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  #51  
Old 03-16-2012, 04:45 PM
mkk41 mkk41 is offline
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IMO , the post-1957/pre-Series '70 Colt Gold Cups are the high water mark for 1911s. The standard by which all others are judged. They were extremely accurate , and fed everything from stubby target SWCs to any hollow-point.



They got a bum rap for breaking because too many people shot full power loads with the 15lb target load recoil spring.

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  #52  
Old 03-16-2012, 04:49 PM
Joni_Lynn Joni_Lynn is offline
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Nice looking Colt's.
They have lightened slides which I've never had a problem with nor seen one that has failed. I run a 16 pound spring in mine and it runs great. (same spring works good in the GCNM 38MR as well)
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  #53  
Old 03-16-2012, 06:56 PM
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Well heck, as long as we're posting pictures of run-of the-mill 1911's, check out the spiffy new Spegel cocobolo grips I just bought from Novak's site:



Edited to add - would I like an expensive 1911 if I had the money? Shoot yeah, I want one of everything gun related.

Last edited by Bullet Bob; 03-16-2012 at 06:58 PM.
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  #54  
Old 03-16-2012, 11:11 PM
BUFF BUFF is offline
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I have a couple of Timex watches. They keep perfect time, well, perfect enough I never have to reset them before the battery runs out, a couple of years.

My partner wears a Rolex. It keeps perfect time, too.

Both watches keep perfect time, one costs very little, one costs a lot. Is my Timex as good as his Rolex?

I think not.
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  #55  
Old 03-17-2012, 04:37 AM
geddylee10002000 geddylee10002000 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanewpadle View Post
Save yourself a lot of money and buy a Dan Wesson.

I'm serious.
I bought a DW Vbob a couple of months ago with the Duty coat and couldn't be happier.
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  #56  
Old 03-17-2012, 04:59 AM
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Andy Griffith Andy Griffith is offline
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I've owned and do own a couple of higher priced pieces.

The fact is, yes, they are (or should be by all means) much better in the fit, finish and curb appeal department than their standard production counterparts.

The problem is- if you buy it and later bemoan using it in fear of getting a scratch on it- get something else. If you are going to use and treasure it as a workhorse, why certainly go after it. If you're buying it for an investment- that's fine too.

The disadvantage to a higher end contemporary piece is the fact that if you grow tired of it quickly, prepare for a big hit in the wallet when you go to trade it. Finding someone else interested in premium pieces is much easier today than in years past, but you can't get in a hurry or you'll lose a lot of money if you ever decide to get rid of it. Also, many people that pay big $$$$ for these guns rarely shoot them and make them safe queens- that's fine, but if your gun has been shot and carried a lot, it will not compare favorably with the other premium condition pieces available.

Just know that any "custom" 1911 can possibly something that you will have to keep for years- it's not for the serial trader. Of course, if you can get one cheap off of a serial trader....that's a different story!

It's been quite some year since I've traded....really any firearm. I just can't see losing a penny on a trade.
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Last edited by Andy Griffith; 03-17-2012 at 05:03 AM.
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  #57  
Old 03-17-2012, 08:25 AM
mkk41 mkk41 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joni_Lynn View Post
Nice looking Colt's.
They have lightened slides which I've never had a problem with nor seen one that has failed. I run a 16 pound spring in mine and it runs great. (same spring works good in the GCNM 38MR as well)
Yep , all the internet experts claim to have seen barrels of cracked GCNM slides , yet can't say where they cracked. Nobody know how or why they were 'lightened' or by how much. Early slides were also supposedly thinner. Those I've measured and weighed show no diff. And the cuts inside the slide were to offset the added weight of the rib and adjustable sights.

And a Commander slide is MUCH lighter than a Gold Cup or Gov't Model slide.

As for springs , I always mark the rear 1'' end of my springs with spray paint. Lt.blue for target wadcutter springs 15-16lb , red 18.5 , orange 20+.
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  #58  
Old 03-17-2012, 09:17 AM
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Just because you own a Ferrari, doesn't mean you can drive it like a pro. How many owners of these super 1911s can actually shoot them to their full potential?
I love the 1911 and own about a dozen of them. I've had the opportunity to handle and shoot some of the very expensive high end models. They are nice guns, but in my hands at least they don't shoot all that much better than my box stock guns. Hey, I'm gettin' old. What can I say?
If you have the money and the skill, why not ? There is something to be said for pride of ownership.
However, I think the majority of us will be equally well served by a good quality stock pistol.

I do own one custom 1911. A 1963 vintage Clark Long Slide. Its both the most wonderful and most frustrating 1911 I own. Its an absolute joy to shoot. Smooth as butter. Yet, it drives me crazy because I know it'll shoot so much better than I can. The gun just makes me realize that I'm well past my prime.
But I am proud to own it!


[img]
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  #59  
Old 03-18-2012, 10:57 PM
Trifle Trifle is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joni_Lynn View Post
I'm serious when I say they are addicting.
Joni, that is a wonderful collection of handguns you have. I use a LB for club plate shooting and have old eyes. How do you like red dot. I have Aimpoints on my Model 40 and 15-22. Thought about it for the LB, but felt the bracket would detract from the lines on the gun. What are your thoughts?

