Current production Colt 1911's...

[338375]

I'm getting the itch for a new 1911 and am looking at the Colt Combat Elite. I haven't found one locally to look at yet, but am looking for overall workmanship opinions from those that have looked at them, or even better, those that own a current production Colt 1911...

Thanks

Mike

 

[RevDevil]

How about a nice Gold Cup?
Are you going to buy locally or do a transfer, Mike?

 

[shunsui]

Back in the 80's a guy at work bought one and we shot it at the range.

One of the best shooters I ever shot.

Don't know if they still make them like that.

Not the worst gun you could buy.

 

[338375]

How about a nice Gold Cup?
Are you going to buy locally or do a transfer, Mike?

LOL... Negative Charlie I will buy locally. A guy that had a nice gun store in the town I grew up in, recently opened
a store here, and I've dealt with him a lot over the years.

I did go to the Sportsmans Warehouse here today, and they have a good selection of new Colts. Just about every version they offer, except the one I want. The Combat Elite... They even have a blued, and a SS Gold Cup lol.
The workmanship looks to be good. Metal finish is nice. No machine marks, and the bluing is done in typical Colt fashion. Very nice.
Lock up is good, and the slide to frame fit is good.

Back in the 80's a guy at work bought one and we shot it at the range.

One of the best shooters I ever shot.

Don't know if they still make them like that.

Not the worst gun you could buy.

I lost interest in them when they came out with the series 80's. Nothing against them, but I focused on Series 70's and earlier versions.

 

[ElConquistador]

The Combat Elite is a Series 80. I think the only Series 70 they still make is the WWII replica.

The Combat Elite is awesome. Looks even better in person with the two tone finish and sweet grips. Colts don't have the tightest slide/frame fit ever but they're good parts and run well.

 

[338375]

The Combat Elite is a Series 80. I think the only Series 70 they still make is the WWII replica.

The Combat Elite is awesome. Looks even better in person with the two tone finish and sweet grips. Colts don't have the tightest slide/frame fit ever but they're good parts and run well.

They do offer the 1991 which is a Series 80, but they also still offer the standard Series 70 as well...
You are the first person I have talked with that has seen the Combat Elite in person, other than the salesman at the local Sportsmans Warehouse, and he didn't know crap about it, other than the one they had sold earlier in the day...

I do like the look of the two tone. Colt has never been known for having the best slide/frame fit, but the general workmanship has always been good, and their bluing is almost always very nice.
If the fit isn't horrible, I can live with it. If it got to the point that it really bothered me, I would send it in to one of the famous gunsmiths and have them install accu-rails.

 

[STAINLESS90]

I know some think they are low quality but I would try and get some range time with one of Rock Island Armories models. They recently opened a production facility right down the street from me over in Pahrump, NV. I have handled a few different models of 1911 and the only thing I can say with 100% certainty is don't even waste a second looking at Taurus's 1911 offerings, every on I have handled has been garbage. I have the upgraded "tactical" model with all the bells and whistles and haven't had a single issue from it.
Here is a picture of mine.

 

[338375]

I know some think they are low quality but I would try and get some range time with one of Rock Island Armories models. They recently opened a production facility right down the street from me over in Pahrump, NV. I have handled a few different models of 1911 and the only thing I can say with 100% certainty is don't even waste a second looking at Taurus's 1911 offerings, every on I have handled has been garbage. I have the upgraded "tactical" model with all the bells and whistles and haven't had a single issue from it.
Here is a picture of mine.

I actually looked at a Citadel which is made by R.I today at a local shop. I was actually pleasantly surprised, especially for the price...
Doing a quick search, I found a lot of very positive reviews. So are they no longer going to be made in the Philippines ?

 

[STAINLESS90]

I actually looked at a Citadel which is made by R.I today at a local shop. I was actually pleasantly surprised, especially for the price...
Doing a quick search, I found a lot of very positive reviews. So are they no longer going to be made in the Philippines ?

Not quite the same but close. Citadel is imported by Legacy arms and only carries a one year warranty whereas RIA was imported by Armscor and carries a lifetime warranty. Both were made by the same company in the Philippines which is actually quite common with 1911's. RIA now has a facility in NV but I don't know whether it is full production or just assembly. I'm gonna have to take a road trip here soon, its less than two hours away from me.

 

[leghog]

My remaining 1911 is a modded U.S. Property marked Ithaca M1911A1 from 1943. I've had it about 20 years. I'll not be replacing it with any current production.

