt, too, with a front sight tower pointing off to the northeast so far that all the rear sight windage in the world wasn't gonna make it shoot straight. I'm a sucker for punishment, I guess. I still have the Norincos, and I replaced the 1991A1 Compact with a Caspian Officer's ACP. Couldn't be happier. I'm sure Colt's has come around again in QC, but I've no real desire to buy their products now. Fool me once, and all that stuff...
Or is that an example of tough guy anti-Colt hysterics?
I had a couple Series 80 Colts. One was a simple 1991A1 5", and the second was that cute little Officer's ACP model, the plain-vanilla 1991A1 Compact. Bad news, both of them. The former started shearing the barrel locking lugs almost immediately. It received a new fitted Kart barrel and bushing, a Videcki trigger, Ed Brown lockwork, and beavertail grip safety, since I bought it to become my IPSC gun. The latter was breaking the link, and went back to Colt's a couple times under warranty. I didn't even bother to shoot the little gun after it came back the last time. I sold it, and the 5" gun, and used the money to buy several Norinco 1911A1's. I didn't get hysterical, I chalked it up to a bad time in Colt's corporate history, much like Harley's AMF days. My pre-'94 Colt Competition HBAR AR went back to Colt, too, with a front sight tower pointing off to the northeast so far that all the rear sight windage in the world wasn't gonna make it shoot straight. I'm a sucker for punishment, I guess. I still have the Norincos, and I replaced the 1991A1 Compact with a Caspian Officer's ACP. Couldn't be happier. I'm sure Colt's has come around again in QC, but I've no real desire to buy their products now. Fool me once, and all that stuff...
Or is that an example of tough guy anti-Colt hysterics?
BluesBear
member
Since I was alive and actively shooting during the time periods,
I feel compelled to comment on a few inaccuracies.
The "part the barrel rides in" IS the bushing.
And Colt did NOT "invent" it. It's NOT an original Colt idea.
Several custom builders were already producing and singing the praises of the "fingered" bushing. At least one even produced them for Commander length guns, something Colt NEVER did. What Colt did do that set them apart was to provide a tapered barrel so at least you could dismount the pistol without tools. It was another one of those sounds-good-on-paper ideas.
Unfortunately ALL of the fingered bushing players eventually realized that it was almost impossible to keep equal tension on all fingers and that durability wasn't consistant. However I have seen more than a few original Mark IV Series 70 Government models that still are going strong with their original barrels and bushings. I personally owned several that never had any problems and only one that did.
I have PERSONALLY WITNESSED it happen from armpit height. (Can you say Galco shoulder holster.) Do a search for my thread on this "impossibility". And if dropped in condition two it is almost a foregone conclusion.
Titanium firing pins? Extra heavy firing pin springs? Both of those often create more problems than they cure.
Firing pin safety tied to the grip safety? Dropping a gun on it's muzzle can depress the grip safety.
Gritty trigger pull? Possibly but not because of the Series 80 Safety. I have had MANY people comment that I must have removed my Series 80 parts. NOPE all still intact. Have you heard all of the good comments on the SIG Granite Series trigger pulls. Guess what. SERIES 80 all the way. A Sig slide will even work on a Colt frame and vice versa. (Yeppers, Tried it. Done it.)
Heard complaints on the K.I.M.ber Schwartz Safety? It's been mentioned in several threads. And it's called a Schwartz Safety because that's what Colt called it before they DUMPED the idea 60 years ago.
Now as to the "plastic" parts issue... Yes Colt still uses Nylon for the mainspring housing. BIG WHOOP! Have you EVER heard of one going bad? I haven't. Has anyone else? I only replaced mine because I replace ALL arched housings with flat ones. And on two occasions I replaced nylon arched ones with nylon flat ones and was completely happy.
Has anyone ever heard of a problem with the now discontinued nylon triggers? I haven't. The only reason I replaced mine was because I replace ALL long triggers with short ones.
