What is a Colt 1991?

[eldon519]

I tried using the search function and checking Colt's webpage, but couldn't find an answer. Does anyone know what the differences are between a Colt 70 Series and a Colt 1991? Also, does anyone know which lineage the .38 Super guns belong to?

 

[Magnumite]

1991 Colts had a lesser finish and followed the military configuration. Other wise, they are the same. That is my take on it so far. Some of Colt guys will probably chime in.

 

[bannockburn]

I think that the Colt 1991 was a carryover of the Series 80 guns; that is , they still retained the firing pin safety. I also think that while they had certain enhancements like high visibility sights, wide grip safeties, etc., they were also more plainly finished; matte blue or stainless vs. the older high polish blue. Kind of like a no frills finish in line with the original 1911A1.

 

[sam815]

Like bannockburn stated, it's a carryover of the Series 80. I purchased one several years ago, and proceeded to customize mine. Here's a photo of it:

 

[Hunter0924]

The 1991A1 was a continuation of the 1911A1 with the Series 80 firing pin safety added and a nylon MSH and trigger (using a parkerized or matt blue finish). The 1991 is the current model of basic Government Model offered by Colt with a blued finish and wooden stocks (though a stainless is offered with the hard rubber stocks).
They are also known by ORM and NRM (old roll mark is 1991A1 and new roll mark is 1991).
The current Series 70 Repo is without a firing pin safety but uses a solid barrel bushing. I do believe some did come with a Series 80 extractor (also available in stainless that was not an original offering).
The Super .38 came about in 1929 as an improvement over the .38 Automatic. Though dimensionally identical the Super .38 was capable of operating at a higher pressure increasing muzzle velocity.

 

[Magnumite]

Thanks, Hunter. That clears it for me

 

[Logan5]

The Colt Super .38 Automatic was originally a different and distinct model, with it's own roll mark and serial number range. Colt stopped doing that around 1969-70, and folded it back into the Series 70/Series 80 guns. A current example will have all the series 80 markings, except for .38 Super instead of .45 ACP.

 

[Hunter0924]

Magnumite you are very welcome.
When I referred to the identical dimensions I was referring to the Super .38 round compared to the .38 Automatic.
Here is a picture of Serial number 1 Colt Super .38 on display at the Hartford Conn. state library. I went there the day before I toured the Colt factory.

 

[eldon519]

Does anyone know if the current crop of Colt 1991 .38 Supers come with ramped/fully-supported barrels?

 

[bannockburn]

I don't know, but I kind of doubt it. Colt has never been really quick on updating and modifying their existing product lines, probably from a financial standpoint. It took the successes of other manufacturer's taking away market share before they felt compelled to do anything about updating their 1911 pistols. Look how long it took them with the Super 38 to go from headspacing on the rim, to headspacing on the case mouth, something custom barrel makers had been doing for a number of years. Also the supported barrels were designed primarily for competition shooters who were pushing the Super 38 to rather dangerous limits in order to make Major power factor. If you were going to do that (frame cut and supported barrel), then chances are you were going to do a lot of other mods to the gun anyways, and Colt wouldn't benefit financially from that either. So why go to the added expenses of design and tool changes to modify an existing model for a relatively small number of competitive shooters, when the majority of your buyers are satisfied with the gun already.

 

[Hunter0924]

eldon the 1991 Colts do not come with a ramped barrel nor do any Colt Government Models in any caliber. The few gunsmiths I know prefer the standard set up of barrel and feed ramp instead of a ramped barrel.

 

[eldon519]

I was just curious about it because hot .38 Super loads seem to have a nasty habit of occasionally blowing out cases in unsupported barrels. Ramped barrels are usually fully supported.

 

[Hunter0924]

I have shot factory +P Super .38 (still not very hot) and warm handloads (still in spec) Supers through my various Colt Super .38 without and case issues.