Opinions requested on Colt M1911's

[Warren Sear]

You said Colts, but take a good look at the tisas, Turkish import 1911's. All forged steel, and they have a WW2 GI clone. Fit and finish is better than a new Colt Comp model. (My 2 cents worth). I have 2 9mm's and a 45. Can't go wrong with them.

Keep in mind that the Tisas "1911" pistols are not mil spec. Internals especially. If that is important to you.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[AJ]

The OP stated Colt M1911's. So why do folks insist on throwing other makes into the discussion?

 

[SuperMan]

Look for a 1950s or 60s vintage standard Government Model .45 ACP. In .45 they can usually be found from from $1500-2500 in excellent condition.

I just like the simple original roll marks vs the bill boards that Colt put on the Series 70s and 80s guns.

I've got a 1968 that I had BoMar sights added to and have a matching .22 Conversion Unit...great shooter...

Look on GunBroker and look at the different slide markings and finishes...

Bob

 

[peterdeb]

Thank you everyone for your opinion, advise and pictures. To clarify, I have several 1944 Remington Rands, a Charles Daly and a Tisas gov't., all have a parkerized like finish.
What I am in the market for is a beautiful, blued Colt. The pony bit me. It seems, by pictures on GB, the newer Colts have the same dull, dark finish. Not what I want. The earlier produced, 1950's - 1960's, you can tell it is a polished blue, but it is a 60-70 year old pistol with its own handling marks. The late 70's production have the "billboard" roll mark and I can't tell, by the pictures, the degree of polished blue.
Thanks again and I will continue the search as my safe is crying for one.

 

[Warren Sear]

The OP stated Colt M1911's. So why do folks insist on throwing other makes into the discussion?

Just an added service at no extra charge!

As long as you were getting pissy about it, you could have noted that Colt has not made 1911 pistols since the 1920s or 1911A1 pistols since the end of WWII; all the ones they made since then were properly termed "Government Models" or something similar.

 

[AJ]

Just an added service at no extra charge!

As long as you were getting pissy about it, you could have noted that Colt has not made 1911 pistols since the 1920s or 1911A1 pistols since the end of WWII; all the ones they made since then were properly termed "Government Models" or something similar.

Wasn't getting pissy about anything. The man asked about Colts, not the other pistols that are basically copies of what J.M.Browning designed for Colt. All the Colt pistols are an evolution of the first pistol off the line in 1911. That is until the Series 80 with the firing pin block designed. He is very correct about the finishes, the Colt Royal Blue is a thing of beauty.

Sent you a PM.

 

[Retired W4]

Just an added service at no extra charge!

As long as you were getting pissy about it, you could have noted that Colt has not made 1911 pistols since the 1920s or 1911A1 pistols since the end of WWII; all the ones they made since then were properly termed "Government Models" or something similar.

Colt's use of the name Government Model goes back to 1912 through 1941, and beyond, according to The Man, Charles W. Clawson. See Chapter Seven of his book "Colt .45 Government Models (Commercial)", 2nd Ed.

 

[AJ]

Thank you everyone for your opinion, advise and pictures. To clarify, I have several 1944 Remington Rands, a Charles Daly and a Tisas gov't., all have a parkerized like finish.
What I am in the market for is a beautiful, blued Colt. The pony bit me. It seems, by pictures on GB, the newer Colts have the same dull, dark finish. Not what I want. The earlier produced, 1950's - 1960's, you can tell it is a polished blue, but it is a 60-70 year old pistol with its own handling marks. The late 70's production have the "billboard" roll mark and I can't tell, by the pictures, the degree of polished blue.
Thanks again and I will continue the search as my safe is crying for one.

Lots of nice stuff on GB. However, defects can be hidden in pictures. You live here in Florida, lots of good gun shows here. At the gun shops you can pick them up and look them over(read fondle). If I were looking to spend some hard earned money on a real nice one that is what I would do. My local gun shop gets a lot of nice estate pieces in to drool over. I bought my original Series 70 Gold Cup National Match in .45ACP and a Colt Conversion Unit in .22 LR there about 10 or so years ago for $1000 OTD, sadly no boxes.

 

[Warren Sear]

Colt's use of the name Government Model goes back to 1912 through 1941, and beyond, according to The Man, Charles W. Clawson. See Chapter Seven of his book "Colt .45 Government Models (Commercial)", 2nd Ed.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[Bosquebass]

Was the highly polished Royal Blue treatment standard on Colts automatics at one time? If so, when did it end?
I ask because I have a Government that I bought new in 1985 and it has what I would call a lightly brushed blue on the flats and sandblast blue on the rounds. It's polished sure enough but not to a high degree.

 

[rockquarry]

Was the highly polished Royal Blue treatment standard on Colts automatics at one time? If so, when did it end?
I ask because I have a Government that I bought new in 1985 and it has what I would call a lightly brushed blue on the flats and sandblast blue on the rounds. It's polished sure enough but not to a high degree.