I have no problem selling or trading away every single flat nylon housing and long nylon trigger I can get my hands on.
Now it's all well and good to prefer another brand. But if you're going to badmouth something and try to influence someone elses opinions at least get your fact straights. Hells Bellsâ„¢ just find some facts.
I feel compelled to comment on a few inaccuracies.
ONLY because gunrag writers were telling everyone that this was the ONLY way to get a 45 to shoot accurately. As a result everyone with a vise mounted to their workbench became "pisstillsmiths". This was also a time when the market was flooded with used and abused GI surplus 45s at rock bottom prices. Instead of replacing the worn out parts with new ones, chucking it in a vise was the "fad". It was another one of those sounds-good-on-paper ideas. Once people woke up and realized that there was a whole lot more involved in accuracy than frame to slide fit vising the slide quickly fell from grace.richyoung said:
The fingers contacted the barrel NOT the slide.richyoung said:
The "part the barrel rides in" IS the bushing.
And Colt did NOT "invent" it. It's NOT an original Colt idea.
Several custom builders were already producing and singing the praises of the "fingered" bushing. At least one even produced them for Commander length guns, something Colt NEVER did. What Colt did do that set them apart was to provide a tapered barrel so at least you could dismount the pistol without tools. It was another one of those sounds-good-on-paper ideas.
Unfortunately ALL of the fingered bushing players eventually realized that it was almost impossible to keep equal tension on all fingers and that durability wasn't consistant. However I have seen more than a few original Mark IV Series 70 Government models that still are going strong with their original barrels and bushings. I personally owned several that never had any problems and only one that did.
POPPYCOCK! In what comic book did you learn this factoid?richyoung said:
I have PERSONALLY WITNESSED it happen from armpit height. (Can you say Galco shoulder holster.) Do a search for my thread on this "impossibility". And if dropped in condition two it is almost a foregone conclusion.
Titanium firing pins? Extra heavy firing pin springs? Both of those often create more problems than they cure.
Firing pin safety tied to the grip safety? Dropping a gun on it's muzzle can depress the grip safety.
Gritty trigger pull? Possibly but not because of the Series 80 Safety. I have had MANY people comment that I must have removed my Series 80 parts. NOPE all still intact. Have you heard all of the good comments on the SIG Granite Series trigger pulls. Guess what. SERIES 80 all the way. A Sig slide will even work on a Colt frame and vice versa. (Yeppers, Tried it. Done it.)
Heard complaints on the K.I.M.ber Schwartz Safety? It's been mentioned in several threads. And it's called a Schwartz Safety because that's what Colt called it before they DUMPED the idea 60 years ago.
Now as to the "plastic" parts issue... Yes Colt still uses Nylon for the mainspring housing. BIG WHOOP! Have you EVER heard of one going bad? I haven't. Has anyone else? I only replaced mine because I replace ALL arched housings with flat ones. And on two occasions I replaced nylon arched ones with nylon flat ones and was completely happy.
Has anyone ever heard of a problem with the now discontinued nylon triggers? I haven't. The only reason I replaced mine was because I replace ALL long triggers with short ones.
I have no problem selling or trading away every single flat nylon housing and long nylon trigger I can get my hands on.
Now it's all well and good to prefer another brand. But if you're going to badmouth something and try to influence someone elses opinions at least get your fact straights. Hells Bellsâ„¢ just find some facts.
richyoung
Member
"Since I was alive and actively shooting during the time periods,"
How many guns were you building? Did Moses and the Pharoh shoot >38 Super or .45 ACP?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I feel compelled to comment on a few inaccuracies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by richyoung
AT this time, bullseye and other competition shooters routinely have slide to frame play reduced by squeezing slides and peening frame rails down.
ONLY because gunrag writers were telling everyone that this was the ONLY way to get a 45 to shoot accurately. "
Didn't say WHY, just said it was so,..and you agreed - so where is the inaccuracy?