 

[Converge]

Eh.... They definitely have the name, but from what I've heard they're not worth the high $$$ they command. Colt has been going down hill for a while since their golden days 20-30 years ago. The only reason they're not completely kaput right now is because they JUST got bailed out of bankruptcy (again) by a new military contract for the M4. It was the second time. Maybe they could have come around again with out that, but teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and bad management could very well have a negative affect down to the product line, I don't know.

I think they make good stuff... but it's just over priced. ESPECIALLY their 1911's and bolt guns. The AR's have come down in price which is good, not not much else has.

If I was going to spend some coin on a 1911 it would be a Dan Wesson, hands down.... No contest.

To be honest I haven't looked at colts 1911 prices in a while though. Maybe they came down a little too.

I'm not a huge 1911 shooter since I've never bought one yet, but I've shot a bunch here and there. Colt, Sig, Remington, para, Dan Wesson. I'm not going to say one out shot the rest because I didn't put them through their paces but the one that blew me away from the second I saw it was definitely the Dan Wesson.

As for cheaper ones I've heard nothing but good things about Rock Island. But it sounds like you want something a bit nicer.

 

[M67]

The Colt most people know/think of died long ago. For what you get now, you can actually have a lot better value in something $300 less in terms of fit and finish. Para Ordnance has been absolved by Remington and you can find certain models of Para that are on blow out/ WAY below cost which have better fit and finish and were made better than a new Colt.

Colt has the name and the legacy (which also means resell value because of what people associate with the name) but really they're just a old nag that keeps getting defibrillated to live for a year or two longer until they have to be jumped again.

 

[MTURBO]

I have a couple Colt 1911's and a couple Kimbers.

With the Colts you are paying up for the romance of the brand name but everyone should have at least one colt 1911.

Nothing I have though comes close to my Kimber Gold Match.

 

[BlackKnight86]

They do offer the 1991 which is a Series 80, but they also still offer the standard Series 70 as well...
You are the first person I have talked with that has seen the Combat Elite in person, other than the salesman at the local Sportsmans Warehouse, and he didn't know crap about it, other than the one they had sold earlier in the day...

I do like the look of the two tone. Colt has never been known for having the best slide/frame fit, but the general workmanship has always been good, and their bluing is almost always very nice.
If the fit isn't horrible, I can live with it. If it got to the point that it really bothered me, I would send it in to one of the famous gunsmiths and have them install accu-rails.

I have two recent Series 70 Colt 1911s. The blued is nice; the stainless was a little rough before first cleaning and shooting, but it's "broken in" just fine. From what I understand, they make great base guns for tweaking, because their main components are good quality. I cannot say that I would carry a stock one as a carry gun, though....I would want it to at least be smoothed out by a good smith.

 

[338375]

Not quite the same but close. Citadel is imported by Legacy arms and only carries a one year warranty whereas RIA was imported by Armscor and carries a lifetime warranty. Both were made by the same company in the Philippines which is actually quite common with 1911's. RIA now has a facility in NV but I don't know whether it is full production or just assembly. I'm gonna have to take a road trip here soon, its less than two hours away from me.

Thanks. Sounds like a good excuse for a road trip

My remaining 1911 is a modded U.S. Property marked Ithaca M1911A1 from 1943. I've had it about 20 years. I'll not be replacing it with any current production.

Out of all the old Colt 1911's I have owned, and there have been quite a few, the one I really regret selling was a Colt U.S ARMY stamped that was made in 1918

Eh.... They definitely have the name, but from what I've heard they're not worth the high $$$ they command. Colt has been going down hill for a while since their golden days 20-30 years ago. The only reason they're not completely kaput right now is because they JUST got bailed out of bankruptcy (again) by a new military contract for the M4. It was the second time. Maybe they could have come around again with out that, but teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and bad management could very well have a negative affect down to the product line, I don't know.

I think they make good stuff... but it's just over priced. ESPECIALLY their 1911's and bolt guns. The AR's have come down in price which is good, not not much else has.

If I was going to spend some coin on a 1911 it would be a Dan Wesson, hands down.... No contest.

To be honest I haven't looked at colts 1911 prices in a while though. Maybe they came down a little too.

I'm not a huge 1911 shooter since I've never bought one yet, but I've shot a bunch here and there. Colt, Sig, Remington, para, Dan Wesson. I'm not going to say one out shot the rest because I didn't put them through their paces but the one that blew me away from the second I saw it was definitely the Dan Wesson.

