Are Colt 1911s good for the price?

[Coltdriver]

So 1911's are like Harley's. The aftermarket parts available mean you can literally build one from 100% aftermarket parts.

And the fun part about 1911's, to me anyway, is that they are easy to detail strip and put back together.

So, if you get a 1991A1 version then you are ready to start putting cool aftermarket parts on it.

But do keep all of the factory parts. If you decide to sell your Colt, put the original factory parts back on it and sell off your aftermarket parts separately. You will be very happy not to lose a dime on your Colt and you can recoup some of your aftermarket parts cost or save them for your next 1911.

You can get a loaded Colt and do nothing, or a less featured version and customize it to your liking.

Post a pic for us when you do pick one up.

 

[HexHead]

There are many here who will claim their bargain 1911 is just as good as a semi custom. I cannot answer that one though.

Personally I would stay away from less than 4" 1911's. As timing is critical for flawless operation and the gap for perfection is diminished.

You've obviously never owned a Series 90 like a Defender or New Agent. Only Colt has figured out how to make a 3" 1911 as boringly reliable as a Glock, no matter whet you feed it.

To the OP, Colt is making the best pistols in their storied history now.

 

[David E]

Get the Colt. Anything else will not suffice for you.

But only if you'll shoot it OFTEN, not just once a year.

 

[Old Dog]

Colt's. Like Porsche, there is no substitute.


Although, I do have the thought that for the price, Colt could provide some frontstrap checkering and maybe some nice Novak Trijicon nightsights ...

 

[Fubijar03]

I am getting a 1991 as soon as I get my tax return, but a place pretty close by stocks them, so I will fondle all of them. My only other experience with 1911s is a llama Minimax I bought when I was a stupid kid, and man was that a nightmare. Taught me a good life lesson though: buy quality once.

I have a feeling that I will end up shooting this gun a lot more than I am planning. The more I read and look at them the more excited I'm getting. Plus I can take pictures of it next to my 6920. Can you put a price on a matching pair? Haha

Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[jrdolall]

You will be happy with a Colt if that's what you want to own. Is it the "best" 1911 for the money? You will get 1,000 differing opinions on that question.

They are the gold standard. There are probably "better" 1911s for the same money but if Colt is what you want then by all means get it. It will hold it's value. I have one and it is basically a safe queen that I bought because I "needed" a Colt. I MAY run 100 rounds through it every year.

 

[benzy2]

Colt is a well established name. It holds value on name alone, and for good reason. If down the road you plan to get out of it, I would be willing to bet a Colt model of the same original price will hold more value than others in the same price bracket. Now, are there better pistols for the money? Probably though it certainly depends on what features you want. If I thought it was going to be a pistol I would sell down the road, I'd lean towards colt. If I simply wanted the Colt name for personal reasons, I'd buy the Colt. I went different directions than Colt in my 1911 purchases, but because my specific needs and wants found other models more appealing for the price. I certainly didn't have negative comments on the quality of the Colt, just what it would cost to get the feature set I wanted.

I will say this. Buy what YOU want for the reasons YOU want. If we talk you into a different pistol there will always be doubt in the back of your mind about what could have been. I try to use Internet research as a complaint to praise ratio. Using it to pick a firearm is a risky proposition as nobody truly knows what you want, even if you explain it well. Colts complaint to praise ratio is very good, which should be a good indicator.

 

[skoro]

Are they worth the price they demand? In that price is there a really clear winner in the reliability, accuracy, and resale value department? It seems that the love is for Springfield, but I covet the dancing pony.

There are good 1911s on the market from a number of manufacturers these days. But if a Colt is what you really want, nothing else will scratch that itch. I speak from experience.

BTW...

Semper fi from an old guy who actually carried 1911s in my USMC days.

 

[HellTrain]

Colt- the original 1911

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I own 3 1911s, 2 of them are Colts. I'd definitely look to Colt first.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I went with a Colt Combat Elite. It has been fantastic. It has a NM barrel and it shows... it will easily make one single hole on paper. And it is a great looking gun to boot. I believe it is the same as the AR argument... it really just boils down to individual preference. They're all of the same design and usually all work fine, just some people prefer one kind over another.

 

[LeonCarr]

I am not a 1911 guy, but lots of people believe that when it comes to 1911s and ARs if its not a Colt, its just a copy.

You could do a whole lot worse than a Colt for your first 1911.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[CNobbe]

I've had a few Colt 1911s, as well as a Springfield, Ruger, and couple Kimbers.

Only 1911 I ever had an issue with was a Springfield Mil-Spec that was fixed properly when it went back to Springfield - they are a great company.

Colt is too, although I haven't heard of many of their 1911s needing repair new out of the box.

My only gripe with new production Colt 1911s is blue finish they now use (probably not their fault) but my older 70 series are a deep rich blue, and the new stuff look a bit watered down.





If you're just looking for a 1911 for the fun of shooting a 1911, you can get a Springfield Mil Spec which is basically a series 70 for a lot less money than a new Colt '70 series or the 1991s.

That said, the Colt will hold its value better - simply because of the name.

 

[Fubijar03]

Semper Fi skoro. Thanks for the input brother.

To everyone else thanks a lot. I really appreciate the opinions and advice. Income tax should be here by Friday. Gun shop will be getting richer and I will be getting poorer. Pics will follow soon after.

Mike.

 

[1911 guy]

I'll weigh in here. I'm normally in the camp that says there are other options to look at than Colt. My reason is that while Colt does indeed make a very good pistol, they also bring a bit more in price than a similarly equipped pistol from another manufacturer. The "prancing pony syndrome".

