I have a bunch of Colts. My go to time and time again is my Colt Gunsite Pistol in SS. I've had it quite awhile now and come to think of it I had the front sight replaced with a trijicon night sight and its starting to get dim. Its hard to pick just one with so many variations that I settled on like 10.
What Colt 1911?
- Thread starter Cellar Hound
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I carried a government 1911 in Vietnam. I have qoned 2 other Colts in 45acp and 38 Super. I now own an ATI goverment 45acp which cost $500 versus Colt's much higher cost. It is exactly like a Colt, accepts all 1911 upgrades and is much more accurate than my Colts.
Cleandean
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At the time when I was looking for my first COLT 1911, I had decided to purchase a Gold Cup. I asked my gunsmith and close acquaintance to please find me a Colt GC NM.
He did come up with a series 70 Colt , a little used but nice.
I passed on that pistol for some unknown , thoughtless reason.
Wasn't the price at $300 bucks. A month or two went buy, looking again , I purchased a Series 80 Colt GC NM. for near $500. I kick my self often ...to this day & remember being a younger & fickle bone head.
I had the money to buy both at once, if possible. Why why why?
Get which one that you desire, trust your first intuition , buy two and sell the second favorite later.
but it wouldn’t be a 1911. 
+1. I’ve got one and I agree. What a beautiful pistol!
I owned a series 70 Gold Cup back in the day. The accuracy certainly was NOT up to match standards. The roll pin holding the rear sight would work loose and the trigger pull was not great. The collet bushings also tended to break. The slide to frame fit wasn't up to to the standards of today's premium 1911's. If I were going to buy a Colt 1911 today, it would be a Colt Defender.
Gold Cup Trophy 1911's are nice, but in my opinion, you do not need sharp edged and adjustable sights on a defensive pistol. For a Colt 1911 for defensive use, fixed sights and either Government Model or Commander sizes. Keep it simple, keep it rugged, keep it reliable.
For ammo, keep the operating pressure at normal, no need for +P ammo, and the keep the bullet weight at 230 grains as that is the standard sight regulation for most 45 ACP pistols.
Use high quality magazines like genuine Colt, MecGar, or Checkmate. 7-round standard, flush fit mags. 8 rounds only if the magazine has an extended body. 8-round flush fit mags sometimes work, are very hard to seat when fully loaded, and may cause a feed jam on the last round. Yeah, ask me how I know.
For ammo, keep the operating pressure at normal, no need for +P ammo, and the keep the bullet weight at 230 grains as that is the standard sight regulation for most 45 ACP pistols.
Use high quality magazines like genuine Colt, MecGar, or Checkmate. 7-round standard, flush fit mags. 8 rounds only if the magazine has an extended body. 8-round flush fit mags sometimes work, are very hard to seat when fully loaded, and may cause a feed jam on the last round. Yeah, ask me how I know.
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I thought they just recently came out with a series 70's configuration of that one.
Didn't want to start new thread. I've got this model. Does anyone see why this would bring this price? 2019 auction
Colt Commander 1991/1911 Model 04691, Blue 4 1/4" Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol & Box, Mfd Modern .45 Acp For Sale at GunAuction.com - 16035219
Colt Commander 1991/1911 Model 04691, Blue 4 1/4" Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol & Box, Mfd Modern .45 Acp For Sale at GunAuction.com - 16035219
Owned and shot dozens of Colt 1911 over the
last near 50 years.
These two are the last out.
My recommendation for your stated purpose.
Colt Commander.
last near 50 years.
These two are the last out.
My recommendation for your stated purpose.
Colt Commander.
I have two mid 1990s vintage Gold Cups - I like them.
My buddy got two new Colt Classics : Colt Government Classic O1911C in 45 and 38Super. They are NICE! If I was in the market, that's what I'd be getting.
My buddy got two new Colt Classics : Colt Government Classic O1911C in 45 and 38Super. They are NICE! If I was in the market, that's what I'd be getting.
ContinentalOp
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I don't think so. The 1991 was Colt's budget line. They all had "1991" in big numbers roll-marked on the slide and I believe they were parkerized, or maybe had a matte blue finish. And they all had Series 80 firing pin blocks. I know they did a Series 70 Government Model reissue starting in the 2000s, with premium, non-MIM components, I think, then that gave way to the current Classic Government Model, which is a Series 70 gun and incorporates some cost-saving MIM parts, if I'm not mistaken. I've looked at the current Colt website, and I didn't see any models labeled 1991.
I will add that when I got my Colt Government Model in the mid-90s, it came with a plastic trigger and mainspring housing like the 1991, but was roll-marked "Government Model" and had the standard blue finish, IIRC.
4barrel
Member
Another vote for 70 series NM. The earlier the better in blue. They take less than 15 min. to clean.
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I have 3 gov't models and a GC Trophy. I shoot the Trophy more than any of the others because I like the target sights.
If you're going to use it as a night stand gun you may want to consider a model with a rail. That would allow you to put a light on it.
Colt's Manufacturing LLC
If you don't think you want a light a Gold Cup would be my choice. Mostly because I have a lot of range time with both gov't models and a Gold Cup.
If you're going to use it as a night stand gun you may want to consider a model with a rail. That would allow you to put a light on it.
Colt's Manufacturing LLC
If you don't think you want a light a Gold Cup would be my choice. Mostly because I have a lot of range time with both gov't models and a Gold Cup.
ContinentalOp
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Good point. Personally, I'm not a fan of railed 1911s, but for me they're range guns, not defensive guns. From a pragmatic point of view, a rail is something to consider, but I wouldn't consider it essential, either.
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1911
You can't go wrong with any of your choices. One of my favorites is a "C" prefix, made in 1949. It started its life as a plain Government Model but, went through an AMU unit for an accuracy job and got an after market, adjustable Micro rear sight. It shoots great and was the first firearm that I ever had refinished. It wears Walter Birdsongs "Black Tea" finish.
I have a series 70 Gold Cup and although it is accurate, the older "Black Colt" is its equal.
You can't go wrong with any of your choices. One of my favorites is a "C" prefix, made in 1949. It started its life as a plain Government Model but, went through an AMU unit for an accuracy job and got an after market, adjustable Micro rear sight. It shoots great and was the first firearm that I ever had refinished. It wears Walter Birdsongs "Black Tea" finish.
I have a series 70 Gold Cup and although it is accurate, the older "Black Colt" is its equal.
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ContinentalOp
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After I posted that this morning, I got curious, and got out my 1911s. They have the standard Colt thumb safety. After thousands of rounds of live fire, and many more times of dry fire "rounds," I can't recall a time when I failed to disengage the thumb safety. After working with it a while, I realized that the main point of contact with my thumb is actually about the same size as the Wiley Clapp thumb safety. So, I'm going to revise my opinion slightly. I think it would be fine as-is, but until I get the chance to handle one, I think I'd still prefer something bigger, especially on a defensive pistol.
I'm sure you're all relieved to hear that.
Boy, is the OP confused even more.
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