"As a result everyone with a vise mounted to their workbench became "pisstillsmiths". This was also a time when the market was flooded with used and abused GI surplus 45s at rock bottom prices. Instead of replacing the worn out parts with new ones, chucking it in a vise was the "fad". It was another one of those sounds-good-on-paper ideas. Once people woke up and realized that there was a whole lot more involved in accuracy than frame to slide fit vising the slide quickly fell from grace."
??? That would be news to Eagle Arms and Cache Creek Fly Shop in my home town of Lawton, Ok, both of whom are happily building carry and competition guns by...squeezing slides and peening rails. Today. In the 21st century. (When they don't buy a pre-fitted slide and frame from Caspian. ) And they don't seem to be the only ones, as all the online 1911 smith's web sights feature something along the lines of "Tighten frame to slide fit - $200".(This very process built the best gun I will ever own with a COLT slide, no less. Shot 1.5" groups with anything at 25 yards off of sandbags before it was stolen. Stupid me, it might have shot one hole groups if I hadn't had the slide tightened.
Quote:
Originally Posted by richyoung
The "Series 70" collet bushing...they invented a new one with springy fingers that engaged the slide and supported the part that the barrel rides in,
"The fingers contacted the barrel NOT the slide."
My bad - I haven't seen one in 13 years - round these parts that potential killer is the first part to hit the scrap heap, and I've been avoiding them like a vampire ducks daylight.
"The "part the barrel rides in" IS the bushing."
Tha barrel goes in one part, and the other part ties the whole mess to the slide. One part - "bushing" that is the interface between two other parts, slide and barrel.
"And Colt did NOT "invent" it. It's NOT an original Colt idea."
Then Colt is a DOUBLE IDIOT - I'm sure their in-house engineers could have come up with something just as bad. However, I wil conceed that I was in error, and more correctly should have stated "jumped on the rather shacky bandwagon of" rather than "invented" - thanks for correcting me.
"It was another one of those sounds-good-on-paper ideas.
Unfortunately ALL of the fingered bushing players eventually realized that it was almost impossible to keep equal tension on all fingers and that durability wasn't consistant. However I have seen more than a few original Mark IV Series 70 Government models that still are going strong with their original barrels and bushings. I personally owned several that never had any problems and only one that did."
In a carry gun that will get you killed. How many SOLID bushing guns have you had quit on you due to bushing failure, (not improper fit, but FAILURE) in your shooting career? This is a "Why do people have a problem with Colt" thread, remember? The collet bushing IS one of the reasons - again, I fail to see the "inaccuracies" you are talking about, (unless you are talking about the group size out of a collet-bushing gun...).
Quote:
Originally Posted by richyoung
OK first a 1911 has to fall 21 feet straight on its muzzle for the firing pin to hit the primer hard enough to MAYBE set it off.
"POPPYCOCK! In what comic book did you learn this factoid?"
U.S.Army drop tests, if I recall correctly. From about the time they were considering the -A1 mods (BEFORE they did their manuals in comic book form, BTW!)
"I have PERSONALLY WITNESSED it happen from armpit height."
From "American Hangunner", on the FBI 1911 tests:
"During the drop test, guns were dropped onto concrete from a height of 4 feet, landing three times on the muzzle and three times on the butt. The throw test was conducted at 15 feet with the guns heaved onto concrete, twice on the left side and twice on the right. "The guns were pretty beat up after that," Williams deadpanned. However, none of the primed empty cases in the chambers popped and none of the magazines came loose, so it was on to the "field suitability" test."
4 feet is about armpit height for most folks - did you see Charles Barkley drop his piece?
Or perhaps someone had one of them ther "pisslsmiff" trigger jobs and no half-cock notch on the one that was dropped?
". And if dropped in condition two it is almost a foregone conclusion."
That's why you should carry cocked and locked...
"Titanium firing pins? Extra heavy firing pin springs? Both of those often create more problems than they cure."
