[In service to His Majesty]

Okay. This is a continuation thread that jumped off the tracks of welcoming Cindy from Colt.

Add to the wish list of what we would like to see Colt produce.

In the regular catalog: I would like to see: one caliber only, .45 ACP; one action, single; three models, Government, Commander, Officers; four finishes of parkerized, bright blue, satin stainless, bright stainless; two frame compositions, carbon and stainless only, no aluminum or polymer; one sight, fixed; capacity, single-stack
seven. Also, no more skeletonized hammers, skeletonized triggers, jumbo-sized beavertails, or bell-bottomed-trouser-looking magazine wells.

I agree with Mr. Chambers on a point. Just like Colt recently reissued the M1911A1 in a limited-edition Custom Shop run, on ocassion, perhaps once per year, they should produce a blast from the past. Maybe they could alternate--autoloader one year and revolver the next. Colt could reach back into its history and rivive the Officers Model revolver, the 1905, the 1911, the Official Police, the Police Positive, the Agent, the Detective Special, the Double Eagle, the Delta Elite, the All American 2000...you name it. Again, these should be once-in-a-blue-moon, small-batch runs, nothing that is a constant to be found in their catalog of mainstay products.

By the way, I am referring to autoloader catalog offerings. Mainstay rifles and revolvers are another matter.

Rob

[This message has been edited by In service to His Majesty (edited 09-30-2001).]

 

[Ugly-Jeep-Truck]

A parkerized Government model, or a cheaper version of the USGI gun

 

[shane45-1911]

How 'bout a double stack?!!

 

[AbnAirCav]

- Multiple caliber options in the 1911's

- Satin stainless, bright stainless

- .380 Gov't - Stainless, stainless pocketlite

- I love my Police Postive & Diamondback, would like to see the return of the D-frames

 

[FirearmsPlus.FL]

I like Colt's current line up, but for the XSE, they need to change the grip safety, and they need to use stainless grip screws. Also, dovetail the front sight, even if you keep the current sights.

The new 1991's are great.

Do NOT make an officers, the Defender is a far superious gun. Dehorn the Defender and the LW Commander's.

Do NOT make a continous series of "limited edition of X" Limit yourself to perhaps 2-3 limited series each year, and make it totally different than anything you've made within 2-3 years.

Make a frame/ slide, pre-80 series set. Clearly mark the gun as a kit, perhaps using "KITXXXXX" as the serial #. Market this for under 400$, and you'll sell them all day.

The Gold Cup's are great, but need the undercut trigger guard, as well as an improved grip safety. Return to shipping them with a test target. For the stainless gun, use an XSE slide with front serations and guide rod. (the Blue stays with Eliason's, flat top and no front serations/ guide rod)

Make the Colt Custom Shop more accessible, and give them more options.

Different caliber's are good, as long as they're not over done. I'd stick with 9mm, 38 super and a few 10mm, skipping the .40's. Do a run of one caliber oine year, then another caliber the next year etc... But, make ALL the caliber's available through the custom shop.

Give me free guns as often as possible.

Come out with a catalog, forget advertising in these stupid magazines anymore, save the money and word of mouth will put Colt back in the lead.

 

[Inspector Callahan]

A .41 Magnum Python.

 

[NAA]

I'd like to see a limited run of WWII style 1911A-1's with the grn/gry parkerized like finish and the brn checkered plastic stocks. Keep it simple - and under $600 bucks.

NAA.

 

[Colt shooter]

Majesty, you seem a little opinionated. No more this and no more that, and so on and so on.

You say their should be three models. Their should be a government, commander, and officers. What about the Gold Cups?

Their should be one sight. One that is fixed. It would seem odd to have a fixed sight on a target pistol.

It would seem that your opinion has no room for Gold Cups and target pistols. May I remind you that we all have different needs for our pistols. Some of us use them for plinking, self defense, concealed carry, or competition.

------------------
100% NRA - Join today at www.mynra.com

 

[RonS]

More than anything else I want to see a Colt Government Model .45 ACP in Royal Blue with diamond checkered walnut stocks in the catalog for regular folks to buy.

If they want a good new model to add to the lineup, how about the CCO?

 

[Brent Chambers]

I'd sure hate to see Colt not embrace the trends in 1911's- upswept safeties, better triggers, commander hammers, etc.

Everyone I shoot with feels that what screwed Colt is failing to add things like this to their models while Springfield came out with their "loaded" guns and Kimber had them all from the word go. A traditional 1911A1 type is fine- but Colt might as well get out of the business if that is ALL they made. I've watched too many people pick up a Series 80 then a Springfield, irreguardless of the superior quality of the Colt, and go with the SA because of the bells and whistles. Colt can please both types of buyers- traditionalists and the guy wanting a modern interpretation of the 1911.