However:

You'll notice I never said anything about Colt being inferior in any way. And considering that Colt is on your mind as the "gold standard", you may want to consider them seriously.

My advice when shooting and maintaining a 1911 is keep it clean and lubed, avoid cheap mags and unless you're working with a gunsmith don't monkey with spring weights.

 

[Fishbed77]

My reason is that while Colt does indeed make a very good pistol, they also bring a bit more in price than a similarly equipped pistol from another manufacturer.

But do they really?

Consider the following: How many forged frame & slide, fully made-in-the-US, quality-built 1911s can you buy for the price of a new Colt 1991 (~$1000) or XSE (~$1050) that have a similar feature set?

I can only think of a handful. SIG's 1911 and S&W's SW1911 feature an external extractor that many don't care for. Kimbers get eliminated based on the "quality-built" requirement (sorry: in-the white barrels and spotty QC don't make the cut). Springfields in the price range feature Brazilian forgings and parts.

For many people, that leaves only Colt.

 

[420Stainless]

I like them, but only been a Colt owner so I don't have much to compare to. Very sad that my two series 70's bought in my youth, one a gold cup, had to be sold during hard times. In recent years I've bought an XSE Combat Commander and a Delta Elite. Both well worth the money with the XSE perhaps better than either of my old Colts. They are my two favorites.

 

[atomd]

I don't have anything against Colt but I would rather spend another couple hundred for a Dan Wesson.

 

[Saleen322]

I have had 3 Colts; a pre-gold cup national match 45, a mid 60s MR series 38 Special, and a series 80 stainless gold cup. I miss the national match 45. The MR was nice but not as good as a 52 Smith I replaced it with and the series 80 was loose, only okay accurate and the front sight actually fell off during a match. The quality control on the series 80 was lacking.

I now have 3 Springfield 1911s and one Dan Wesson. On the plus side though, I do hear now that the Colts have better quality than that series 80. Best of luck with what you decide.

 

[BYJO4]

There are many fine 1911s available today and everyone has their own thoughts on which one they like best. Colt makes a fine gun and the Colt name helps to maintain the value. To me, you should buy what you want and that seems to be a Colt.

 

[mudstud]

The only Colts I regret, are the ones I didn't buy!

 

[Capt. Ct.]

For us gun guys it is largely what we want, not so much what we need. You want the Colt. You won't be 100% happy unless you get it. If you don't get it now you will later. Might as well be now.
I have a small gun collection. It just didn't feel right without a 1911. I decided the XSE Commander was what I wanted. I found one used and gave it some thought. When I went back to buy it, it was gone. I then found a 1991A1 Officers model used. I bought it. I wanted to learn about the workings of a 1911 and I wanted something with more bells and whistles. First the plastic trigger went. Then a beaver tail. The gun is now about half Colt half Wilson Combat. I learned a lot. It works great and looks the way I want it to. Have fun with your new Colt.

 

[zerobarrier]

I have bought and sold a lot of handguns and the one thing I have learned is if there is one you really want even if its expensive you should save and get that one, don't settle. I have settled too many times because the price tag of a kimber, performance center 44mag, or REPR AR was to high. After awhile I would eventually sell what I settled for to get the one I really wanted, usually ended up losing a few hundred dollars in the process. I do love my Kimber Custom CDP, runs flawlessly. I say if a colt is what your heart desires then get a colt. I would love a engraved nickel colt with ivory grips..... maybe one day.

oh

P.S. Thank you for your service, if it weren't for people like you we probably wouldn't be able to talk freely on a subject like this.

P.P.S. When you want a nice holster for your new 1911 look at mernickleholsters.com , I have a few holsters from them and they are the best quality I have ever seen. I have one with a stingray inlay that is just beautiful. They are a little pricey though, just food for thought for the future.

 

[gym]

I have been tossing this back and forth for months now, and it's either Colt or Springfield. The current craze of 1911's can really make you crazy. But I am buying one last 1911 so it may as well be the one I wanted instead of something I settled for. I have been looking at guns for 50 years, since I was 14-15, and a colt is like a diamond, there are few that compare to the original. If you want to pay more for a custom gun, it's easy to spend 5 thousand on a 1911, but you have a custom 1911, not a Colt.
I am thinking of the Lightweight combat commander, as I will carry it sometimes. They are hard to find, if I keep looking eventually I will find one. The Springfield lightweight Operator is also a possibility, but I have to see when one raises it's head.

 

[19-3Ben]

Thanks a lot. I am set on the Colt. Are the 1991s to be avoided or just the bargain bin special?

I am relatively new to the 1911 game. I bought my first 1911 back in November 2013. It's a 1991A1, that I bought as a used armorer's training gun at the Colt plant (which is literally just a few miles down the road from my house). It was built in 2008 and has the metal housing and trigger.

It's a great gun. It will run any ammo though it (including empty cases which it will load and eject just fine), and is more accurate than I could ever hope to shoot it. The only mod I have made is swapping out the grips for Hogue wrap-arounds, and installing night sights.

There is really something to be said about the resale value on a Colt. If this pistol, in this condition, were a Springfield or even a Kimber, I don't think it would have brought the value that the "Colt" name brought to the table. If you buy used, you likely won't lose any money on the deal should you ever need to sell it. You'll get your money out of it so long as you don't way overpay when you get it.

I think you're going to end up shooting this gun more than you intend. A gun to shoot once a year might be something like an original WW2 issue 1911. But a modern Colt, is just a modern production gun that happens to have a very historically significant name attached to it. I'd just shoot the snot out of it if I were you. Why not? It's not like you'll wear it out, and if a part ever does break you aren't going to have any problems finding replacement 1911 parts for the repair.