Colt 1911 Delta Elite

CLASSIC12 · Jul 27, 2018

I already own a 1991 stainless Delta Elite, bought new in 2000.

So when I spotted a local ad for a 1988 blued one, I thought it’d be nice to have a pair. It took a while though, seller wanted 1300.- for it, and refused my first offer. I waited a while and when I saw the gun was still up for sale after 3 month, I made a second offer. Bought it for 1150.-. The new ones cost 2 grands here (Switzerland).

Original box and papers

Strange warning

Guess that’s not good

The trigger is steel, whereas my stainless one had a plastic trigger

MSH is plastic. Came with two mags.

6518John · Jul 27, 2018

Beautiful pistol. I would get that slide soaking in a 50-50 mix of acetone/ATF in a sealed container. That appears to be light rust just behind the ejection port. But I bet it will come right off after a soak and some gentle rubbing with bronze wool.

CLASSIC12 · Jul 27, 2018

Thanks. Those are brass marks from ejected cases hitting the slide. I haven’t test fired it yet, but will probably have to take a look at the extractor and ejector.

6518John · Jul 27, 2018

Excellent. I bet that pistol will be an great shooter. My son and I LOVE shooting our S&W 1066. The old Smith is so heavy that the hotttest 10mm rounds are easy to shoot.

As I am sure you know, the 10mm is making quite the comeback in US. Several of my friends shoot the Glock’s. And there are several companies making 10 mm pistols now. I occasionally see the Colt’s like yours, but priced far higher than what you paid.

A Perfect 10: The 10mm Auto Resurgence | Gun Digest

CLASSIC12 · Jul 27, 2018

6518John said:
Excellent. I bet that pistol will be an great shooter. My son and I LOVE shooting our S&W 1066. The old Smith is so heavy that the hotttest 10mm rounds are easy to shoot.

As I am sure you know, the 10mm is making quite the comeback in US. Several of my friends shoot the Glock’s. And there are several companies making 10 mm pistols now. I occasionally see the Colt’s like yours, but priced far higher than what you paid.

A Perfect 10: The 10mm Auto Resurgence | Gun Digest

Thanks for the link, John. I am also a real fan of the ten

A lot less choice here in Switzerland. And I am still on the hunt for a S&W 610.

stansdds · Jul 27, 2018

Nice, early Delta Elite! Mine was a first version stainless model, but by the time mine went into production, Colt was already removing the frame rail section over the slide stop area. Only problems I ever had with mine was the plunger tube and the plastic recoil spring guide rod. The plunger tube started to loosen, so I worked a little red Locktite under the tube, clamped it down and re-peened the stakes. The plastic guide rod and dual recoil springs were replaced with a full-length steel rod, single spring, and a shock buffer.

DWalt · Jul 27, 2018

"Guess that’s not good"

Colt's unionized workers (UAW) went on a 5-year strike beginning in 1985 that pretty well destroyed the company. And its union problems continue today.

loc n load · Jul 27, 2018

10mm

Nice pistol, have a twin to your’s about the same vintage. Also have a Colt 10mm stainless with the adjustable sights.
My EDC is a Glock 20. I have been shooting the 10mm since it was introduced. Enjoy your new acquisition.

colt_saa · Jul 27, 2018

Congratulations on the new addition.

It looks great. It is always nice when you can get the complete package with the box and original paperwork included.

I am a BIG fan of the 10MM Auto cartridge myself. I only have two 1911s chambered for it, A stainless Colt Delta Gold Cup that I purchased just about 20 years ago

Then there is the 6" long slide that I built a few summers ago

Then you mention the 610s, I got to love them to. The 6 1/2" is my favorite

I do not know if you are a hand loader or not.

I have opened up the chambers on my 610s so that they can accommodate the 10MM Magnum cartridge. The 10MM Magnum produces about 200-400 FPS of additional velocity depending on the load. I would highly doubt that you can find factory 10MM Magnum ammunition over in Europe.

Is it possible for a citizen in Switzerland to have a revolver imported?

Or must you seek out what the various distributors and dealers have already brought into the country?

Echo40 · Jul 27, 2018

Very nice, although the sight of that poor, neglected blued model makes me sad, it should be beautiful after a bit of TLC.