Having said that I'd like to see more polished carbon steel guns in their line.

As I stated in the other thread, a return of some of the additional calibers, specifically 9x19, .38 Super and 10mm would be great. .40 guys can add another barrel to their 10mm!

On adjustable sight models use the BoMar only (or clone of it)- this has become the industry standard. For fixed sight guns stick with the standard blade type as this leaves gunsmiths many options for replacement- Novak, Heinie, etc.

The Defender is a great product. This is one Colt that no one digs- keep it up, bring back the black one and perhaps the .40 S&W model.

Put the Colt medallion back on the grips.

Like someone said, a .41 Magnum would be great. The trend in the competive revolver world is moonclip guns. Tomorrow I will be shooting an ICORE match in Ann Arbor with over 50 shooters. All will be using S&W's, and most will be moonclip guns. If Colt wants in to this market consider a Python in 9x19 with moonclips. This is a BIG stretch I realize...But please bring back the blued Python. This is the finest looking wheelgun in the world- this coming from a guy who shoot a blue Performance Center S&W 8 shot Model 27!

More carry guns- the Pocket 9 was magnificient (though I heard Kahr shut that down) as was the entire .380 line.

My sister has a nice Detective Special that makes shooting a J-frame S&W feel like a getting in a bar fight. Would be nice to have them back.

Finally, market your guns based on the experience of the people that build them, the quality of the parts, etc.

Above all, keep up the great work! Things are sure looking good (but man, the price on the Anaconda's I've seen since their rebirth seem a bit extreme) and can only get better.

While I'm dreaming...a 10mm AR-15 like the one Dalphon offers would be like winning the lottery!



------------------
NRA, USPSA, IDPA and MCRGO member
http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~bchamber/10mm.html

 

[Powderman]

It has been said already, but I think it's worth repeating:

A double stack, hi-cap 1911A1, with COLT on the side? There would be so many sold it would be unbelieveable.

------------------
"Be not afraid of any man, no matter what his size;

When trouble rises, call on me and I will equalize."

 

[Brent Chambers]

If Colt did a double stack they'd face stiff competition from Para Ordinance, STI and SV. These three companies own the IPSC Limited market. If Colt did it their gun would have to use magazines for either the STI/SV guns or Para- otherwise there would be no high-caps available, and a ten round double stack doesn't make sense.

Don't take me wrong, I'm a Colt fanatic- but they or anyone would have a hard time improving on the SV/STI modular high-cap 1911 style frames, and most gun shop buyers are not interested in the process of getting high-cap magazines. I doubt unless the 1994 law goes away Colt would consider this. Even Springfield Armory, with all their IPSC and IDPA presence, is usually just putting one of their slides on a SV type frame when one of their team members shoots Limited or Open.

Just my 2 cents.

Not that a 20 round Colt .40 wouldn't be cool!

 

[In service to His Majesty]

Originally posted by FirearmsPlus.FL:

Do NOT make a continous series of "limited edition of X" Limit yourself to perhaps 2-3 limited series each year...

My mistake in the original post. I meant one batch/run per year, but doing it every year. An autoloader could be revived one year; a revolver the next.

I admit it might have read as if I meant a segue of one run into the next. Nope. My mistake.

Rob

 

[In service to His Majesty]

Originally posted by Colt shooter:
Majesty, you seem a little opinionated. No more this and no more that, and so on and so on.

Yes, sir. I do have an opinion. But please don't construe my opinion as if I were trying to pass myself off as an authority on this matter. I'm no authority. But I have been in the military twenty years and I've talked guns with thousands of my fellow soldiers. I also hit the gun ranges and gun shops once in a while to keep abreast of things. I've developed a pretty good barometer of what's going to succeed and what's going to fail.

I see FirearmsPlusFL. and Col. Colt are dealers. If I were from Colt and monitoring this forum, I would lend more credence to these individuals. But the opinion of a Joe Sixpack buyer like myself should never be ignored. That's why I express my opinion.

Remember, perhaps much to your disliking, my opinion doesn't have to match yours in order for me to express it.

Rob

[This message has been edited by In service to His Majesty (edited 09-30-2001).]

 

[elsworth]

-Detective Special

-30oz. Government

-5lb., 16" CAR .223

- Whence MARS?

 

[Colt shooter]

Majesty,

I thank you for your service to our country and for helping to defend it. I respect that very much but you are taking a very narrow minded aproach to the uses of the 1911. Their is a world outside of the military where people use the weapon for purposes other than a combat pistol. This is the world that I do believe you are unable to view through your blinders.