I have a 1955 that I think was converted to a race gun (not a competitor and not sure what the definition of a race gun is). It still has a very polished mirror blue finish that appears factory (too perfect to be refinished), so they were still doing these fine blue jobs in '55.

 

[rockquarry]

This thread has me considering a new Gold Cup and a new plain Colt Classic.

 

[AJ]

Was the highly polished Royal Blue treatment standard on Colts automatics at one time? If so, when did it end?
I ask because I have a Government that I bought new in 1985 and it has what I would call a lightly brushed blue on the flats and sandblast blue on the rounds. It's polished sure enough but not to a high degree.

From what I can find on the internet, the Royal Blue stopped about 1985. About the same time as they stopped the high polishing of their guns. If I am wrong someone will let us know.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

The Royal Blue as a standard finish ended with the discontinuance the classic Python in the early 2000s. It was available as a “Python finish” or “high polish” on other guns as a special order. Some Gold Cups received the finish and the Single Action Army still have the finish available.

Colt can still do the Royal Blue through the Custom Shop…but it costs bigly due to the time and talent involved.

 

[Bosquebass]

Colt MKIII

Around 1981 I bought a new Trooper MKIII. That revolver had a great deep blue finish that was different than what S&W put out at the time and Troopers weren't one of Colt's high end guns. I guess that was just the standard finish in those days but it was nice looking.

 

[Puller]

I had a hankering for a new 1911 last fall and went on the hunt for a new Colt. Cost was of little concern and I knew I'd probably pay a premium for a nice new Colt, but after hitting 8 or 9 gun shops around the area and getting to hold several new Colt 1911's side by side with others brands, I found there wasn't anything special about a Colt. I actually came away with a new Tisas and have been very impressed and pleased with it.

 

[dsf]

Thank you everyone for your opinion, advise and pictures. To clarify, I have several 1944 Remington Rands, a Charles Daly and a Tisas gov't., all have a parkerized like finish.

What I am in the market for is a beautiful, blued Colt. The pony bit me. It seems, by pictures on GB, the newer Colts have the same dull, dark finish. Not what I want. The earlier produced, 1950's - 1960's, you can tell it is a polished blue, but it is a 60-70 year old pistol with its own handling marks. The late 70's production have the "billboard" roll mark and I can't tell, by the pictures, the degree of polished blue.
Thanks again and I will continue the search as my safe is crying for one.

Agree re the matte finished Colts.

You'll find one that fits your bill, I have no doubt. Here's the best way to go about it -

Visit a LGS for no particular reason. To grab a box of 22s, ran out of Hoppes. The more incidental to no great need the better. I guarantee if you do that a few times, you'll find your gun.

Extra points for being low on cash and the wife frowning at your credit card purchases.

FWIW, not a full size government model but a 1967 made in excellent condition.



IIRC I stopped by the store to buy nothing, just invite a friend to dinner after he closed up for the day.

Some of the later models are well done but the roll marks aren't quite as nice. I think the rollmark on this 90's model was applied by Jack Elam ....

 

[walter o]

Well i have 10 COLTS 1911 in different barrel lengths .And for a machine and design in 1900 they have gon through some improvements ,mostly in metallurgy also in minor tweaking of parts.The clones now on the market have taken advantage of
the known improvements on their models.We all should know by this age nothing in a 1911 is a drop in replacement part ,that holds for factory assemblers. Some new guns are just a little off perfect others are right on .I know enough to tune a 1911 to smooth out some minor problems and enough to have a professional fix some.I just bought a NEW COLT COMPETITION and NO tweaking was necessary.
uuWe all love our S&W but once and a while a bad one slips through, that does not change my mind COLTS are an icon just like S&W
so if you want a 1911 get the COLT.for the record i also other brands of 1911 none in the $2,000 range they all work to perfection NOW

 

[peterdeb]

Thank you one and all for your opinions, observations and recommendations. These in depth replies gave me the information to make an informed purchase.
I bought one off GunsAmerica. It is a beauty, made in 1966, pre-70, for what I consider a fair price. Highly polished as one of the comments said that 50's and 60's 1911's have that Colt bluing.
It is exactly what I was looking for and cheaper that what was listed on GB. I finally have my Government model Colt M1911.
Thanks again for your help.
Pete

 

[stansdds]

Thank you one and all for your opinions, observations and recommendations. These in depth replies gave me the information to make an informed purchase.
I bought one off GunsAmerica. It is a beauty, made in 1966, pre-70, for what I consider a fair price. Highly polished as one of the comments said that 50's and 60's 1911's have that Colt bluing.
It is exactly what I was looking for and cheaper that what was listed on GB. I finally have my Government model Colt M1911.
Thanks again for your help.
Pete

Very nice! The old Colt blued finish is a marvel to behold.