Colt 1991A1 Questions

[Mumbles_45]

Today I found a Colt 1991A1 for $500 even. This seems to me to be a very reasonable price, am I wrong? What is the difference between a 1911 and a 1991, besides the firing pin safety it claims to have? Is this the same firing pin safety design (more or less) found in series II Kimbers?

slightly related question: Does Rock Island use MIM?

 

[SouthpawShootr]

The 1991A1 was introduced as a less refined version of Colt's flagship series 80 guns. Finish was sort of a black parkerizing (some dull stainless finishes were available later). The guns came stock with rubber grips. Mainspring housing was flat and a long trigger was installed.

I'm not really schooled on the deviations from the original 1911 design, but there are few. The main thing is the firing pin safety. Mainspring housing and trigger shoe are plastic (the trigger bow, which you can't see is steel). I would note that the flat mainspring housing and long trigger were in the original 1911 design. A1 used an arched mainspring housing and short trigger. Sights on military 1911s are nothing short of abominable. The 1991A1 has better, usable sights.

Mine is a 1991A1 Commander I bought in 1995 or so. It's been the equal of my older, more nicely finished Series 80 Government.

 

[Mumbles_45]

Thank you.

Speaking of Mainspring housings, what is the attraction of a flat housing? I've always had arched housings, as I find them more visually appealing. Is is just that the flat ones give you a narrower grip for smaller hands/use with gloves, or is there more to it than that?

 

[Gixerman1000]

The first 1991A1’s were somewhat of a less expensive line to the standard Colt Government model and more or less picked up where the military grade 1911A1 stopped production.

These early 1991A1’s were also Series 80 (Series 80 = trigger controlled firing pin safety) but didn’t have the spit and polish of the other Colt’s, they had a huge roll mark on the slide “Colt 1991A1”, basic sights (no dots), a simple Parkerized finish, rubber grips and as stated plastic trigger and mainspring housing.

The latest 1991A1’s have a smaller more traditional roll mark on the slide “Colt Government model 45 Automatic Caliber”, very nice blueing with polished side flats, a nice set of wood grips, 3 dot sights and an aluminum trigger.

My old 1991A1 was a great shooter and I never had any problems with it's function but the finish wasn't that great, I sold it for a new Colt 1991A1 that I'm totally happy with.

 

[MICHAEL T]

500 and a Colt. As long as hasn't been ground on with a power tool at kitchen table I'd say go for it. I belive Kimber uses a different fireing pin safety . I don't own any Kimbers

Does Rock Island use MIM? yes and I belive frame and slide are cast also. I only kept mine for 100 rounds. Then sold . Worked fine but just couldn't warm up to it.

 

[SniperStraz]

Re-opening this thread

Tell me all about the 1991. Is it reliable? is it better than the 1911? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[XavierBreath]

You will find answers here.

1991 vs. 1911

For those wondering what the difference is between these pistols, the fact is there really is none. Back in 1991 Colt decided to market an economy version of their basic Series 80 Government Model. The polished blue was changed to an all-matte parkerized (later blue) finish, checkered rubber grip panels were used, and the serial number sequence was made similar to US military M1911A1 pistols. The resulting pistol was cleverly named "M1991A1", after the year of introduction. Mechanically however they are the same as any other Colt Series 80, 1911-type pistol.

The 1991 is now divided into two subsets, the Old Rollmark, and the New Rollmark, or ORM and NRM. Gixerman1000 gave a pretty good description of the differences. They are reliable pistols. They are not "better" than 1911s, they are 1911s. The 1991 thing was a sales gimmick back in 1991 when they first came out.

 

[DJGrant]

Tell me all about the 1991. Is it reliable? is it better than the 1911? Any help would be appreciated.

Are you referring to the the new production 1991's with the SRM (small roll mark) , or the early 90's production 1991A1 models with the LRM (large roll mark)?

The Colt 1991 pistols are really Colt Series 80 1911's. (see Gixxermans1000 post above) I suspect that the 1991 designation was a marketing gimmick.

I can't speak to the present production 1991's - as I have yet to get a look at one, or shoot one. Maybe others will weigh in on their new production 1991's

However; I do own a 1991A1, produced in 1991, and purchased by me in 1991. I've fed 10's of thousands rounds through the gun and find it exceptionally reliable. It is now my daily carry piece. I've had only to replace a couple of parts (all the springs, grips, and a slide stop), but I guess that is to be expected.

Just my 2cents worth.

/dj

 

[SniperStraz]

Thanx guys...

 

[Mumbles_45]

Well, I ended up getting it, I put it on layaway just before going to the field for two weeks, and I picked it up a couple days ago. It had some Pachmyr wraparound grips that instantly got DXed for some extra wood ones I had lying around. A friend immediatly claimed the discarded Pachmyr ones and put them on his Kimber Custom II. Whatever, if that's what floats his boat, more power to him, I had no intention of ever using them.

 

[whitebb]

Good score. I got mine in December, personal sale for $500 (hardly fired) Mine has a steel trigger(factory parked) and plastic Mainspring hsg, as well as ORM. I know where there is a NIB one for $600.