Colt 1911: Old or New?

[MTA]

Hey TGT,

I am wondering what yall think about new production Colt 1911s. Are they worth a damn? Or is it better to find an older production model in good shape?

Any specific models/years to avoid? Thank you

 

[Hoji]

Buy a Dan Wesson

 

[V-Tach]

70 series.....be part of the legend....

 

[BigRed]

Old plain Jane stuff for edc... well tuned inside along with a crisp trigger break at 2.5.

Well used...and runs like a top.

 

[Moonpie]

Modern production ones are pretty good.
FWIW the plain models are very good.
If you want all the bells and whistles go with a Dan Wesson.

 

[Tnhawk]

The Colts I have aren't going anywhere, but if I were looking for a 1911 today it would probably be a DW.

 

[MTA]

I know about DW yall. I am wondering about new vs old colts though

 

[zackmars]

They're all pretty good. Imo the series 80 guns aren't all that great, but they are the best FP safety 1911's made.

The series 70's are great, but don't expect a well fit slide/frame or bushing.

 

[Texasjack]

The Colt 1911 is a very good pistol. As others have pointed out, you can do better - and probably better (in terms of fit-and-finish) for the same money. The production quality between old and new is negligible. Older 1911s have the pinned sights that have a bad habit of breaking and are hard to replace. (Well, they shouldn't be hard, but finding a gunsmith capable of doing a good job can be hard.)

Absolutely stay away from the Series 80 version. The Series 80 is what happens when lawyers try to run production. It has a totally unnecessary built in safety system that makes the trigger pull long and lousy. If you go to sell one, you'll find that it's hard to sell.

Everybody wants a bargain, but as you get older you find that you appreciate things that are really well built. With guns you find that it's the good ones that you shoot regularly because they perform so well that it's fun.

 

[Hoji]

I know about DW yall. I am wondering about new vs old colts though

Buying a DW over a Colt will have the added benefit of causing a boomer Fudd to harrumph so hard he will shit his depends while ranting about two world wars and they don’t make a Colt 46.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

I have a late model Comander and for $1000 it would be pretty hard to beat.

 

[Coyote9]

I have owned many Colts including 3 National Match all series 70 or earlier. IF you don't buy a National Match or Gold Cup, then pay to have the pistol tuned. One of my favorites was a 1913 production 1911 which had been parked, Novak barrel and bushing with Wolfe springs and stoned internals.NO gun fired better or was more reliable. I carry a tuned Kimber Pro Covert Custom Shop now just because of cost. Functions flawlessly but has no prancing pony ') Life is short own a gun which brings you joy.

 

[oldag]

Just know you are paying a premium for the pony on the side.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

Just know you are paying a premium for the pony on the side.

That premium over the the low end guns and it's the same price as a Springfield but three or 4 rungs up the ladder. The price isn't even mid grade level but they can run with some of those boys.

 

[V-Tach]

Finding a nice older Colt that hasn't been molested is almost as hard as finding an unmolested Jeep.

 

[Fishkiller]

I have one a series 80. I bought it cuz I wanted the pony, which is about the only reason to get one. I prefer to shoot my S&W which has a nicer trigger and weighs less.

 

[MTA]

They're all pretty good. Imo the series 80 guns aren't all that great, but they are the best FP safety 1911's made.

The series 70's are great, but don't expect a well fit slide/frame or bushing.

What is FP meaning ? thanks man. I am thinking firing pin safety but admittedly don't know much about 1911s

Everybody wants a bargain, but as you get older you find that you appreciate things that are really well built. With guns you find that it's the good ones that you shoot regularly because they perform so well that it's fun.

Yea that is more or less where I am at in my gun life. Definitely not into cheap stuff that sits in the safe and then gets sold off

 

[baboon]

70 series.....be part of the legend....

It was the last of the great colt 1911's, & NIB ones come up often. Not that they can't use some improvements but the finish on them are old school fine.

 

[baboon]

Just know you are paying a premium for the pony on the side.

And that pony adds to resale value if your not happy with it.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

I don't know if you've looked anywhere yet but most private gun shops and Ranges usually have both on hand.