Colt New Agent Series

Anyone seen one of these? Shot one? They look interesting. Am wanting a new .45ACP maybe DAO only because I'm not liking the idea of locked and cocked carry.

Model 0-7810-D is on the MSP roster but the 0-7810-DA (DAO) is not.

I've been reading, mostly here, about locked and cocked carry and POSSIBLE civil liabilities that's why I'm entertaining the thought of a DAO pistol. Another one I'm considering is the SIG P220 Carry Elite. I'm looking for a .45 that is small and slim. Although the SIG is more of a commander size pistol I do believe. Another one is the Colt 1991A1 Commander.

Sir, FWIW, the lack of sights on Colt's New Agents seems to me a mistake. The sights need not be fancy, but there ought to be something. Even a .38 snubbie has sights, for Pete's sake.

The DAO model looks like it should fit smaller hands than, say, a Glock in .45. I'm not familiar with the specific P220 version you mention, but a regular P220 is neither small nor trim.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

A friend has one of the New Agents and I have shot it. It is a nice looking gun, and he has not fired it very much, but it has had a few FTF/FTE and I think he wants to put a few more rounds through it before he trusts it for carrying. The sight (if I recall correctly) is only a groove in the top, but for short distances I could hit the target repeatedly and consistently. I have a feeling that very short .45 1911's (like this one at 3" barrel length) are a little finicky. I know nothing about the Sig other than they are supposed too be very reliable. Although I think semi-autos are fun at the range I carry revolvers and am very confident they will fire. Good luck, and hope that helped a little. B

I have owned both guns...the New Agent and the SIG P220 Carry. There are several versions of the P220, including a compact version with a shorter grip frame (and reduced capacity.)

I like SIG pistols very much, and I especially like a DA/SA action with a decocker. However, they are heavy and big, and while they are great HD and general purpose guns, I personally don't see them as suitable for CCW. That is just my opinion...others do carry the P220 models.

The Colt New Agent was designed for carry...and the trench sights are purposely rudimentary, to avoid snagging. They do function as a sight, once you get used to them...they are not a range/target set-up, obviously, but are intended for in-close and/or self-defense purposes. The New Agent makes a good carry pistol; I have only had one in the traditional SA trigger, not the DAO. I have had both .45 and 9mm in a New Agent, and it is a good CCW pistol.

I don't know how the "cocked and locked" carry could be a legal issue in and of itself, since that was how the gun was designed to be carried, and isn't an aftermarket modification. However, given our litigious society and the screwy nature of our legal system, people can and do make issue over anything, it seems. However, if you are carrying an unmodified pistol as the manufacture intended it to be carried and operated, and you are carrying legally, I can't see how a "cocked and locked" 1911 could be made more of an issue than any other pistol. That again is only my opinion, and with that and $2 you might get a cup of coffee at Denny's.

Edited to add: I don't own a New Agent now; that is not from any concern with the pistol itself. I trade guns a lot, and often regret letting some models go. In this case, my wife has now expressed an interest in having a 1911 style pistol for herself, and I think a New Agent in 9mm would be a great pistol for her (subject to her approval, of course.) She has a M&P9c, but as we all know, you can have more than one gun!

I've carried my Colt NA for about two years now. I swap it off with a G36, but truth be told the Colt is easier to hide and lighter. It is typical good Colt quality, no issues at all. It's for strictly defensive purposes, point & shoot like a J frame. It's not any good for bowling pins or bullseye, but I have a full sized 1911 for that. It's good for what it is; a compact, lightweight, .45 with the same mag capacity as full size. It will shoot 3"groups at 25 yards out of a Ransom Rest so accuracy isn't the gun's fault if you miss.
Cherokee Slim

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NRA,SASS,BOLD#808,Semper Fi

The gutter sight is the only reason I don't own one. I wish they had put the original GI "nub and bump" sights on it. I would own one if they had done that. I have thought very hard on buying a Defender but I would have to change too much on it for it to be worth while to me. Now if they made the Defender in all stainless then I might sucker into one. But then that would be an Officer's Model...

The trench sight takes some getting used to, but isn't a problem once you're acclimated to it. The big consideration re: purchasing a NA is two-fold: 1) Cost. NAs are in the $1,000 range, which isn't exactly cheap for a compact 1911 carry gun; 2) Weight. At roughly 22oz, the NA can be a handful with .45s. Other than those concerns, I love mine and am thinking of getting another. And for whatever it's worth, the NA is the ONLY compact 1911 platform I would purchase.

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I'm with the banned ...

Just wondering, why are you considering a carry gun if you live in Md?

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Proud USAF Dad

I just looked at a New Agent at my dealer's a 'coupla hours ago and it had sights on it. I really liked it but at nearly $1100.00 I can't afford it right now.

Civil liabilities for cocked&locked? A. Highly unlikely. B. Highly defensible.

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Just the opinion of a kid

Cocked and locked is not a problem if you do as you would for any carry gun and train for it. If you are not putting in the training to be very familiar with your carry gun then you would be better off carrying a brick! It's heavier.
As to the legalities you are using it as designed, but I guess anyone can be sued for anything.

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Tom
NRA Pistol Inst

If you don't like cocked and locked, there is the S&W M&P .45c (available with a safety), very nice carry piece. Also the Glock G36, single stack even smaller and lighter.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

There is also the Springfield Armory XDs, also a polymer frame DAO single stack .45ACP.
Personally, I carry a Colt Defender, which is the stainless version of the New Agent with conventional/traditional sights. Mine is in 9mm and has been 100% reliable.

I have shot a couple of hundred rounds through a Colt New Agent 1911 in 45 ACP.

First let me say that I have been shooting a 1911 since the late 1960's, and it is my favorite handgun.

I find the trench sight of the New Agent to work very well at typical armed encounters. Even at 20 to 25 yards hits on a mansized targetare no problem.

I did not have any malfunctions with 230gr ball or 230 Remington Golden Saber HP's.


I liked the "little" gun quite a bit.

I have a Colt New Agent, have a few thousands rounds through mine with no issues. Although mine is a Travis Strahan custom, it still has the trench sights, which one you get comfortable with can be very affective.