My old Colt 1911a1 is sweet but my P220 Equinox has become my favorite.
My favorite 45
- Thread starter ladder13
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4barrel
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Having both .45 Colt and .45 ACP here it is only fair to have two favorites one for each caliber. 
MetalMan
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4506517
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Ok, I'm not much of a 1911 fan, but thats probably the coolest one I've seen. I love stainless pistols with black grips.
Whats the difference between Series 80, Series 70, MKIV, Government Model, 1991A1, Gold Cup, Defender, Commander, Combat Commander, etc.
I'm going to guess the Defender, Commander, and Combat Commander are shorter.
Is there a link or a short explanation somewhere I can educate myself?
Ladder, I have come back and salivated over that picture at least 100 times.
I hope you haven't got me hooked onto something new.
I'm pretty much in love with that pistol.
Whats the difference between Series 80, Series 70, MKIV, Government Model, 1991A1, Gold Cup, Defender, Commander, Combat Commander, etc.
I'm going to guess the Defender, Commander, and Combat Commander are shorter.
Is there a link or a short explanation somewhere I can educate myself?
Ladder, I have come back and salivated over that picture at least 100 times.
I hope you haven't got me hooked onto something new.
I'm pretty much in love with that pistol.
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.357magger
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ContinentalOp
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Offhand, I can't think of a single source. This was stuff I learned over time. You might want to try places like Wikipedia. There are also 1911-specific forums. You could probably search in this subforum for threads on 1911 recommendations. There are also books out there on the history and development of the 1911, as well as numerous YouTube videos.
I'll try to give a quick summary...
Stop laughing...
Series 70 vs Series 80. While there are more details, most people who use the terms nowadays refer to 1911s without firing pin safeties as Series 70 and guns with trigger-activated firing pin safeties as Series 80. Series 70 can also refer to Colt 1911s produced in the 1970s that used collet bushings, barrel bushings with springy tabs instead of the solid steel bushings that are pretty much universal today (though some modern guns have bushing-less designs). Series 80 guns originated from Colt in the early 1980s as the first 1911s with firing pin safeties (I think) and a return to solid bushings.
There are also Schwartz (sp?) firing pin safeties that are activated by the grip safety, but they're less common. Kimber and S&W are the only ones I can think of offhand that either use them now or have used them before.
Sizes. Government Model refers to the full-size guns with 5" barrels. Commander refers to guns with full-size frames and 4.25" barrels (or thereabouts). Officer Model refers to guns with shorter frames (1 round less capacity) and 3.5" barrels (or thereabouts). While these names are specific to Colt 1911s, they're sometimes used as general terms when describing 1911s by other makers.
Defender, I believe, is a Colt-specific model that is a tiny bit smaller than the Officer Model, if I'm not mistaken.
There is also the CCO, which is a Commander-length slide/barrel assembly on an Officer Model frame, the advantage being a shorter frame for easier concealment but a longer slide/barrel for improved shootability and reliability.
Gold Cup is a Colt-specific model target version of the 1911, with adjustable sights.
1991A1 was Colt's budget line in the 1990s. They were Series 80 guns with parkerized finishes and none of the bells-and-whistles that are often standard on currently-produced 1911s.
Commander vs Combat Commander. Originally, the Commander was Colt's term for the aluminum alloy-framed Commander and Combat Commander was the term for steel-framed Commanders. I think nowadays most people will specify the aluminum alloy-framed model as a Lightweight Commander and the steel-framed model as either a Commander or Combat Commander.
I don't know the meaning of the MKIV label.
Clear as mud?
Hopefully I've covered the basics, and someone will correct me if I've made an error somewhere. I should add that there are a number of 1911 aficionados who get very picky about the terminology used and don't like the generalizations that are common nowadays. I'm not one of them.
Be warned. Getting interested in 1911s can draw you into the rabbit's hole. You may never be the same again.
ContinentalOp
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I was hatched in 45 and have a 45 with 123 <John Moses Browning birthday>And my dads initials was J.M.
Nice 1911.
Quick question: Is that grip tape or stippling on the front strap? Just curious.
DWalt
Member
"There are also Schwartz (sp?) firing pin safeties that are activated by the grip safety, but they're less common. Kimber and S&W are the only ones I can think of offhand that either use them now or have used them before."
It's spelled Swartz. Colt made up a relatively small number so equipped in .38 Super just prior to WWII. Those are extremely desirable. Allegedly they went to the OSS. It basically locked the firing pin unless the grip safety was squeezed. I think the S&W 1911 and the Kimber II still have them. But the Swartz Safety has the potential problem of locking the firing pin when you don't want it locked if the timing is off.
It's spelled Swartz. Colt made up a relatively small number so equipped in .38 Super just prior to WWII. Those are extremely desirable. Allegedly they went to the OSS. It basically locked the firing pin unless the grip safety was squeezed. I think the S&W 1911 and the Kimber II still have them. But the Swartz Safety has the potential problem of locking the firing pin when you don't want it locked if the timing is off.
4barrel
Member
I've also had a rekindling of interest in the 1911 lately. I've got two of them. I took them shooting a couple of months ago for the first time in over 20 years. Really enjoyable. While I've preferred DA guns for carry/self defense for several years now, I've been carrying one of them, a Series 80 Govt Model, around the house for several weeks. Surprisingly easy to carry for an all-steel gun, even in a crappy Uncle Mike's holster.
Of the two, though, my favorite is my 70 Series Gold Cup, worked over by King's Gun Works when they were still a reputable shop. Inherited from my dad, it has too much sentimental value for me to carry it, but it will be seeing some range time as ammo allows.
