Catpop
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Anyone have any comments on this model. I have a friend that has one for sale. Any idea on a good used price? Condition as NIB. Thanks, catpop
1995 Colt 45acp 1911 3" compact
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tipoc
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Is it an Officer's Model? I'm not sure the Defender was available then, may have been.
Does it have an alloy frame or steel?
There were several configurations that Colt offered on these over the years.
The Officer's Model was problematic. Some ran great some not so much. The recoil spring assembly was the heart of the difficulties. If you are new to 1911's I'd advise to begin elsewhere, a Commander perhaps.
With the Defender (3.5" barrel and alloy frame) Colt got it right. They had 20 years experience making 3.5" barrel 1911s at that point and they built the best of the compact 1911s in this gun. It serves as the basis for the Colt Agent which they introduced a few years ago.
Get a pic of the gun if you can. More information would help.
tipoc
Does it have an alloy frame or steel?
There were several configurations that Colt offered on these over the years.
The Officer's Model was problematic. Some ran great some not so much. The recoil spring assembly was the heart of the difficulties. If you are new to 1911's I'd advise to begin elsewhere, a Commander perhaps.
With the Defender (3.5" barrel and alloy frame) Colt got it right. They had 20 years experience making 3.5" barrel 1911s at that point and they built the best of the compact 1911s in this gun. It serves as the basis for the Colt Agent which they introduced a few years ago.
Get a pic of the gun if you can. More information would help.
tipoc
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Catpop
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I'll try to get pic. It is stamped COMPACT on slide. Year 1995 came from owner manual date, best I could do. It is in a blue plastic Colt box. It has a staggered magazine. More next time I see it. Thanks, Catpop
If it says "Compact" on the right side it'll have "COLT M1991A1" on the left side, this is the only model that was named "Compact". The frame is steel, the finish is parkerized, the barrel length is 3.5" and it is a single stack .45acp, no staggered mag. It was a low buck version of the Officers ACP, also had a polymer trigger and MSH.
Great little guns, solid shooters, terrific platforms for custom builds. The dual recoil spring assy can be replaced with single spring set ups that work great and there are drop in plug replacements to solve the plug failure issue that was never as big a deal in real life as it has been made out to be on the interweb.
I'd put the value in the $600-$700 range, of course your max depends on how bad you want one.
As an aside, Defenders all have 3" barrels, not the same gun.
This is a pic of my 1991A1 Compact, like I said, the ORM '91s are great foundations for custom builds. I also have a Novak built 1991A1 Commander and 5 1991A1 .38 Super that is out being customized now.
Great little guns, solid shooters, terrific platforms for custom builds. The dual recoil spring assy can be replaced with single spring set ups that work great and there are drop in plug replacements to solve the plug failure issue that was never as big a deal in real life as it has been made out to be on the interweb.
I'd put the value in the $600-$700 range, of course your max depends on how bad you want one.
As an aside, Defenders all have 3" barrels, not the same gun.
This is a pic of my 1991A1 Compact, like I said, the ORM '91s are great foundations for custom builds. I also have a Novak built 1991A1 Commander and 5 1991A1 .38 Super that is out being customized now.
Dframe
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Great compact guns. I also have the 1991 compact model and wouldn't trade it for anything. I've used it in competition and it's amazingly accurate. As mentioned earlier it was intended as a "no frills" or entry level version of the Colt Officers ACP but they tend to shoot FAR better than you would think, just by looking at the bland finish they carry.
horsemen61
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Hey wc I'd love to see pics of your Novak and that 37 super 1911 when you can
I'm a pic whore. I'm sorry.
My Super should be done in a month or two and I'll start posting that one for variety, give you guys a break from the Compact.He asked. It's not my fault!
This one was worked over by Joe Bonar at Novak's. It is all business and runs like a clock, a wicked sweet gun. I had a lucky moment and got it from the original owner, who was a friend of Joe's.
iron horse
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Catpop-What WC145 said + its referred to as the Old Roll Mark (ORM) 1991A1 because the Lettering on slide is no longer used (it was also introduced in 1991 and came in the government, commander and compact models).
Bought my compact NIB in 1998 for less than $600. 100% reliable out of the box with thousands of rounds (but I also do routine maintenance). A 1911 guru/moderator on this site, 1911Tuner, has several (do not know if his are the government, commander or compact sizes). Recently, he commented in a thread on this site that, he has fired over 400,000 rounds through them.
U.S. made, Colt, all steel, .45 cal., 100% reliable out of the box, compact slide/grip, and thin, yet less expensive than most. Get it or regret it.
Bought my compact NIB in 1998 for less than $600. 100% reliable out of the box with thousands of rounds (but I also do routine maintenance). A 1911 guru/moderator on this site, 1911Tuner, has several (do not know if his are the government, commander or compact sizes). Recently, he commented in a thread on this site that, he has fired over 400,000 rounds through them.
U.S. made, Colt, all steel, .45 cal., 100% reliable out of the box, compact slide/grip, and thin, yet less expensive than most. Get it or regret it.
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Catpop
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WC145, I was wrong, yeap it is single stack.
Haven't had chance to get pic yet.
What's that about a plastic trigger?
Thanks Catpop
Haven't had chance to get pic yet.
What's that about a plastic trigger?
Thanks Catpop
When Colt introduced the 1991 series the idea was to offer a lower cost alternative to the rest of their line to attract more buyers. The three most obvious cost saving measures were the parkerized finish, polymer triggers, and polymer main spring housings.
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