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High end Colt?

3388 Views 121 Replies 43 Participants Last post by  mkk41
I hear everybody talking about "high end" pistols. My question is does Colt qualify as a high end pistol? They seem kind of middle of the road to me considering I've heard that they contain the evil MIM parts. Just wondering what y'alls thoughts were on the subject.
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Current production?:unsure:

Though they certainly not the high-water mark for Colt 1911 production, unaltered standard production '70 series guns and slightly less than NIB or non-collector grade ''shooting'' condition '70-series Gold Cups are fast approaching the $2000 mark. Why is that?
Because they’re Colts. Like Rolex, they become more valuable with age.
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Current production?:unsure:

Though they certainly not the high-water mark for Colt 1911 production, unaltered standard production '70 series guns and slightly less than NIB or non-collector grade ''shooting'' condition '70-series Gold Cups are fast approaching the $2000 mark. Why is that?
Brand spankin‘ new Gold Cup Trophy models are $1599. Not chump change by any means but you’re getting a lot of good stuff on that gun. The slide fit is good, the sights are good, front strap checkering, Magwell, etc. not to mention they’re known to be very accurate shooters to boot.
I think one of the big challenge Colt will be facing is finding good qualified assemblers / gunsmiths in a liberal state. Connecticut and neighboring States is suppressing gun ownership at full force. 20 years from now, when long-term employees are gone, who knows what kind of workforce Colt would get if it's manufacturing stay in the liberal Connecticut.
You seem to think that all gun enthusiast are right leaning. I register and vote as an independent. I was in the mechanized infantry and later the company armorer for my unit. Just recently retired from a machine shop in Jan. of this year. Currently there are more registered dems in the armed forces than rep. CNC machining does not mean that every part turns out perfect, It is quality control that matters. I have seen parts machined out of spec because a fixture had a speck of metal no larger than a piece of glitter in it that was not cleaned of between parts which kept the blank from being perfectly level or square in the fixture. It is machinist that include diligently checking the tolerances on parts after machining them that result in quality.
You seem to think that all gun enthusiast are right leaning. I register and vote as an independent. I was in the mechanized infantry and later the company armorer for my unit. Just recently retired from a machine shop in Jan. of this year. Currently there are more registered dems in the armed forces than rep. CNC machining does not mean that every part turns out perfect, It is quality control that matters. I have seen parts machined out of spec because a fixture had a speck of metal no larger than a piece of glitter in it that was not cleaned of between parts which kept the blank from being perfectly level or square in the fixture. It is machinist that include diligently checking the tolerances on parts after machining them that result in quality.
I don't care about party affiliation. It's the 2A suppression that concerns me in those States. If the States restricted their resident's access to firearms to the extreme, would you expect a large portion of next generation living in those States care to learn or wanting to know more about fundamental of firearms? At that point, Colt or other gun companies in those States could only get a mediocre workforce wanting a paycheck. My 2 cents.
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I don't care about party affiliation. It's the 2A suppression that concerns me in those States. If the States restricted their resident's access to firearms to the extreme, would you expect a large portion of next generation living in those States care to learn or wanting to know more about fundamental of firearms? At that point, Colt or other gun companies in those States could only get a mediocre workforce wanting a paycheck. My 2 cents.
Well I also brought up quality control in CNC machining. A good machinist does superior work regardless of what the part is used for. Companies that let machinist stay on that are not producing excellent parts are the real issue.
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I think one of the big challenge Colt will be facing is finding good qualified assemblers / gunsmiths in a liberal state. Connecticut and neighboring States is suppressing gun ownership at full force. 20 years from now, when long-term employees are gone, who knowns what kind of workforce Colt would get if it's manufacturing stay in the liberal Connecticut.

You can argue that modern CNC will cut down a lot of works require hand fitting by skilled gunsmiths. But for me, whoever you hire will largely reflect in the product they make.
Even with the most accurate CNC machinery, ya still need skilled operators who understand ATTENTION TO DETAILS!!!

Pay attention to the 🤬operation in progress and not your 🤬 I-phone!!!

Pay attention to proper placement of the parts into the fixtures. Making absolutely sure all the chips from the previous operations are cleaned away, and removing any burrs that may interfere. As my mentor taught me when I was an apprentice, ''CHIPS AND BURRS HAVE DIMENSIONS!''

When in doubt, MEASURE!!!

Inspect those cutting tools for wear and damage! Check the workpiece for abnormal cutting tool marks!

Many high-end CNC machines have laser micrometers in the tool changer that measures and compensates for wear down to .0001". Most don't.
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I've owned a number of Colts since the mid 1980's, and after finally experiencing an actual high end 1911, a Night Hawk Custom 1911 in 2014, my opinion of Colt is that they make lower middle (or high lower level depending on how you look at them) level 1911's. As someone else mentioned, a Colt Custom shop will get you a high middle level 1911. I really like Dan Wesson 1911's and they are high middle level quality in my opinion. Dan Wessons are my favorite 1911 maker. Not too expensive and quite a huge step forward in quality compared to Colt Govt and Commander 1911s and other 1911's from S&W, SA, RIA, and other similarly priced 1911s.
I thought models from their custom shop was on par with Les Baer and Wilson Combat. IIRC, they cost about the same.


Actually I disagree with most of you. Colt does produce a few “high end” 1911’s!
Not all of their production pistols are but a few. For instance, my Wiley Clapp Government is very high quality.
It really just depends on who orders the pistols such as Talo Inc. They require a bit more attention than the standard production line normally does.
Interesting info. I thought the difference between the Wiley Clapp models and other production models was aesthetics. I didn't know they were higher quality.