You have talked about product lines that you believe are going to suceed and product lines that you believe are destined to fail. May I remind you that the Gold Cup has been around since 1957. That is 44 years of service. That is 24 more years of service than you have dedicated to defending our country. Forgive me if I am wrong, but I believe that you I read in one of your earlier threads that you have been involved in car sales. May I ask what model of automobile has been in production for 44 years?

Again, let me please make it cyrstal clear that I mean no disrespect to your years of service to our country. On the contrary, I would like to display my gratitude for your years of service.

------------------
100% NRA - Join today at www.mynra.com

[This message has been edited by Colt shooter (edited 09-30-2001).]

 

[Redzone]

You are familiar with refinement techniques. If they make a limited run it must be based on something in their current lineup. Otherwise to make a safe and reliable-functional pistol. Like the 1905 or the Officers revolver the cost would be more than an aging original. I think you can only stray so far from your current production.
But in a fantasy perspective the 1900 or 1921 would be worth a barrel of gold to me. Or how about a Patterson for deep dreams of money expenditure. The 1911s just get better most of the time. So I just dig in the pool for generations I want. Or if they do as to your suggestions. Make the Officers in 38 special and a 6" barrel and a left rotating barrel.

 

[Redzone]

I meant left rotating cylinder on the Officers.

 

[In service to His Majesty]

Originally posted by Colt shooter:
Their is a world outside of the military where people use the weapon for purposes other than a combat pistol...

That point is very well taken. Again, my view is no more valid than yours.

Visualize the test in psychiatry where the pyschiatrist says a word and the patient comes back with another word. If you were to say "Colt" to me, I would come back with "1911A1." Picture in your mind all the battles the United States Armed Forces have been engaged in since the pistol was first introduced. Did these pistols have adjustable sights? No. Did they have all the skeletonized this and thats? No. How about super-large beavertails safeties? No. Bevelled mag wells? No. Somehow, without all these luxuries, the pistols prevailed.

What has happened in the competition arena? I don't even recognize some of the contraptions these guys are sporting. These things look ridiculous. I can remember when military issue guns were used in these events. Everybody had mil-spec guns, and yet a champion pistoleer was still crowned. The focus was on marksmanship, not techno whiz guns. Through the years the guns have evolved into a joke and the whole heart and nature of the sport has been lost.

Ever see a "rifle" that is used now in benchrest type shoots? It looks like something that has been manufactured in a NASA aerospace lab. It's sickening. The only real competition anymore is with the service rifle. This is the only area that retains its history and purpose.

You can still have shoots with bowling pins, plates, paper and metallic silhouettes, but why not use a mil-spec gun? This really puts the focus back on good, old-fashioned marksmanship.

Let me give you an example: Last year I was company OIC of the annual weapons qualification. Instead of having the soldiers just qualify with their M16s and M9s, I announced there would be a high score competition for the M9 (too many soldiers score a perfect 40 with the 16, so you can't identify a high score).

I could have chosen one of two courses. I chose the Alternate Pistol course, which involves standing, crouching, kneeling, and the prone. All stages use rapid magazine changes and are timed. The soldiers were all fired up and motivated.

At the end of the drill weekend, the top honor went to a Master Sergeant who is also a Michigan State Police trooper in the civilian sector.

I had a trophy made up for him in the month between that drill and the next. At that next drill, the commander called him out of the formation, and in front of the entire company I presented him with the trophy. It still sits proudly on his desk. I had many troops say, "That's alright, sir. Next year that trophy is mine."

Moral of the story: I inspired the troops by turning an ordinary weapons qual into a competition. I encouraged them to shoot better. We had a riot of a good time. We used the standard-issue M9. There was no need for all the bells and whistles that ruin a military arm, and that turn a $500 gun into a $1,500 gun.

Leave the 1911A1 alone. It does not need to be "dressed up" with all that ridiculous nonsense. If a man can't shoot in a competition with a mil-spec gun, then he doesn't need to be shooting. And if all competitors are using mil-spec guns, then they're all on the same plane and nobody has the advantage. Let us please get back to the fundamentals of marksmanship.

And thanks for all your kind words. I thank everybody for their military service as well.

Rob

[This message has been edited by In service to His Majesty (edited 09-30-2001).]

 

[Redzone]

What do you mean by techno whiz guns. I thought you were talking about 1911s. How can you make one more accurate then a 1911A1? When your Army soldiers could shoot accurately at plates and bowling pins.
Well I think hitting within 4 to 6" inches could put one into a competitive stance there. Most $500 factory gun can do that with lots of practice. But if your trying for 1" accuracy at 25 to 50 yards. Its easy to get the M-16/AR-15. Its sure not easy, no its impossible to do it with a 1911A1. Wrong its called an interest to improve. If we went with your theory the Nation would be dead. We improve on everything. And if thats not true in the military and government. Try kicking but on a seal or green beret. And I mean with either weapons or hands.