...and NOBODY has had a Series 80 firing pin stay locked because of unburned powder and crud tying up the plunger, or the plunger sticking down and locking up the gun, or light fining pin strikes, (or worse yet, a firing pin sticking out of the breechface) due to the extra powder and crud that gets into the firing pin tunnel thru the S-80 plunger, or failure of the plunger to re-lock the firing pin if you lower the hammer on a live round?
"Firing pin safety tied to the grip safety? Dropping a gun on it's muzzle can depress the grip safety."
And exactly how high that would have to be would depend on the sear spring and the grip safety in question - how high do you reckon that is?
"Gritty trigger pull? Possibly but not because of the Series 80 Safety."
Then who, pray tell, is buying al those block-off adapters? Slightly out-of-spec series 80 parts CAN make for a lousy trigger pull, and that is one of the reasons people don't like Colt - (thread topic, remember?)
" I have had MANY people comment that I must have removed my Series 80 parts. NOPE all still intact."
I'm happy you have a good one - not everone is so fortunate.
" Have you heard all of the good comments on the SIG Granite Series trigger pulls. Guess what. SERIES 80 all the way. A Sig slide will even work on a Colt frame and vice versa. (Yeppers, Tried it. Done it.)"
I have no doubt in SIG's ability to execute a Colt solution to a non-existent problem at a far higher standard of quality.
"Heard complaints on the K.I.M.ber Schwartz Safety? It's been mentioned in several threads. And it's called a Schwartz Safety because that's what Colt called it before they DUMPED the idea 60 years ago."
Speaking of "inaccuracies", Colt didn't "dump" the Schwartz safety - they stopped making it because they shifted to war time production, and the government didn't order its pistols with it. Post-war - Colt apparently decided to base their commercial models on the war-time production, (maybe had a lot of parts left over??), and duidn't re-introduce it. Colt no more "dumped" the Schwarts thant they "dumped" the SAA - they just didn't resume production of this option, among many more things, post-war.
"Now as to the "plastic" parts issue... Yes Colt still uses Nylon for the mainspring housing. BIG WHOOP! Have you EVER heard of one going bad? I haven't. Has anyone else? I only replaced mine because I replace ALL arched housings with flat ones. And on two occasions I replaced nylon arched ones with nylon flat ones and was completely happy."
Are you betting your life on these guns, or are they fancy toys for competition? Do as you will, but I don't trust NYLON for automotive timing gears OR mission-critical components on a defensive pistol - many others feel the same way and thats ONE OF THE REaSONS TO DISLIKE COLT! (That old "Thread topic" thingy again....)
"I have no problem selling or trading away every single flat nylon housing and long nylon trigger I can get my hands on."
...and pawn shops have no problem selling every Raven, Jennings, and Hi-Point they get in - doesn't make them good.
"Now it's all well and good to prefer another brand. But if you're going to badmouth something and try to influence someone elses opinions..."
not bad-mouthing - answering the question posed in the first post of this thread - "Why do some people have a problem with Colt?" I defy you to quote me anywhere saying NOT to buy a Colt - in fact I have repeatedly lamented the theft of my previous 1911, which except for the frame , grips, and recoil system, was all Colt. All I have done is list the greivances.
" at least get your fact straights. Hells Bellsâ„¢ just find some facts."
Everything I said is a fact, and a reason SOME PEOPLE, (obviously not you), dislike Colt, also facts. Your OPINION is such dislike is unmerited.
(edited to stay closer to the "High Road")
How many guns were you building? Did Moses and the Pharoh shoot >38 Super or .45 ACP?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I feel compelled to comment on a few inaccuracies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by richyoung
AT this time, bullseye and other competition shooters routinely have slide to frame play reduced by squeezing slides and peening frame rails down.
ONLY because gunrag writers were telling everyone that this was the ONLY way to get a 45 to shoot accurately. "
Didn't say WHY, just said it was so,..and you agreed - so where is the inaccuracy?
