Colt Combat Elite thoughts?

Erocksmash

Erocksmash

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Howdy,

Came across this beauty searching the web.

Thinking I might chase one down, I'm partial to the 5inch, but if I get lucky and find a commander I may give it a try.

I figured I would take to my favorite forum (I'm not a part of the Colt or any other forum) and ask does anybody have one? Pros? Cons? Obviously I'm interested in the newer version but no nothing about them or anything Colt recently...

Should I hold out for a BAER? NIGHTHAWK? another 945:D
 

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I tried for 2 years to find one about 10 years ago. They aren't anything special but the two tone slide/frame was appealing. I gave up and bought a Gold Cup which I still have and shoot.
 
Colt gets a bad rap from a lot of people. I've had 4 and I never found anything wrong with any of them that I couldn't fix myself. Their prices have increased from the time I bought mine so not sure how they're positioned in the market now with Dan Wesson or Smith and Wesson, but Colt and those would be my choices in that price range.
 
It's a good looking pistol and that finish style is reminiscent of the great Smith & Wesson Performance Center 3566 Limited.

The last Colt 1911 that I had was a disappointment. $1,200 in to a new Delta Elite. My complaints:

--old school grip safety that begged for a beaver tail
--old school hammer that looked dated
--cheap plastic MSH, a real surprise
--cheap plastic recoil spring guide rod (a shock)
--lack of chamber support kept 10mm loads to "average"

Of all those disappointments, the plastic guide rod was the biggest head scratcher. Even Glock, arguably the all-time market king of plastic, doesn't use a full plastic guide rod in their 10mm chambered pistols.

The actual model in question? I don't know the parts details, but I'm not paying for the excellent looking, historic pony again. Perhaps the greatest visual icon in the history of firearms logos. I'll buy a poster or a flag but not another handgun.
 
I have a two tone, 5" Combat Elite, and it's a very nice gun. I had looked for one for a long time before finding mine about 5 years ago. Doesn't look like it's been fired after it left the factory, and I haven't shot it yet... It's a well made gun in terms of fit and finish.

I've got several Colt 1911s, and all of them have been great, and super reliable guns. Baer, Nighthawk, Ed Brown, and those type of semi-Custom 1911s are in a different league in terms of how they are fit/assembled, some components, and in terms of cost. Colt is well made, though, with a forged frame (instead of cast like less expensive 1911s like Ruger), and they use minimal MIM parts compared to less expensive 1911s. There are different models of Colts that are given more attention (some of the Custom Shop guns). I've got a Colt Special Combat Government from the Custom shop that is a very nicely fit, and a very accurate gun. I've got other Colts that also have great triggers and shoot great.

I've got a Les Baer, and it's really nice, very tightly fit, and it's accurate, but I still think my Colts are still nice quality in comparison. Really depends on what you're looking to do with the gun. In terms of accuracy, my Les Baer is guaranteed to shoot 1.5" groups at 25 yards. Off hand, I can't do that, nor can I really see a difference in accuracy compared to a couple of my really good shooting Colts. The Baer is arguably 'better quality,' but my Colts are still very nice, for less money. Again, really depends on what you're looking for. Colts have traditionally held their value, as well...

Personally, I think if you like the platform, get a Colt, it's the original, they're made well, and hold their value. But, if you really want a higher dollar, higher end gun, grab a semi custom gun like a Brown, Baer, Wilson (I'd invest in the higher end Wilson line), Nightwawk, etc. They are super nice.

Hope this helps.
 
Eric,

Bud....I have just the cure for you - One of 411 made for Lew Horton - 10mm and 40 S&W

Colt Combat Elite - Elite 10/40. The two-tone is really cool :D

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attachment.php


The above photos were stolen ;) The one I have is about to find its way to Gunbroker as I bought into 38 Super and 41 Mag. :D
 

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The plastic guide rod is meant to be plastic. It was designed to be a consumable part where as the guide rod would get beat up rather than the pistol.
 
SAFireman said:
Eric,

Bud....I have just the cure for you - One of 411 made for Lew Horton - 10mm and 40 S&W

Colt Combat Elite - Elite 10/40. The two-tone is really cool :D

attachment.php


attachment.php


The above photos were stolen ;) The one I have is about to find its way to Gunbroker as I bought into 38 Super and 41 Mag. :D
Click to expand...

Well that thing sure is a beauty! I know about the delta 10s I did not know they had a 40 conversion!?!?
 
Seems it's fashionable to beat
up on Colts. It gives critics an
"in the know" feeling.

And if presented with six Colt
1911s that work perfectly and
have decent to excellent
accuracy, then the response is
"oh, well those are the exceptions."

And then the talk goes off on
Baers, Browns, Wilsons and Nighthawks
which work perfectly and have
decent to excellent accuracy. And
they are only a thousand to three
thousand dollars more.
 
This is the only modern Colt pistol I own (I have a 1917 commercial 1911 Colt.

I got this back in the mid-2000's from a member of another forum. I think that I paid $485. Model number on the label is 0409.

Of all the 1911's I've owned, this is the best one ever. Trigger is unbelievably light with no creep. Hits at point of aim. Yes, it's a Series 80, yes it has the plastic MSH (at least it's the curved 1911A1 style).

Maybe it's not the flavor of the month, and it's a cheeseburger compared to the others filet mignon, but I'll never sell or trade it.

I like cheeseburgers.:cool:
 

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So for a shooter seems like a good option... Esthetically it looks great, just I have to grab one and see... what I find more to the finish is the checkering on the front strap of the grip...
 
Erocksmash said:
Well that thing sure is a beauty! I know about the delta 10s I did not know they had a 40 conversion!?!?
Click to expand...

Yes, this model was dual caliber. It came with a 10mm barrel and a 40 S&W barrel and mags to match. There was also a second set of springs.

The 40 S&W Colts seem to be few and far between, but there a lot of 10mm's out there. I have consolidated into fewer calibers to ease the burden of reloading (too many components & too much to keep organized - it all ran together after a while).


Good luck in your search! And if you have an interest in the dual caliber beast, shoot me a PM ;)
 
I have a Colt Government Enhanced in 40 S&W, only made in 1992. Excellent pistol, only 40 I own, shoots really nice. Also have a Combat Elite, which shoots superbly well!

Colt's will always go up in value, they always hold their value. Ed Brown, Night Hawk and all the others are nice, but crazy expensive and not any better than a Colt for your money. Invest in shooting what you get with the money you save!

Everybody makes a 1911 now a days. In years gone by lets see what holds it's value and holds up over the long run. The other 22 years on the job carried a S&W Model 10 which was a good weapon and toward the end a Glock. Good weapon, but not impressed!

I carried a 1911 for 26 years on the job and 3 years in the military, never felt there was anything better!

Just an opinion, for what it's worth.
 
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I like Colts. Considered a custom built on a Colt for a few years, but decided that no customs need apply. Not interested in owning clones of Colts either. Colts have always worked for me whether they were bought just last year or are over 100 years old.


Colts in every caliber that the Government Model/1911 were chambered for are represented saving for the .38 AMU. There's a ringer of a Remington Rand in there, as well as a Colt .45 automatic that predates 1911.

.22 Long Rifle
9mm Luger
9mm Steyr
9X23
.38 Special
.38 Super
.40 S&W
10mm
.45 ACP
.455 Self Loading
 
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How'd those old junk Colt 45s work out in World War One and Two? Korea? Vietnam?

They did better than the overpriced, fanboy Bear, Wilsons, Brown's and Nighthawks that were there. Oh wait. There weren't any of these there, were there?
Overpriced junk built as a status symbol.
 
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