probably cost? since they use the same parts on other models, cheaper to use the same parts on all of them

the barrels are also mfg of stainless steel on the MILSPEC , and doesnt look milspec or GI

traditional M1911A1's should have original forged steel barrels / blued

when Im looking for a basic M1911A1, I prefer all blued or parkerized steel parts, not modern "two tone" mismatched parts

 

I swapped bushings between an SA Mil-Spec and a blued Colt XSE. As mentioned above, I also prefer the blued bushing on the "G.I.-ish" Mil-Spec, and at the same time found the stainless bushing worked well with a likewise stainless guide rod plug on the Colt.

 

Since they are under the grips and cannot be seen they bother you how?

 

I've never seen any barrel bushings under my grips.

 

Duh. It's late. I could swear I read grip bushings. But then again I also thought I saw a UFO last night.
Carry on. Nothing to see here......

 

If it helps, I initially did the same thing haha...

 

Never seen a Pinto revolver? Same thing

 

The reason why why I use stainless for bushings, grip safeties, thumb safeties etc, is because often times these parts need to be filed on and fitted. With stainless, after you're done, you just polish it and it looks good. With a blued part, once you sand, grind or polish it, you can never get it to look good with cold blue...

 

I do the same, but would the manufacturers do it for that reason too?

As far as the look goes, It doesn't bother me at all on a modern 1911. It would bother me on an old military or early commercial 1911.

 

No, actually you can get it to look very good with cold blue. But it won't last and it will reek of copper sulfate.

 

Why not save up for a custom gun that had each and every party how you want? Then no problem.

I agree with both points about cost and fitting/polishing. I'm not sure why it such a big deal. You can always nitride or ion bond the parts you want black.

 

The two tone parts look is horrible to me.

A blues or darkened pistol needs matching parts.

 

matching parts / finish

I think the COLT COMBAT ELITE looks good like this with the blued slide and stainless receiver

but if I was building a all blued pistol I would keep the other parts blued to match.

 

I may be completely wrong on this (won't be the last time) but I thought you typically saw a stainless bushing on a gun with a stainless barrel to avoid galling issues.

 

I also cannot stand the look of a 2 tone gun.

 

The good news is you have a choice.

 

The first two tone guns I remember seeing were made by Colt at he end of run of Delta Elites
I have always thought they look like a gun maker throwing extra parts together
Like a wrecked car that has been repaired with a fender and hood from a car painted anger color

 

The 75% rule. Once you get past the basics of caliber and barrel length, 75% of 1911ish posts are about style, not function. Buy what you like.

Me? I like the two tone style, but not the "pinto" style with small parts not matching the large. A stainless bushing on a blue gun is ok with me, though.

 

Just replace with a carbon bushing. If doing it on a Springfield Mil-Spec pistol, it'll probably shoot more consistently with a tighter bushing anyway.

I like two-tone guns...

 

Rust! Blued screws and blued bushings under sweaty paws or even the natural moisture of wood can lead to screws getting stuck together by rust. And then when ya try to remove grip screws , bushings come out with them.

 

Huh? Thought we were talking about barrel bushings...

 

Tight fit stainless barrel bushings don't show much wear when you wrench them on and off. Not that it matters much to me, I kinda like the look of a worn black bushing.

 

I don't care for two tone pistols much either, but that's my personal choice. I just go over to EGW and order an angle bore bushing in the appropriate color, and I like that I can measure the slide to bushing and bushing to barrel fit and buy one which is very close dimensionally for not a lot of money.

 

If grip bushings then.....

http://www.challisgrips.com/pg/33-Bushings-and-Accessories.aspx

 

Since I don't sit and stare at the muzzle of my 1911's, I don't care if it has a matching bushing. I only care that its accurate and reliable. I do like nice grip panels though and will match them to the guns finish. If someone gave me a duo tone 1911 (45acp or 10mm) I certainly would not refuse it; but I'm not going out and buy one.