"As a result everyone with a vise mounted to their workbench became "pisstillsmiths". This was also a time when the market was flooded with used and abused GI surplus 45s at rock bottom prices. Instead of replacing the worn out parts with new ones, chucking it in a vise was the "fad". It was another one of those sounds-good-on-paper ideas. Once people woke up and realized that there was a whole lot more involved in accuracy than frame to slide fit vising the slide quickly fell from grace."
???
That would be news to Eagle Arms and Cache Creek Fly Shop in my home town of Lawton, Ok, both of whom are happily building carry and competition guns by...squeezing slides and peening rails. Today. In the 21st century. (When they don't buy a pre-fitted slide and frame from Caspian. ) And they don't seem to be the only ones, as all the online 1911 smith's web sights feature something along the lines of "Tighten frame to slide fit - $200".(This very process built the best gun I will ever own with a COLT slide, no less. Shot 1.5" groups with anything at 25 yards off of sandbags before it was stolen. Stupid me, it might have shot one hole groups if I hadn't had the slide tightened.Quote:
Originally Posted by richyoung
The "Series 70" collet bushing...they invented a new one with springy fingers that engaged the slide and supported the part that the barrel rides in,
"The fingers contacted the barrel NOT the slide."
My bad - I haven't seen one in 13 years - round these parts that potential killer is the first part to hit the scrap heap, and I've been avoiding them like a vampire ducks daylight.
"The "part the barrel rides in" IS the bushing."
Tha barrel goes in one part, and the other part ties the whole mess to the slide. One part - "bushing" that is the interface between two other parts, slide and barrel.
"And Colt did NOT "invent" it. It's NOT an original Colt idea."
Then Colt is a DOUBLE IDIOT - I'm sure their in-house engineers could have come up with something just as bad. However, I wil conceed that I was in error, and more correctly should have stated "jumped on the rather shacky bandwagon of" rather than "invented" - thanks for correcting me.
"It was another one of those sounds-good-on-paper ideas.
Unfortunately ALL of the fingered bushing players eventually realized that it was almost impossible to keep equal tension on all fingers and that durability wasn't consistant. However I have seen more than a few original Mark IV Series 70 Government models that still are going strong with their original barrels and bushings. I personally owned several that never had any problems and only one that did."
In a carry gun that will get you killed. How many SOLID bushing guns have you had quit on you due to bushing failure, (not improper fit, but FAILURE) in your shooting career? This is a "Why do people have a problem with Colt" thread, remember? The collet bushing IS one of the reasons - again, I fail to see the "inaccuracies" you are talking about, (unless you are talking about the group size out of a collet-bushing gun...).
Quote:
Originally Posted by richyoung
OK first a 1911 has to fall 21 feet straight on its muzzle for the firing pin to hit the primer hard enough to MAYBE set it off.
"POPPYCOCK! In what comic book did you learn this factoid?"
U.S.Army drop tests, if I recall correctly. From about the time they were considering the -A1 mods (BEFORE they did their manuals in comic book form, BTW!)
"I have PERSONALLY WITNESSED it happen from armpit height."
From "American Hangunner", on the FBI 1911 tests:
"During the drop test, guns were dropped onto concrete from a height of 4 feet, landing three times on the muzzle and three times on the butt. The throw test was conducted at 15 feet with the guns heaved onto concrete, twice on the left side and twice on the right. "The guns were pretty beat up after that," Williams deadpanned. However, none of the primed empty cases in the chambers popped and none of the magazines came loose, so it was on to the "field suitability" test."
4 feet is about armpit height for most folks - did you see Charles Barkley drop his piece?
Or perhaps someone had one of them ther "pisslsmiff" trigger jobs and no half-cock notch on the one that was dropped?". And if dropped in condition two it is almost a foregone conclusion."
That's why you should carry cocked and locked...
"Titanium firing pins? Extra heavy firing pin springs? Both of those often create more problems than they cure."
