New Colt 1911 is here!

[CPshooter]

I've seen at least a few bad apples from Colt in the past year. Some had horrible blemishes and one example even had a flat spot on the barrel where it mates with the bushing. As I understand it, each Colt 1911 is fitted and assembled by one gunsmith. If yours happens to be fitted by someone lacking the proper skills, you could end up with a lemon. On the other hand, if you have a master gunsmith fit and assemble yours, you'll probably end up with a nice pistol.

It's probably a good idea to handle and inspect a new Colt 1911 before you buy it.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

^^^i saw a new commander XSE for sale and the ambi thumb safety was falling off lol

 

[JohnBT]

"Those aren't flaws, those are character traits."

- Charlie Brown to Lucy

 

[dom1104]

Ok I have a question.

Lately there have been a LOT of posts re: bad 1911 quality in Colt, Kimber, Nighthawk, etc.

My question is, I thought these pistols were so expensive because of the machining cost, and that they were fit toghether so well, by hand, etc.

Why is a 1911 so pricey if this is what you get?

What MAKES a pistol that is a standard, with so many copies, interchangable parts, so expensive? Its not like its a proprietary design....

Why the high cost?

I am honestly wondering this.

 

[rklessdriver]

dom1104-

Defects happen in any mfgr'd item. Espc ones that rely on humans to assemble/fit parts to them....

We are in reality talking about a very small percentage of the COLT/KIMBER/NH/ect 1911's built, that will have noticeable problems.

These companies each build thousands of thousands of thousands of 1911 pistols that are perfect for every one that is screwed up in even the slightest way.

People always (rightfully) complain the loudest and most often about a screwed up pistol they have. Happy people usually say nothing or very little. This tends to skew perpespective opinions about quality v/s quanity.

I'm of the school that if I buy a product - I first hand inspect it to be sure it's OK before I buy. If I happen to miss something or for some reason it dosen't live up to my expactations or is defective, I tell the MFGR about it first. Give them the oportunity to make it right - as many times as nessecary (until it becomes a moot point). If the MFGR refuses or cannot fix/replace the defective item I'll then tell the world.
Will

 

[pythonguy]

Just send it back, Colt is excellent with customer service in my experience. I just bought a series 70 from years ago and it it so nice and machined very well, everything is in alignment. I do prefer the older models for that reason.

 

[easyg]

What a bummer.
I've got to say, it hurts when I see a great American company like Colt start to go downhill.
I hope they make it right for you.

 

[Castrolr1]

Colt is not the end all be all weapons company.... My colt has had more issues than my springfields, kimbers and STI. And yes i had to send it back to the factory twice.. Not a big colt 1911 fan

 

[rklessdriver]

What a bummer.
I've got to say, it hurts when I see a great American company like Colt start to go downhill.
I hope they make it right for you.

Compared to pistols made by COLT manufacturing in the 1970's - early 1990's.... they are actually on the upswing.
Will

 

[Slamfire]

I've seen at least a few bad apples from Colt in the past year. Some had horrible blemishes and one example even had a flat spot on the barrel where it mates with the bushing.

That just can’t be. Why the March/April 2010 issue of American Handgunner has an article titled “Colt’s Comeback”. John Taffin just blushed like a little girl over the wonderful quality of recent production M1911’s. Why the second coming of Christ is small potatoes compared to these new Colts.

Must be true, I read it in a Gun Magazine.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

^^^LOL

jeff quinn from "gunblast.com" proclaimed his test of the colt xse commander to be flawless (just like everything else he tests lol)

American Handgunner + Gunblast=it simply must be true