I actually plan on getting a 10mm 1911 as my next major firearms purchase, although mine will most likely be the Ruger SR1911 10mm due to the significantly lower price vs other American-Made 10mm 1911s.

jdlii · Jul 28, 2018

I rescued a Delta Elite from a local pawn shop several years ago. The blue finish was about 90% and there were two places on the slide that had slight pitting due to what I believe to have been contact with blood.

At $480.00, out the door, I didn't pass it up and shot it for a while before having it refinished. I have only had two firearms refinished and this one turned out nicely.

The finish is a gun metal grey with Novak night sights added, a Wilson trigger and VZ Operator Grips. I replaced the plastic mainspring housing with a WWII Colt MSH with a lanyard loop. I carry it hunting and do, in fact, have it tethered to a lanyard as it rides in a Milt Sparks holster.

Richard Simmons · Jul 28, 2018

To the OP or anyone else, is their much difference between the initial Delta Elite and the reiuuse?

colt_saa · Jul 28, 2018

Richard Simmons said:
To the OP or anyone else, is their much difference between the initial Delta Elite and the reiuuse?

The current Delta Elite is offered with or without a rail.

The current non-rail version adds a Beavertail Grip Safety, Extended Thumb Safety, and Novak White Dot Sights that the original Delta Elite did not have

Echo40 · Jul 29, 2018

Richard Simmons said:
To the OP or anyone else, is their much difference between the initial Delta Elite and the reiuuse?

I believe that the most notable difference is that initially the Colt Delta Elite had a bull barrel whereas the newer models have the more traditional barrel/bushing arrangement.

colt_saa · Jul 29, 2018

Dirty Harry Callahan said:
I believe that the most notable difference is that initially the Colt Delta Elite had a bull barrel whereas the newer models have the more traditional barrel/bushing arrangement.

The Original Colt Deltas had the standard barrel/bushing arrangement just like the current ones

Here is the muzzle end view of CLASSIC12's Delta Elite from 1988

CLASSIC12 said:

CLASSIC12 · Jul 29, 2018

colt_saa said:
Congratulations on the new addition.

It looks great. It is always nice when you can get the complete package with the box and original paperwork included.

I am a BIG fan of the 10MM Auto cartridge myself. I only have two 1911s chambered for it, A stainless Colt Delta Gold Cup that I purchased just about 20 years ago

Then there is the 6" long slide that I built a few summers ago

Then you mention the 610s, I got to love them to. The 6 1/2" is my favorite

I do not know if you are a hand loader or not.

I have opened up the chambers on my 610s so that they can accommodate the 10MM Magnum cartridge. The 10MM Magnum produces about 200-400 FPS of additional velocity depending on the load. I would highly doubt that you can find factory 10MM Magnum ammunition over in Europe.

Is it possible for a citizen in Switzerland to have a revolver imported?

Or must you seek out what the various distributors and dealers have already brought into the country?

Would love a Delta Gold Cup, but I’m not sure they were even imported here, never saw one. Hard enough to find a 610, I’m still on the hunt for one.

I do reload when time permits. And my RCBS 4X4 is showing signs of weakness, mind you I amortised it a long time ago.

I imported a CZ 75 privately from chile 23 years ago, but I would imagine it’s a lot harder now, with all the restrictions linked to terrorism and ITAR.

I didn’t even know about the 10 mm Magnum, that’s gotta be crazy.

CLASSIC12 · Jul 29, 2018

jdlii said:
I rescued a Delta Elite from a local pawn shop several years ago. The blue finish was about 90% and there were two places on the slide that had slight pitting due to what I believe to have been contact with blood.

At $480.00, out the door, I didn't pass it up and shot it for a while before having it refinished. I have only had two firearms refinished and this one turned out nicely.

The finish is a gun metal grey with Novak night sights added, a Wilson trigger and VZ Operator Grips. I replaced the plastic mainspring housing with a WWII Colt MSH with a lanyard loop. I carry it hunting and do, in fact, have it tethered to a lanyard as it rides in a Milt Sparks holster.

Great job you did on saving that one, looks very cool.

jdlii · Jul 29, 2018

Thank you! Love the 10mm and the way it shoots.

Colt 1911 Delta Elite

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