As for cheaper ones I've heard nothing but good things about Rock Island. But it sounds like you want something a bit nicer.

Colt has always been overpriced. Not that the quality wasn't there in the older models, but you can get another brand that has more options on it for less, or the same money.
I have always been a huge fan of Colts, and have owned many, but in all reality, you are paying a lot for the name and the horse on the side

I have two recent Series 70 Colt 1911s. The blued is nice; the stainless was a little rough before first cleaning and shooting, but it's "broken in" just fine. From what I understand, they make great base guns for tweaking, because their main components are good quality. I cannot say that I would carry a stock one as a carry gun, though....I would want it to at least be smoothed out by a good smith.

Thanks. I do my own reliability work on every 1911 I buy, especially if I am going to carry it. Not that they always need it, but mostly for piece of mind. So as long as the machining is done nicely, and the bluing is nice, I can deal with the other stuff.

 

[budthachud]

I had a 2009 production Combat Elite. Very good looking pistol. Also the loosest slide/frame fit I've ever seen or experienced. There was enough side to side play that the frame immediately scratched the dust cover upon firing it. I wouldn't buy another.

 

[338375]

I had a 2009 production Combat Elite. Very good looking pistol. Also the loosest slide/frame fit I've ever seen or experienced. There was enough side to side play that the frame immediately scratched the dust cover upon firing it. I wouldn't buy another.

That's not what I wanted to hear ... I really like the look of them too, but for the price, I'm not biting if the slide/frame fit is sloppy.
I didn't know they had been making this model that long. I am really out of the loop...

I contacted one of the big gun stores about 170 miles from my house, that I have dealt with a lot in the past, and they have them in stock.
If I can't find one locally, I guess I will be making a road trip in a couple weeks. The guys that work at that shop are very knowledgeable, so I guess I could have them go through the ones they have, and pick the best fitting, and have it shipped here.

I would rather see it in person though. I'm extremely picky, so what looks good to another person, could be very disappointing to me...

 

[d762nato]

Get a Dan Wesson no mim parts and alot of quality that others don't seem to have these days. They cost a little more but are well worth it. Check out reviews of them online or better yet handle them in person and compare them to the others and you'll see just what I'm saying. Good luck on your hunt. :thumbup:

 

[leghog]

Out of all the old Colt 1911's I have owned, and there have been quite a few, the one I really regret selling was a Colt U.S ARMY stamped that was made in 1918

Within the last couple of years I traded a U.S. Property marked Colt M1911 delivered to the U.S. Army in December 1913. Bought it for $400 about a 10-12 years before. All correct. All original. 60%-70% finish. Traded it for three Winchester .22LR turnbolts (a M04-22, a M57, and a M69) and a fist full of 100 dollar bills. Gave the money to my wife and gave the M69 to a coworker/old Army buddy. Still have the M04-22 and M57. Had I traded that M1911 a few years before, I'd have done a few hundred dollars better as that was then the high point for WW1 era M1911s and before being supplanted by WW2 era M1911A1s in tradability/sells.

 

[338375]

Get a Dan Wesson no mim parts and alot of quality that others don't seem to have these days. They cost a little more but are well worth it. Check out reviews of them online or better yet handle them in person and compare them to the others and you'll see just what I'm saying. Good luck on your hunt. :thumbup:

A lot of people swear by DW's, but I never warmed up to them. Heck, I really like Rugers and have owned probably a dozen different models, but
I just can't get enthused about their 1911's...

Within the last couple of years I traded a U.S. Property marked Colt M1911 delivered to the U.S. Army in December 1913. Bought it for $400 about a 10-12 years before. All correct. All original. 60%-70% finish. Traded it for three Winchester .22LR turnbolts (a M04-22, a M57, and a M69) and a fist full of 100 dollar bills. Gave the money to my wife and gave the M69 to a coworker/old Army buddy. Still have the M04-22 and M57. Had I traded that M1911 a few years before, I'd have done a few hundred dollars better as that was then the high point for WW1 era M1911s and before being supplanted by WW2 era M1911A1s in tradability/sells.

Very nice... I really like those old versions. Not only are they cool, like the vintage Winchesters, they have a history. The old boy I bought mine from that was made in 1918, also had a complete, N.I.B Colt 22 conversion.
Needless to say, that came home with me that day too