[Col. Colt]

We just opened a box of three new blued "Commander Model" (NOT 1991A1) from Colt yesterday at the shop. Fit of barrel/frame/slide simply couldn't be any better. Silky smooth slide operation (like the current Custom Shop Gold Cups), excellent "street triggers" without creep and the new/old rollmarks are outstanding. The new Stainless barrrel with the new style "trough" throating.

All in a gun we are selling for a little over $550. Colt is definitely BACK! Our only complaint is getting enough of them - but even that is improving. Check out the new "non-1991" Colts with the new rollmarks. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much gun you can get for the money - and it's a Colt, not a MIM filled copy or a Brazilian knock off!

Happily, Col. Colt

"Beware of Counterfeits & Patent Infringements"

 

[Shooter Ready?]

Hello Col. I have to be honest. I have read many of your posts on this forum and I sometimes thought man this guy is crazy. There is no way that Colt is as good as the Kimber, Springfield, etc. I deciced to get a new .45 and have a full house custom done to it. I own Colt, Kimber, and Springfield. After much thought I decided that my one full house gun could be nothing other than a colt. So much heritage behind it and so forth. I ordered a 1991 A1 SS. My distributor gave me problems about ordering it until I got my usual salesman. He had one available for me to buy very quickly. Only bummer is the old rollmarks. Gun was made in February. After the hassle in obtaining the pistol I wasn't going to complain about the rollmarks. I am currently saving the up the funds to have the work done. I'm sending it to EGW for George to work his magic on. Anyway, to get the point. Colt is indeed putting out the highest quality .45 on the planet IMHO. The fit and finish are excellent and the accuracy is awesome. The accuracy is so good that I am leaving the factory barrel in the soon to be custom Colt. My only wish is that Colt would build a pistol with some of the extras already put on it. A real beavertail, dovetailed front sight and a Novak or a Novak style dovetailed rear sight, Commander hammer, Videcki trigger, and no front serrations. Oh well I guy can dream

. I still like my Springfield and my Kimber but my Colts are great guns too. Looks like another Colt fanatic has been added to the ranks. My very first .45 was a Colt so I guess I'm returning home so to speak

. Sorry for the long post. Take care Col.

Shooter Ready?

[This message has been edited by Shooter Ready? (edited 11-25-2001).]

 

[JoeMc]

Col, You are absolutly correct. I've owned Colts since the 70's. I've tried SA and Springfield and I still perfer COLTS. The fit and balance are without equal. I would take a Colt over any 1911,even some of the higher priced ones.

I never met a Colt I didn't like. I've had ..22's,.45's,10mm's,40's,9mm's,38 supers and 9x23's and have never had a problem getting them to run 100%.

 

[The artis formaly Redzone]

Gee and I thought I had heard of wishy washy. This guy takes the cake.

 

[The artis formaly Redzone]

Sorry a definitive poster got in between. I was refering to mr. springfield etc etc. I got to customize this well made reliable accurate mother because I am a Kimber fan or springfield fan. And I thought you were crazy being definitive and not a etc etc anything good kind of guy.

 

[Shooter Ready?]

Formaly Redzone are you referring to my post? I would like a chance to respond if you are. Thanks.

Shooter Ready?

 

[Army Chief]

Shooter Ready?

Yes, it looks to me like "... Redzone's" post was in response to yours.

Please consider the source and think nice thoughts as you contemplate your response.

I'm just trying to head off any escalation -- even though it might be warranted.

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[LW McVay]

Originally posted by Col. Colt:
and it's a Colt, not a MIM filled copy or a Brazilian knock off!

So its an American clone of a Brazilian knockoff?

 

[Shooter Ready?]