...and NOBODY has had a Series 80 firing pin stay locked because of unburned powder and crud tying up the plunger, or the plunger sticking down and locking up the gun, or light fining pin strikes, (or worse yet, a firing pin sticking out of the breechface) due to the extra powder and crud that gets into the firing pin tunnel thru the S-80 plunger, or failure of the plunger to re-lock the firing pin if you lower the hammer on a live round?
"Firing pin safety tied to the grip safety? Dropping a gun on it's muzzle can depress the grip safety."
And exactly how high that would have to be would depend on the sear spring and the grip safety in question - how high do you reckon that is?
"Gritty trigger pull? Possibly but not because of the Series 80 Safety."
Then who, pray tell, is buying al those block-off adapters? Slightly out-of-spec series 80 parts CAN make for a lousy trigger pull, and that is one of the reasons people don't like Colt - (thread topic, remember?)
" I have had MANY people comment that I must have removed my Series 80 parts. NOPE all still intact."
I'm happy you have a good one - not everone is so fortunate.
" Have you heard all of the good comments on the SIG Granite Series trigger pulls. Guess what. SERIES 80 all the way. A Sig slide will even work on a Colt frame and vice versa. (Yeppers, Tried it. Done it.)"
I have no doubt in SIG's ability to execute a Colt solution to a non-existent problem at a far higher standard of quality.
"Heard complaints on the K.I.M.ber Schwartz Safety? It's been mentioned in several threads. And it's called a Schwartz Safety because that's what Colt called it before they DUMPED the idea 60 years ago."
Speaking of "inaccuracies", Colt didn't "dump" the Schwartz safety - they stopped making it because they shifted to war time production, and the government didn't order its pistols with it. Post-war - Colt apparently decided to base their commercial models on the war-time production, (maybe had a lot of parts left over??), and duidn't re-introduce it. Colt no more "dumped" the Schwarts thant they "dumped" the SAA - they just didn't resume production of this option, among many more things, post-war.
"Now as to the "plastic" parts issue... Yes Colt still uses Nylon for the mainspring housing. BIG WHOOP! Have you EVER heard of one going bad? I haven't. Has anyone else? I only replaced mine because I replace ALL arched housings with flat ones. And on two occasions I replaced nylon arched ones with nylon flat ones and was completely happy."
Are you betting your life on these guns, or are they fancy toys for competition? Do as you will, but I don't trust NYLON for automotive timing gears OR mission-critical components on a defensive pistol - many others feel the same way and thats ONE OF THE REaSONS TO DISLIKE COLT! (That old "Thread topic" thingy again....)
"I have no problem selling or trading away every single flat nylon housing and long nylon trigger I can get my hands on."
...and pawn shops have no problem selling every Raven, Jennings, and Hi-Point they get in - doesn't make them good.
"Now it's all well and good to prefer another brand. But if you're going to badmouth something and try to influence someone elses opinions..."
not bad-mouthing - answering the question posed in the first post of this thread - "Why do some people have a problem with Colt?" I defy you to quote me anywhere saying NOT to buy a Colt - in fact I have repeatedly lamented the theft of my previous 1911, which except for the frame , grips, and recoil system, was all Colt. All I have done is list the greivances.
" at least get your fact straights. Hells Bellsâ„¢ just find some facts."
Everything I said is a fact, and a reason SOME PEOPLE, (obviously not you), dislike Colt, also facts. Your OPINION is such dislike is unmerited.
(edited to stay closer to the "High Road")
M
mrhuckins
Guest
Bad experience
The only colt handgun I ever fired was the old .45's that the military issued as standard a sidearm about 10 years ago. I was truly afraid for my life if I ever had to use one of these "weapons" to defend myself. I was never able to hit a man sized target at even 25 yards. You could hold the gun up next to your ear, and shake it and hear the barrel rolling around in there like a maraca. Perhaps this is the result of having thousands and thousands of rounds put through the weapon, but my experience was bad enough that I never cared to fire or own another colt weapon of any kind.