I've always been a sucker for two-tone 1911s.
Here is another with about the same treatment.
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4barrel
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That is genuine hard to find skate board tape.
Wait wait! Y'all are slipping in .45s that are not 1911s? Cool. Let's hear it for the traditional double action .45 ACP like this CS-45:
This big dude is a SAR K2 C. Made by Sarsilmaz in Turkey and it's a shooter! Not quite a 4" barrel, all steel, fun to shoot. Too big for me to carry but at TEOTWAWKI occurs it's on the front lines for sure.
I'll stick to pistols in .45 ACP. Revolvers are a whole nuthuh smoke....
This big dude is a SAR K2 C. Made by Sarsilmaz in Turkey and it's a shooter! Not quite a 4" barrel, all steel, fun to shoot. Too big for me to carry but at TEOTWAWKI occurs it's on the front lines for sure.
I'll stick to pistols in .45 ACP. Revolvers are a whole nuthuh smoke....
Since the thread title refers to a "favorite .45" (type unspecified), let me offer my Model 22 of 1917, the 1st gun I bought out here after I became a resident. It was a grail gun at the time. Reminds me, it hasn't been to the range for a while; no time like the present.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
P.S. I often (daily!) think about buying a 1911 but the 2 casino 64HBs won't let one in the safe and I handle them better than ANY of my revolvers.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
P.S. I often (daily!
) think about buying a 1911 but the 2 casino 64HBs won't let one in the safe and I handle them better than ANY of my revolvers.
I have nothing "pretty" for sending 45 acp down range. My Colt 1917 and the Ballester-Molina are my two favorites. The Brazilian and the Springfield Armory 1911 A-1 come in second. If I still had my Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8" bbl with the ACP cylinder and beautiful sambar grips it would be my "hands down" favorite - sold it 20 years ago
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The Colt Gold Cup Series 70, (worked over by a custom smith) is my favorite and most accurate shooter,
But my Springfield Armory that I did most of the work on myself gets used nearly as much.
The S&W E Series 45 I had for a few years was O.K. but the Colt and Springfield would always outshoot it.
The Rock Island 45 "Compact" was surprisingly accurate but needed a little enhancement, such as a beaver tail grip safety, better sights, and a trigger job, which made it seem easier to carry, (in a Lobo holster).
But my Springfield Armory that I did most of the work on myself gets used nearly as much.
The S&W E Series 45 I had for a few years was O.K. but the Colt and Springfield would always outshoot it.
The Rock Island 45 "Compact" was surprisingly accurate but needed a little enhancement, such as a beaver tail grip safety, better sights, and a trigger job, which made it seem easier to carry, (in a Lobo holster).
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Miami_JBT
US Veteran
I have a literal pile of .45 Automatics but these are my three favorite. All American Stainless Steel Goodness.
Ruger P90DC
Colt XSE Combat Commander Series 80
S&W Model 4566
Ruger P90DC
Colt XSE Combat Commander Series 80
S&W Model 4566
Old Corp
Member
Still have my first 1911, a rather early Colt Series 70 I bought used in the mid-70's, and paid $175 for it, ANIB from a small-town PD officer in my county.
This was back when, if you wanted a 1911, it was pretty much Colt or nothing, unless you got a GI variant of the other names.
There also wasn't much in the way of aftermarket goodies to put on them at the time. Sights were very much limited. There was 'MMC' which seemed a little chintzy to me.
After putting the near-mandatory for the time Pachmayr grips on it, next thing was good sights.
There was a great 1911-smith a couple hours South of me that some old timers may still remember ('Janos Videcki').
Purchased a S&W K frame adjustable rear sight at the LGS where I was working p/t, got the gun to him, and he milled the slide and fit it and a ramp front into place.
That sight mod was considered 'high speed - low drag' at the time.
When IPSC started up in my area, this was what I used and shot A LOT.
Had a little more work done to it over the years - solid, fitted barrel bushing to replace the collet style, low-profile carry safety, beavertail grip safety, longer LW trigger, hammer change, lowered ejection port, new springs at some point.
Put this set of G10 grips on it when G10's were new!
Having so much confidence in this gun, I regularly carried it OD for years - and any SA auto was against policy.
Have a good number of 1911's, other calibers, Commanders, etc, but this old Government Model is my real keeper.
This was back when, if you wanted a 1911, it was pretty much Colt or nothing, unless you got a GI variant of the other names.
There also wasn't much in the way of aftermarket goodies to put on them at the time. Sights were very much limited. There was 'MMC' which seemed a little chintzy to me.
After putting the near-mandatory for the time Pachmayr grips on it, next thing was good sights.
There was a great 1911-smith a couple hours South of me that some old timers may still remember ('Janos Videcki').
Purchased a S&W K frame adjustable rear sight at the LGS where I was working p/t, got the gun to him, and he milled the slide and fit it and a ramp front into place.
That sight mod was considered 'high speed - low drag' at the time.
When IPSC started up in my area, this was what I used and shot A LOT.
Had a little more work done to it over the years - solid, fitted barrel bushing to replace the collet style, low-profile carry safety, beavertail grip safety, longer LW trigger, hammer change, lowered ejection port, new springs at some point.
Put this set of G10 grips on it when G10's were new!
Having so much confidence in this gun, I regularly carried it OD for years - and any SA auto was against policy.
Have a good number of 1911's, other calibers, Commanders, etc, but this old Government Model is my real keeper.
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