Thanks StormMaster. Now my reply for Redzone. I don't see my comments as being wishy washy. I was just trying to say that I had not, until recently, really looked at Colt as competition to Kimber or Springfield. I mentioned that I own Springfield and Kimber to demonstrate that I have something to compare the Colt to. I used to read Col. Colt's posts and sometimes I would think that he is so off the mark about Colt. My first .45 was indeed a Colt. It was a single shot pistol right out of the box, brand new! I had to send it to a smith just to get it to function. Ever since them I have had a bad feeling towards Colt. That's why when I would read some of the Col.'s posts I would think what is he talking about, Colts are junk. I have read multiple posts on this forum about the newer Colts quality and fit and finish. I figured that since most of the parts are going to be changed anyway why not get the original. If something wasn't right EGW would correct it before it would become a problem. After shooting the 1991 A1 I was extremely impressed by it. I am not afraid to admit when I'm wrong. I was wrong about Colt. They are producing some fine pistols. If I was not able to have this pistol customized I would not care at all. It is a great pistol as is. I want it customized to my specs. Not Springfield or Kimbers specs. You are way way off saying that "I got to customize this well made reliable accurate mother because I am a Kimber fan or springfield fan." Do I like Springfield and Kimber pistols? Yes. Do I own examples of them? As I stated already, yes. Do I like Colt pistols? Absolutely! Now I see what the Col. was trying to say in some of the posts that I had read where he spoke very highly of Colt. I do apologize if my reply to the Col.'s post came across as wishy washy. I don't think that they did but again my apologies if I somehow conveyed that in my reply.

Shooter Ready?

 

[The artis formaly Redzone]

You have made me a believer Shooter Ready. I strongly appologize for the incorrect statement. I liked your comback and self control. Both of which I lack to a degree. I get so little out of posting replies that I misinterpret the true meaning behind the post. Thanks for your very insightful response to my lacking opinion. But I find the Col. posts very much strong sided with my own opinions. So I got a little out of control. Thanks again shooter!

 

[Shooter Ready?]

Thanks for the compliments and the apology Redzone. No hard feelings on my end.

Shooter Ready?

 

[The artis formaly Redzone]

Ok Shooter lets start it up again. I have read many many many posts on the various manufacturers. And I thought one sided to only Colt until three weeks ago when I shot a Kimber. The gun was flawless in every way. But the latest Colts make what i've heard about Kimbers seem miniscule. Do the new ones really bridge the gap? Or is it just Colt guys with new Colts?

 

[Shooter Ready?]

I think Kimber really fills a niche in the .45 market. All the custom goodies already installed at a fair price. The down side is the MIM controversy. I have a Kimber Super Match. Works perfectly and is more accurate than I could ever hope to shoot it. The Colt doesn't have all the goodies but the basics are covered. Good slide to frame fit, barrel nice and tight, Colts special throating, adequate sights, decent trigger pull, and the internals IMHO appear to be more substantial to the ones in my Kimber. Do they bridge the gap? That depends on what you want out of the pistol. If it has to have an aluminum trigger, extended safety, beavertail, checkered mag release, skeletonized hammer, and so on and so on then no it doesn't bridge the gap. However, if you want a well made back to the original design style pistol that is accurate and reliable and able to be customized to your liking then yes I feel in my opinion that it bridges the gap. I am referring to the 1991 A1 by the way. I got mine in SS for $560.00 out the door. SS Kimbers around here sell for a couple of hundred more than that. So if you want some extras you could use the money you saved and have them installed. If you don't want to hassle with sending it to a smith then I would say get the Kimber and call it a day. I have never had a MIM failure and I don't know what to think about the MIM controversy. Sometimes it bothers me sometimes it doesn't. Dane Burns answered my question on this one pretty well. When I asked about replacing the MIM in my Kimber he said that if I were a nark and my life depended on the pistol then he would get the MIM replaced. If it was for IDPA (which it is) then I would shoot it as is and go win some matches with it. Some of the Colt guys as you called them don't always give the other brands a chance. Kind of like what I did with Colt. I was Kimber and Springfield and never really considered Colt. Kimber and Springfield are building some great pistols. I like variety and owning different types of .45's just makes it more fun for me. I really like my Springfield despite the fact that it went back to the factory twice and is now at EGW getting a reliability job done on it. It has been a problem gun but I love it anyway. In closing I'll say this. Colt has come a long way but they still have a long road ahead of them. If they advertised and promoted their products they would be a contender in my opinion. They are a contender but a lot of people just don't know they are still in the game. I hope I answered your question. Sorry for the long post. As you can tell I am long winded

. Let me know what you think.

Shooter Ready?

 

[Army Chief]

SR? & RZ,

Many thanks for staying on topic and showing some class in resolving this one guys. We all appreciate it.