The only colt handgun I ever fired was the old .45's that the military issued as standard a sidearm about 10 years ago. I was truly afraid for my life if I ever had to use one of these "weapons" to defend myself. I was never able to hit a man sized target at even 25 yards. You could hold the gun up next to your ear, and shake it and hear the barrel rolling around in there like a maraca. Perhaps this is the result of having thousands and thousands of rounds put through the weapon, but my experience was bad enough that I never cared to fire or own another colt weapon of any kind.
larry starling
Member
My advice to all the colt hater's, dont buy them keep purchasing your mim filled copys and leave the pony's for us colt fan's! That might help the people in the area's were there seem to be no colts available. As for me thats less competition trying to buy the guns im looking for! Right now under General keyes colt is producing some of the finest guns they have ever made!
Peter M. Eick
Member
Some of us still like them for what they are. Good reliable guns that just need a bit more TLC then most of the rest. BY the way, the Dick special now has Pachmyers like the rest of them.
The gun I have shot the most is in the center. My little diamondback has over 45,000 rnds fired out of it. Not much to complain about there. Hardly a super delicate gun, but it has had a few repairs.
I have to admit that I collect S&W Pre-numbered N frames though. Not Colts.
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gpo1956
Member
Just today I looked at, in my area of a population of less than 25,00, a blued 1911, a blued XSE, a stainless XSE and an XSE Light weight commander. The kicker was the 1991 was $749, the blued XSE ws $980, the stainless XSE was $1010 and the XSE Lightweight Commander was $999. I guess the Commander was REALLY a bargain!! You ask why Colts are so hard to find and so popular? I say its because so many of you guys will blindly pay these kinds of prices just because "If its not a Colt, its only a copy". Or if it has a Horsey on it it must be worth it. Don't get me wrong, Colt is making some very good 1911s right now. Just insanely overpriced. But I guess thats progress! Twenty or thirty years ago they were not nearly this quality overall, but were still way overpriced.
ulflyer
Member
Mrhuckins, you must have had a well worn one. I have a 1943 box stock, original well used Rem-Rand, and it will give you a 3-4 inch group at 20 yards. If I wanted to carry a gun that big, I'd trust it as much as either of my newer 1911's.
HankB
Member
Not to hijack a COLT thread, but . . . .if only this were true! Then S&W would be making pinned & recessed revolvers again with real steel (not MIM) internals, the firing pins would be on the hammers again, and there would be NO @!#**! internal locks!
vanfunk
Member
Just a data point...
I've had nothing but success with Colt products, from the dozen-or-so 1911's, to the Detective Special, to the 3 AR-15's I have. I feel Colt AR-15's are still the best available, for reasons not always obvious but always important (long story). Given the choice, I will always choose a Colt 1911 over a similarly priced, similarly configured competitor. Colt 1911's also have that certain "je ne c'est pas" (excuse my French) that lends a certain delight to ownership that I am willing to pay a modest premium for. Springfields, Kimbers, etc. just don't "do it" for me, although I have owned decent representations of the breed made by those manufacturers. I wouldn't claim that Colt 1911's are The Best out there, but they are the best for me.
vanfunk
I've had nothing but success with Colt products, from the dozen-or-so 1911's, to the Detective Special, to the 3 AR-15's I have. I feel Colt AR-15's are still the best available, for reasons not always obvious but always important (long story). Given the choice, I will always choose a Colt 1911 over a similarly priced, similarly configured competitor. Colt 1911's also have that certain "je ne c'est pas" (excuse my French) that lends a certain delight to ownership that I am willing to pay a modest premium for. Springfields, Kimbers, etc. just don't "do it" for me, although I have owned decent representations of the breed made by those manufacturers. I wouldn't claim that Colt 1911's are The Best out there, but they are the best for me.
vanfunk
On the Colt website the military section has a rather catchy little jingle, while the commercial section has nothing! This is an outrage.
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