Last edited by Trifle; 03-18-2012 at 11:03 PM.
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  #60  
Old 03-19-2012, 06:23 AM
Joni_Lynn Joni_Lynn is offline
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Given how hard it is to rack some of the LB guns, I had too much trouble being able to pull the slide back so I sold it.
That gun came from LB with the mount, I only added the sight.
It functioned great and was just crazy accurate with that sight on it. Someone else is enjoying it now.
There are mounts that replace the BoMar style rear sight allowing the mounting of one of the small red dot sights. I think that's probably worth looking into.
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  #61  
Old 03-19-2012, 07:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayfox View Post
Just because you own a Ferrari, doesn't mean you can drive it like a pro. How many owners of these super 1911s can actually shoot them to their full potential?
And that would be why I don't own a 1911 made by Ed Brown. I can't shoot my Colt 1991A1 to its full potential, so I don't yet feel the need to find a Gold Cup or anything with more hand fitting forged parts.
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  #62  
Old 03-19-2012, 07:42 AM
oldman45 oldman45 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mkk41 View Post
As for springs , I always mark the rear 1'' end of my springs with spray paint. Lt.blue for target wadcutter springs 15-16lb , red 18.5 , orange 20+.
Please answer a question that nobody has addressed in the Semi Auto section.

What does a 20+ lb spring offer that a lighter spring does not?

I have a top of the line S&W 1911 with a 20# spring. A friend (a Surgeon that shoots matches all over the courty) loves the gun and actually has borrowed it from me for the last month. He asked me why the heavier spring since none of his has them. I could not answer that other than say that is what it came with. I know the gun does not have the recoil my others do.
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  #63  
Old 03-19-2012, 07:55 AM
C&R Bill C&R Bill is offline
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Why more expensive??

They are "Tactical".......
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  #64  
Old 03-19-2012, 07:58 AM
C&R Bill C&R Bill is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BUFF View Post
I have a couple of Timex watches. They keep perfect time, well, perfect enough I never have to reset them before the battery runs out, a couple of years.

My partner wears a Rolex. It keeps perfect time, too.

Both watches keep perfect time, one costs very little, one costs a lot. Is my Timex as good as his Rolex?

I think not.
I don't mean this to sound like a Slam, but Exactly What MORE would you ask the Timex to do in order to perform its' function "as good as"??? Sounds to me like the plain one is doing everything asked of it.....

Last edited by C&R Bill; 03-19-2012 at 08:04 AM.
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  #65  
Old 03-19-2012, 08:49 AM
oldman45 oldman45 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C&R Bill View Post
I don't mean this to sound like a Slam, but Exactly What MORE would you ask the Timex to do in order to perform its' function "as good as"??? Sounds to me like the plain one is doing everything asked of it.....
A Timex keeps down crime.

I never heard of a man being mugged over a Timex watch.
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  #66  
Old 03-19-2012, 09:34 AM
M29since14 M29since14 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldman45 View Post
What does a 20+ lb spring offer that a lighter spring does not?
Oldman45, what it does is slam your gun into battery pretty hard. In any reciprocating machine (like a 1911) there is a balance. When one throws the equation off in one direction, there is an offsetting charge in the other. I have never heard a .45 pistolsmith that I thought knew what he was doing advocate a recoil spring stronger than 16-17 pounds for shooting ordinary loads, and usually 18.5 pounds is considered maximum.

Probably no great harm is going to come to your gun, but it's likely a bit better for it to keep fresh springs of the proper rating in the gun than go overboard with a higher powered spring than necessary. Talk to some experts (the guys who make the best pistols) and then draw your own conclusions.
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  #67  
Old 03-19-2012, 09:51 AM
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Wilson 5" CQB



Ed Brown Commander sized gun.



YES they ARE worth it.

Last edited by Frank237; 03-19-2012 at 09:55 AM.
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  #68  
Old 03-19-2012, 01:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ElToro View Post
get yourself a used Colt for 500$ and send it in for their model O package... nite sights, flared port, springs, rounding of corners and general tune up. 600$

or a 3k custom
Looks like the Colt Custom Shop has gone up a couple of hundred in the past two years. $875 for the Tactical Package, now. Gonna be sending then my Delta Elite pretty soon.
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  #69  
Old 03-19-2012, 01:56 PM
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I've got the feeling that reading this thread is going to cost me money.
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  #70  
Old 04-07-2012, 11:58 PM
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This is my one and only 1911. I wanted a 1911 for the experience of having one of my own. Most people think it's a bit odd being a 38 Super. I got a huge discount because it was broken in and an off-the-wall caliber. It doesn't matter because I can't shoot it anyway. I'm lucky I guess because I won't have to buy 3 or 4 more.

Jim
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  #71  
Old 04-08-2012, 09:22 AM
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This is a NIB Colt 45 (1967) I bought in 1968,I might shoot it some day.
Top is a Colt Ace.
Dick
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  #72  
Old 04-08-2012, 11:05 AM
gregintenn gregintenn is offline
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Ed Brown Products, 1911, parts
Ed Brown sure makes a pretty one!
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