Colt anniversary 1911 or Springfield Loaded???

[bobby68]

I am debating the purchase of my first 1911. I have small hands and heard the 1911 was more comfortable for some.

I liked the way colts grip safety was flush when all the other models i've handled have a "bump" that sticks into my palm. I was told that this was not too expensive to replace in whichever model i chose.

The colt is $1049, i was told:
blued
decent sights, no night sights
two piece guide rod (what is the difference?)
no pin safety (need to confirm)
supposed to be modeled after 1911A, not A1 but has indents at the trigger

Springfield Loaded $819
parkerized
one piece guide rod
not sure about pin safety??
night sights

both have skeleton trigger and hammer

I am leaning to the colt as i can always buy a Springfield Loaded. Please give me any insight or opinions

 

[JTQ]

Here is the Colt Manufacturing website to help you identify the Colt you're looking at.

http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPistols.aspx

Most Colt's, though not all, have the Series 80 firing pin safety. The current Series 70 model is one of the few that don't. Most Colt's, though not all, come with a standard GI style short guide rod. Most 1911 fans favor this style. I believe the Springfield loaded comes with a full length guide rod. If you want to change that out, it is an easy and inexpensive change.

 

[Auto426]

I think you have some of your facts missed up. Every Colt that was manufactured in 2011 featured a "100 years of service" roll mark on the right side of the slide, if there was space to put it. From your post is sounds like you are comparing the blued Colt XSE model to Springfield's Parkerized Loaded model.

The Colt uses a one piece guide rod, while the Springfield uses a two piece guide rod. The difference is that the Springfield setup requires an allen wrench to field strip, and in some cases the two pieces can unscrew during recoil.

The Colt uses the Series 80 firing pin safety, which Colt invented in the 1980's. The Springfield doesn't have a firing pin safety, and instead uses a non-standard mainspring housing with a built in key lock. The firing pin safety is a non-issue, since just about every gun made today has one, and the Series 80 system has proven itself reliable.

 

[bobby68]

I think you have some of your facts missed up. Every Colt that was manufactured in 2011 featured a "100 years of service" roll mark on the right side of the slide, if there was space to put it. From your post is sounds like you are comparing the blued Colt XSE model to Springfield's Parkerized Loaded model.

The Colt uses a one piece guide rod, while the Springfield uses a two piece guide rod. The difference is that the Springfield setup requires an allen wrench to field strip, and in some cases the two pieces can unscrew during recoil.

The Colt uses the Series 80 firing pin safety, which Colt invented in the 1980's. The Springfield doesn't have a firing pin safety, and instead uses a non-standard mainspring housing with a built in key lock. The firing pin safety is a non-issue, since just about every gun made today has one, and the Series 80 system has proven itself reliable.

You might be correct as I do not recall the slide looking exactly like the photo of the roll marked (there were three different anniversary models I think).

BUT.... The tag says its the anniversary model, and it is blued. I assued it was accurate and did not look closely at the slide.

When I first researched this, an article claimed this model did not have a pin block so came with a warning label to this. I ndeed to call to confirm.

 

[Auto426]

The real Colt anniversary model is the ANVIII, which looks like this:



It's modeled after the original M1911, and features special roll marks that commemorate the 1911's military adoption 100 years ago. It also lacks the Series 80 firing safety.

The model you described is most like the blued XSE Government:

This gun has the Series 80 firing pin safety. If the gun was made in 2011, it will feature a roll mark forward of the ejection port on the right side that says "100 years of service". Technically, you could call it an anniversary gun, but it's nothing more than the basic XSE model with an extra roll mark.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Here is an XSE writeup. I'd take it over the Springer.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=620192

 

[bannockburn]

I picked up a Colt Government last year simply for the fact that it had the "100 Years of Service" rollmark on its slide. I wasn't looking for an exact reproduction of the original M1911, just an every day shooter that commemorated the 100 year anniversary of John M. Brownings classic autoloader.

 

[bobby68]

The real Colt anniversary model is the ANVIII, which looks like this:



It's modeled after the original M1911, and features special roll marks that commemorate the 1911's military adoption 100 years ago. It also lacks the Series 80 firing safety.

The model you described is most like the blued XSE Government:

This gun has the Series 80 firing pin safety. If the gun was made in 2011, it will feature a roll mark forward of the ejection port on the right side that says "100 years of service". Technically, you could call it an anniversary gun, but it's nothing more than the basic XSE model with an extra roll mark.

Thank you, this is exactly right. That photo you describe as the xse is the one In the store tagged "anniversary model". It looked much like the springfield loaded (though blued not parkerized) and confused the heck out of me. Also I think you are correct, that it is desirable even with 80's safety block.

Thanks much for your effort to clarify.