Are you sure the Talo guns are a little better than the standard ones? I thought they were just different aesthetics and limited editions.
I thought models from their custom shop was on par with Les Baer and Wilson Combat. IIRC, they cost about the same.




Interesting info. I thought the difference between the Wiley Clapp models and other production models was aesthetics. I didn't know they were higher quality.

Are you sure the Talo guns are a little better than the standard ones? I thought they were just different aesthetics and limited editions.
More hand work is involved.
Wow, we’ve found the Colt haters for sure! Why oh why do some get their jollies bashing Colt on a Colt thread? 🥱
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Wow, we’ve found the Colt haters for sure! Why oh why do some get their jollies bashing Colt on a Colt thread? 🥱
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Interesting info. I thought the difference between the Wiley Clapp models and other production models was aesthetics. I didn't know they were higher quality.

Are you sure the Talo guns are a little better than the standard ones? I thought they were just different aesthetics and limited editions.
More hand work is involved.
I don’t think so. There are some aesthetics differences but I don’t think there’s any special fittings that went into the Talo Wiley Clapp guns.

The only Wiley Clapp Colt that I don’t have is the 9mm LWT CDR, and the one and only time I saw that particular model was when the current owner of Milt Sparks got his. The thumb safety fitment was beyond atrocious. It was so stiff that rendered it nigh impossible to flick on and off.

The other Wiley Clapp of mine (Government, LWT CDR, CCO, SS Combat Commander) were okay but nothing out of the ordinary when compared to the standard production Colts.
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I don’t think so. There are some aesthetics differences but I don’t think there’s any special fittings that went into the Talo Wiley Clapp guns.

The only Wiley Clapp Colt that I don’t have is the 9mm LWT CDR, and the one and only time I saw that particular model was when the current owner of Milt Sparks got his. The thumb safety fitment was beyond atrocious. It was so stiff that rendered it nigh impossible to flick on and off.

The other Wiley Clapp of mine (Government, LWT CDR, CCO, SS Combat Commander) were okay but nothing out of the ordinary when compared to the standard production Colts.
Didn’t the frames get sent to Pete Single for some work?
Also all the edges on my Clapp are smooth, not sharp like all my other Colt 1911’s. But hey, who am I to know.
Didn’t the frames get sent to Pete Single for some work?
Also all the edges on my Clapp are smooth, not sharp like all my other Colt 1911’s. But hey, who am I to know.
Pete Single checkered the frames and that was the extent of his involvement.

I’ll defer to your expertise about Wiley Clapp edges versus normal Colt edges. I never paid attention to those kinds of details on either of my Wiley Clapp or regular production Colts.
I hear everybody talking about "high end" pistols. My question is does Colt qualify as a high end pistol? They seem kind of middle of the road to me considering I've heard that they contain the evil MIM parts. Just wondering what y'alls thoughts were on the subject.
I have no idea why colt is badass TODAY? IN THE DAY IT WAS. I have a Colt comp. Super .38 1911 and the bastard won't cycle a whole mag for ****. Colt and 2 gunsmith later always 1 stovepipe.
I have no idea why colt is badass TODAY? IN THE DAY IT WAS. I have a Colt comp. Super .38 1911 and the bastard won't cycle a whole mag for ****. Colt and 2 gunsmith later always 1 stovepipe.
I'd be happy to take it off your hands!
I'm liking my new Gold Cup Trophy, A LOT! Always been a S&W/Glock guy, but this new Colt is very impressive!!!
I'd be happy to take it off your hands!
I don't sale, I gryp! Lol it won't run a colt magazine. Only mec car ones. I'm curious what would you offer ?
I don't sale, I gryp! Lol it won't run a colt magazine. Only mec car ones. I'm curious what would you offer ?
LOL, the least I could get away with!
I don't sale, I gryp! Lol it won't run a colt magazine. Only mec car ones.
Then stick with Mec-Gar mags. That’s an easy problem to solve.

Maybe your Colt mag is defective. It does happen. If a gun to function reliably with one mag but jams with the other mag, then it ain’t the gun that’s the problem. I don’t have the factory .38 Super mag that came with my Gold Cup Trophy on hand, but if memory served, it was made by Check-Mate - which is a perfectly fine magazine manufacturer. Nonetheless lemons happen. Even the great Wilson Combat and Tripp Research had put out mags that were out of tolerance.
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I joined this group several years ago to get good information. The experience of forum members is beyond that of many of us, who have more limited experience.

That said, I have several 1911s (horrors, all in 9mm) and other pistols including a project BHP clone. What have I learned here?

One thing is that it is not necessary to take chances with a firearm that is unknown to me. I respect the opinions of others on this forum. The comments about the lack of consistency and other irregularities with Colt products dissuaded me from 'trying' a Colt. Reading through this series reinforces the idea that one is likely to have problems with their products. That statement is not bashing the brand; it is a conclusion based on members' experience. When other manufacturers make a product that is more reliable, that is a point to note.

Consequently, I purchased a better grade Sig-Sauer 1911 that has proved to be a good gun. I side-stepped problems with Colt, and I am not concerned with the increasing value of any brand. I am interested in proper operation.

The only gun I have difficulty with is that my RIA 1911 does not run with Wilson Combat magazines. Does anyone know about this failure, which I believe is associated with the magazine 'lips?' The gun operates consistently with other standard magazines.

I want to stay out of trouble.

Mike
Florida
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