gulogulo1970
Member
I keep reading/hearing comments on how you shouldn't touch the newer Colt XSE's with a 10' pole but the XS's are fine. They look the same in photos to me. What is the difference and what is the XSE lacking? Quality, parts, what?
What is the difference in the Colt XSE and the older Colt XS?
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DHart
Member
The current production XSE's are awesome 1911's... as were the older XS models. I'm perfectly happy with either, though the new XSE's are much easier to come by. The only thing I would (and did) change about the new XSE is the grip safety... I don't like the duckbill safety they are currently shipping with... but that is easily corrected with a Wilson drop-in grip safety.
Feature-wise, the new XSE and the old XS are very similar.... off the top of my head I think the XS only differs in that they had an upswept beavertail grip safety.
If I were you and you have a hard time finding an XS... just consider that the new production Colts are of superb quality... just buy a new XSE in stainless steel or blued carbon steel, drop in a Wilson grip safety and you have a superb tactical-style 1911... the new XSE comes with dovetailed Novak style sights, extended ambi-thumb safety, high cut front strap, lowered & flared ejection port, and the only MIM parts on a new Colt are the sear, disconnector and magazine catch. Replace those three parts with top-shelf goods for about $70 and you have a completely MIM-free 1911 made entirely in the good old USA by the original maker of the 1911.... you can't go wrong with that. It's the GOOD stuff!
In case you noticed... being a true 1911 freak... I just had to swap out some parts... on a contemporary-styled/tactical 1911 I prefer a short GI-style, single-sided thumb safety, arched MSH, solid or two-hole trigger, upswept grip safety, and GI-short recoil spring guide rod.... so I made those mods to my XSE... but none were made out of necessity, all were made out of personal preference. The gun was and is drop-dead reliable with a wide variety of ammo types and magazine brands... as I expect of current production Colts. (I have purchased over twenty new Colt 1911's in the last few years.)
I'd say go forth and buy yourself a new XSE!
Feature-wise, the new XSE and the old XS are very similar.... off the top of my head I think the XS only differs in that they had an upswept beavertail grip safety.
If I were you and you have a hard time finding an XS... just consider that the new production Colts are of superb quality... just buy a new XSE in stainless steel or blued carbon steel, drop in a Wilson grip safety and you have a superb tactical-style 1911... the new XSE comes with dovetailed Novak style sights, extended ambi-thumb safety, high cut front strap, lowered & flared ejection port, and the only MIM parts on a new Colt are the sear, disconnector and magazine catch. Replace those three parts with top-shelf goods for about $70 and you have a completely MIM-free 1911 made entirely in the good old USA by the original maker of the 1911.... you can't go wrong with that. It's the GOOD stuff!
In case you noticed... being a true 1911 freak... I just had to swap out some parts... on a contemporary-styled/tactical 1911 I prefer a short GI-style, single-sided thumb safety, arched MSH, solid or two-hole trigger, upswept grip safety, and GI-short recoil spring guide rod.... so I made those mods to my XSE... but none were made out of necessity, all were made out of personal preference. The gun was and is drop-dead reliable with a wide variety of ammo types and magazine brands... as I expect of current production Colts. (I have purchased over twenty new Colt 1911's in the last few years.)
I'd say go forth and buy yourself a new XSE!
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gulogulo1970
Member
That is a fine looking gun. As a matter of fact, I don't think you have ever posted a photo of an ugly gun, Dhart.
Thanks for the information.
Thanks for the information.
I keep reading/hearing comments on how you shouldn't touch the newer Colt XSE's with a 10' pole but the XS's are fine. ......Can you let me know where you keep reading/hearing comments on how you shouldn't touch the newer Colt XSE's with a 10' pole?? I would be interested to know where such uninformed persons congregate.....
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gulogulo1970
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It was here: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175947&highlight=colt+xse Post by DoubleNaughtSpy.
Now on second read he looks like a Colt hater in general. I also remember reading a another but can't find it. Sorry, I'm at work now.
I'm on the prowl for a new Colt 1911 and I just didn't want to spend that much money, and get the shaft due to lack of information.
Now on second read he looks like a Colt hater in general. I also remember reading a another but can't find it. Sorry, I'm at work now.
I'm on the prowl for a new Colt 1911 and I just didn't want to spend that much money, and get the shaft due to lack of information.
Billy Sparks
Member
I have two Colt XSE one a commander and one a 5" full size. I have had now problems with either one. I really like the XSE's. But then again I have a plain jane stainless 5" that by the serial number was made when Colt 1991's were supposably shady. It is my most accurate pistol.
DHart
Member
Yeah... that post by DoubleNaughtSpy was really tweaked out... pretty comical. He obviously has had little to no experience with Colts in recent years. And of course, some people just like to come into a thread and act like know-it-all biggots. Most of us recognize such posts as those to be ignored. For every guy who blasts Colt there are dozens of owners of recent Colts who are glowing and thrilled with their Colts... that should tell you something! 
larry starling
Member
I love colts Xse series...My only complaint was that I wanted Novaks and now they have them so im happy...My SS XSE is a early one with king style sights I plan on picking up a newer one here in the future 
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