Buy it!

 

I think it was the equivalent of the Combat Elite .45, in that it had a blued slide over a stainless frame.
The factory ambi safety and solid trigger have been swapped out; price strikes me as collector price for a shooter grade gun.

 

They're very cool pistols. I'd point out to the seller that parts have obviously been replaced and mucked with.

I wouldn't pay $1500 for that pistol, but it could be a good gun at the right price, IMO

 

Considering fact that one can get new stainless Delta Elite Rail Gun for about $1350 (no rail sale price is about $200 less), I wouldn't either. Rule numero uno don't pay more for old used stuff when superior new product is available for less.

 

1989 was also a real hit or miss year for quality control as the four-year labor strike was nearing its end. Some guns were excellent while others were complete train wrecks. Price notwithstanding I would look over any gun made during that era with a careful eye.

 

What makes it a "Combat" Delta Elite (besides the rollmark)?

A brand new two-tone Delta Elite can be found for less than $1k.

 

Around here in Virginia you will never find a new one for less than a grand, they generally run about 12 bills. But this is what I would recommend as well. 1,500$ is way high for that gun.

 

Way overpriced. Need the original parts to come with it and there is an idiot scratch on it. Like stated some nice guns from the era but a lot of junk too. Easy pass at that price. Maybe $800 for me if it worked perfect and no internal issues.

 

Think I’m gonna pass.

Seems over priced, and seller does not have the original parts.

Appreciate the input everyone.

 

Colt’s name sells
I know I have been guilty of paying a bit too much for a gun that I wanted and have looked a long time for

This one has had some modifications, but it also came with the original factory parts

 

I just looked at new Delta Elite at one of my LGSs and the price was $950.

 

I'll tell you one thing: I'd rather have a new one than an old one, unless there were some special collectability about it. ^ That gun doesn't have it anymore, if it ever did.

 

I stumbled into one about 15+ years ago at a LGS. It was in great mechanical shape but, had a couple of "spots" that I guessed were attributable to blood. Blueing was removed, at those spots, and initial pitting had started but, was minimal.

It came with two magazines, one Colt and one Mec-Gar. The 10mm was heating up again so, I bought it for $480.00 out the door. It had the 3 dot sights on it and shot great. A decision was made to refinish this one, add Novak night sites, VZ Operator grips and a Remington Rand WWII mainspring housing with a lanyard loop for field use. I chose to have it cerakoted in gun metal gray and was happy as a pig in mud. A Wilson Combat trigger was added and it has been my bedside and turkey hunting companion ever since. Eight additional magazines were acquired for around $10.00 or less each.

Get one but, not that one.

 

That pistol may be worth more parted out than the way it is now…unless someone already has replacement parts in hand. Even then…it’s still a used gun.

 

Bought a blued one little over a month ago. Just finished a trigger job today and headed to range next week. Been shooting 1911s for over 50 years and have 10 Colts of assorted models. Since the DE are series 80s have to remove the junk and they will be fine. 9 shots standing two hand hold at 10 yards. Not as good as I wanted as trigger was a little heavy. Next week should be much better.
Fun pistols and 10 mm ammo is kind of reasonable now. Buy one and enjoy.

 

@USARV72 Is that a Rock Island trigger you have in that DE?

 

No , replacement trigger from one of the online 1911 parts dealers. Internals of this DE is different than a “ normal Colt 1911”. Replacement sear and disconnector will not function. , causes following. Original internals were not good, had cast or forge strike lines on disconnector. Sear was rough and shaped very differently from normal 1911 sears. Trigger was not good or hammer. Changed hammer and trigger( I like long triggers) and took several times to clean up disconnector and stone sear for acceptable trigger pull. Good to go now with about 4# pull, need to dig out gauge to check but happy with it. BTW no FTF or FTE.

 

I should have a new stainless Delta Elite (not two-tone) arriving this morning! 😁