Colt Series 80 - M1991A1

It's a Colt 1911.
What concerns could you possibly have?

That's an ORM 1991, or Old Roll Mark. When these were first introduced they were meant to be a budget version of the classic Colt Government Model. They used matte blue or parkerized finishes (depending on age), as well as a plastic trigger and mainspring housing. Around 2001 Colt gave the line a little TLC, and turned them into what's now their basic 1911 offering. They gave them nicer roll marks, polished flats, and an aluminum trigger in place of the plastic one.

For a little more than the buy it now price you can buy a brand new gun. Bud's Gun Shop had the blued models listed for $835 a couple of weeks ago. Your buddy will get a brand new gun that looks nicer for his wife.

These are excellent guns usually found at a good price. They have the most critical mods most shooters need, taller sights and a lowered ejection port. The grip safety on the Commander model was narrow and slightly upturned, fixing the hammer bite issue if it affects you (swap a GS off an ORM commander into this one, for example).

I think his price is a bit optimistic. I'd take one in the $600 range all in, maybe a bit more. It also appears the slide serrations were cut inverted on the right side. That used to happen occasionally at Colt; most people never notice.

As to his questions given "So this 1911 would be the gun his wife would be grabbing for HD in the event a firearm is needed.":

1) Reliability: Put some FMJ in it and it will run forever.
2) Accuracy: For SD at any reasonable range, it'll put nice holes where you aim.
3) Maintenance: Function test it, lube it, load it. Check it every year or two afterwards. Change $15 worth of springs every 15 years or 3,000 rounds, whichever comes first.

It should be an excellent gun. I do agree that the price is a bit high. I bought one used from Buds for around $600, if I remember correctly.

Well, the same gun goes for about $840 online, then tack on transfer fees, shipping, etc, and I'd say he made out pretty well. He probably actually came out a little ahead with the trade value on the Glock. Nice looking gun, hope he enjoys many rounds through it!

For anyone interested, my brother passed on the Colt and ended up buying a Springfield M1911A1 yesterday at his LGS in Windsor, CO. Sticker price was $900; he traded in his G27, and paid $600 for the Springfield. Apparently he bought the G27 used for $250 a few years back, so I guess that worked out well for him.

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Not a bad deal I guess. Is it parked or blue?

Bobson said:

Same here. He's in his last year of undergrad at CSU, and getting ready to apply at a few med schools around the country, so I'm hoping it doesn't give him much trouble, as money and time are going to be extremely tight for him over the next four years.

I'm not sure. I don't even know what the difference is...

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Parkerizing is a an electrochemical conversion coating, often found on military firearms as protection from corrosion. It is easily recognized by it's dull, black to grey appearance. It has, over the years, served the military well. It is a very durable, corrosion resistant finish.

Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust, and is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish. Most of the time bluing will have a more glossy finish vs the rough look of a parkerized finish.

His gun looks Parkerized to my eyes but hard to tell from the picture.

I doubt he'll have any problems with the gun. SA does a pretty nice job on their loaded models. He also gets a lifetime warranty on the gun.
I'm sure he'll do fine with it.

1991a1

love mine it is on my list of guns to never sell very reliable accurate and powerful can't go wrong with this gun

Springfield "Loaded" model is a great first 1911. A stainless version was my first 1911 and the only one I have now. It seems whenever I take a new shooter to the range, they shoot as well, usually better with that gun as they do with anything else. Without going into detail, let's just say I have "more than one gun" and I also shoot it better than anything else I own. It just seems easy to hit with, no other way to explain it.

When it was new I had a few hiccups with some of the "wider-mouthed" JHP ammo, never any kind of failure with any brand 230 gr. FMJ. I did run a couple boxes of some JHP I got on sale a while ago with no issues but I don't carry it or keep loaded in the house for home defense so 'ball' is all it usually sees. He made a good choice.

The 1991 has a Series 80 firing pin safety, if that's an issue at all.