Colt Delta Elite

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LeverGunJunkie

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Gents;
Came across an opportunity to purchase a Blued Colt Delta Elite, older one. Once fired, in box with papers. $700. Hadn't really compared the price online, other than a cursory check on GB, and it seemed good. Is this a good deal worth jumping on?
 
.45 or 10mm? Are the grips / panels stock? More curiosity on my part than any pricing observations. Any chance we can get pics?

I think it's a decent price if it's in very good shape.

Remember, $700 is what the guy is asking, so the real price is somewhere south of there :)
 
Assuming its 10mm, since the vast majority are (Why would you take the only Colt stock 10mm and convert it? Tis a crime). $700 is a good price. I have a Delta Gold Cup, basically the Gold Cup model of the Delta Elite you're looking at, and I'm incredibly pleased with it.

Couple things to consider. I don't know how old you mean when you say, "Older" since there were a few changes made in the models produced in the 80s and 90s. Look online and find what serial number corresponds to year manufactured, that will give clue as to what year it is. The original design had a few issues with the frame cracking under the heavy loads, but after a few years they shaved off a little metal and no more problems. If you hear about problems with the Delta Elite, this is probably what they're referencing.

For $700, I'd definitely have to think hard before turning it down. :scrutiny:
 
10mm. Excellent condition. All stock. Grips appear to be some sort of Pachmeyer with the Delta insignia. By older I mean mid to late eighties. Good tip on the serial#, and will have to check it out. I would try to go lower, but it is the wife of a departed friend who offered it too me. I'd feel pretty crappy to push the price too much lower.
 
I'd jump on it. And good for you for not wanting to try and low ball a widow. It seems like a good price without doing that. I'm all about trying to get a better deal, but you're doing the right thing by not is this case. Kudos.
 
That's a very good price. Without box, in excellent condition, I rarely see them for less than $850.


-Matt
 
Yes, Matt's price is about the mark for nice 1st generation ones, sometimes more.

.45 or 10mm?
Click to expand...

All of the Delta's are 10mm. The .45acp comparable model is called the Combat Elite.
 
Is this a good deal worth jumping on?
Click to expand...
In my experience no. I bought a early Blued Colt Delta Elite new when they came out. One of the worst pistols I ever owned. Used it only as a range gun because it was never reliable. Accuracy could have been better. Frame cracked when it was about 6 years old with less than 1800 rounds.
 
I purchased a new Delta Elite (10MM) when they first came out and have fired over 2500 rounds in it w/o any malfunction. It did have a rather gritty trigger, but with a little work with a whet stone took care of that. My Delta was extremly accurate and just recently replaced the recoil spring and guide. Last month I purchased a NIB SS Delta Elite but have not had a chance to shoot it yet. It has a great trigger pull out of the box and the price was 950.00.
 
As I said in a previous post, the frames in the original ones cracked after a while. It's a known issue, discovered and fixed. So long as you get one that was released a few years later, it should be resolved. If its the original design, I'm under the impression only a small amount of metal needs to be removed from the frame where the extra stress was placed and the frame cracking issue goes away.

As I said, I have a Delta Gold Cup, no issues with it whatsoever. I'd purchase it again for more. :)
 
Based on the condition and now knowing the circumstances of the purchase, I'd get it.

You'll definitely feel a "snappy" recoil when you shoot it, but nothing you can't handle :)

Mine is my favorite 10mm. I'm sorry to hear that others have had issues with theirs but I've not had any. If the slide stop breaks, call Wilson, they make a great one IMHO.

Get it. And post pics!

Have fun,
DFW1911
 
Thanks for the feedback, all. Good stuff. I'm going to go for it. She even offered me a lay-away plan. Really looking forward to shooting it...I figure it'll have soome snap to it. Luckily I'm not a recoil shy person, but thanks for the heads up. She is throwing in 2 boxes of ammo, and since I reload for the .40, I should be off to a good start.
 
If its the original design, I'm under the impression only a small amount of metal needs to be removed from the frame where the extra stress was placed and the frame cracking issue goes away.
Click to expand...

Correct - the slide is relieved just above the slide stop actuator cut (not the pin). The thin rail over the void is where the cracks occurred. Same issue with older (WWII and earlier) .45acp models after heavy use. They had lesser strength steel than more modern examples. If you remove the slide, simply see if there is a void in the left-hand rail above the slide stop lug.

The slide and slide stop are readily adaptable to .40 S&W, also. A new barrel, magazine, and recoil spring is all you need if you wanted to go that direction. I have owned one 1911-style gun in .40 S&W and my major impression was - "Hmmpf." It was OK, but not something of great interest or pleasure. However if you don't own another 1911 in .45acp and reload that, it might be a convenient way for you to have a more versatile gun. A simpler option is just loading .40 S&W level loads in the 10mm cases, and getting an appropriate recoil spring.
 
Jump on it for $700.

the spec 1911 platform isn't the best option for a high pressure cartridge like the 10mm. it was design in 1897. get a glock 21.
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Aside from that assertion being flat out wrong, and being more than a decade off on the design dates (patent applied for Feb 17, 1910), the OP was asking if the price was fair, not to recommend a 10mm platform.

We get it. We all know you're a glock kid. And the push is terribly annoying in threads like this one.

P.S.-

The model 21 is a .45.
 
Aside from that assertion being flat out wrong, and being more than a decade off on the design dates (patent applied for Feb 17, 1910), the OP was asking if the price was fair, not to recommend a 10mm platform.

We get it. We all know you're a glock kid. And the push is terribly annoying in threads like this one.

P.S.-

The model 21 is a .45.
Click to expand...

Haha! Owned! Nice job MachIVShooter!
 
I've got a new Delta on layaway. Probably won't be able to get it until next month. Carried a blued one back in 95-96. Loved it. Even featured it in my Mtv News: Unfiltered segment on guns and gun safety.

Wish they were still making new blued ones but beggars can't be choosers. I'm grateful they chose to re-introduce it at all!:)
 
delta_3.jpg


I'm so proud of mine, I can't keep myself from posting another pic of it. (I've done so in plenty of other threads.)

-Matt
 
Clark barrel. Nice!

About the only things I'm doing to mine are sights, flat MSH and an extended thumb safety. Oh, and pinning the GS. As much as I love to carry 1911's I've never been a fan of the GS.

IMO, if the BHP doesn't need one then neither does the 1911.
 
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