Chuck

 

[The artis formaly Redzone]

Well now, I don't have a liking for something that does'nt work. As I posted a short time back my S70 Government was having feeding problems. Took it to a smith who worked in a store with one ancient DA Colt. Yet he carried a custom S70 and tuned the extractor for free. And I retuned again after problems went the other way(As he instructed me to if any further problems occured). I learned something reemphasized as I looked at a custom smiths site. It was Larry Vickers and, he states the two weak links are the plunger and extractor. It was eye opening to see that people with the skill and knowledge. Will share it for nothing and do it for nothing. I know he gained a customer in the future. I would rather have him fix a gun I just paid $300 to $1500 for. Rather then send it back to exex via exexe. And wait for six weeks. While I am sans my $300 to $1500 gun. He fixes the problem himself in the store. You know what was really wierd though. And I also stated this a week or so ago. Is that we 1911 shooters and collectors(a small bridge if it exists at all). Is that most of the shooting people want a small gun with zero defects. You have to spend a fortune to get a 1911 that way. And then you have the operational difficulty. I mean a single action trigger and semi auto feeding are two very odd partners in a gun. Yet we worship them as if nothing else exists to a high degree. Yet the rest of the world moves on. To Kahrs(latest with multi patents), Sigs(Germany makes them to ever increasing standards and finishes), H&Ks(As plastic as a Glock and functionally as perfectly reliable). Let me out guys maybe a Sig 210 would cure me. Just saying that for a goof, I don't want out ever.

 

[Shooter Ready?]

Redzone, I think you are right on the money about small carry guns. A lot of the concealed carry folks want a small and light trouble free pistol. Myself included. 1911's are a disease. Once you get it in your blood there is no getting it out. I am not bragging but I own Glocks, Browning High Power, Beretta, Colts, Springfield, Kimber,
S & W, and a couple others I can't recall right now. I have had the most problems with the .45's. I love them anyway. I can't explain it. I am willing to buy a pistol and then pay more money getting it tuned so it will run the way it should have run in the first place. My Springfield is at EGW right now getting a reliability job as I type this. They called me last night to let me know that the extractor is bad and needs replaced. I bought this pistol brand new in April. Only has several hundred rounds through it. I know when it comes back it will be in way better shape than when it left. Things like this should not happen but they do. Maybe Colt can raise the bar so to speak when it comes to not only quality but being properly tuned when it leaves the factory. I think I need to start saving for a Defender or a Commander. You got me thinking about this smaller gun thing.

Shooter Ready?

 

[bubbaturbo]

"The new Stainless barrrel with the new style "trough" throating."
What is that supposed to be? Seems like a contradiction in terms to me.

I looked at a new stainless lightweight Commander today. It did not have the "new style trough throating." The "throating" it did have had very pronounced steps as it went up the sides of the barrel. I'd be surprised if it would feed anything. The beavertail was not not fitted to the frame, just slapped on.
I have some series 70, 80, and 90 Colts. I disagree that the newest ones I saw today are even close to their quality. Even the salesman thought the new ones were junk. However, at least they were overpriced.

 

[FirearmsPlus.FL]

Originally posted by bubbaturbo:
"The new Stainless barrrel with the new style "trough" throating."
What is that supposed to be? Seems like a contradiction in terms to me.

I looked at a new stainless lightweight Commander today. It did not have the "new style trough throating." The "throating" it did have had very pronounced steps as it went up the sides of the barrel. I'd be surprised if it would feed anything.

It feed's quite well, and provides better case head support than the standard over ramping you see from most gunsmiths.

The beavertail was not not fitted to the frame, just slapped on.

Yeah, it's a common complaint that they use the drop in grip safety. They're working on something now, but money is still tight probably.

I have some series 70, 80, and 90 Colts. I disagree that the newest ones I saw today are even close to their quality. Even the salesman thought the new ones were junk. However, at least they were overpriced.

The Enhanced Series had the same drop in grip safety, before that, they didn't even have THAT. Whether you like the front cocking serations is a personal choice.

For comparison to the older (80's and before) the 1991's are your more direct comparison.

[This message has been edited by FirearmsPlus.FL (edited 12-08-2001).]