S&W 1911 or Colt 70 Series

03Fatboy

03Fatboy

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My LGS has a S&W1911(stainless with black accents) and a Colt 70 series (Blue) for sale. The colt is $775 and the S&W is $875. They both have been shot very little, both say 98%. The colt is original (really nice) with no box though and one mag and the S&W comes with a box and all paperwork and extra mag. Looking for my first 1911, what should I do? It will be for range plinking primarily, but I'm hoping for the straight scoop and not S&W bias, ob course. Can I go wrong either way, I will likely have this for a long time?
Thanks and appreciate you help.
 
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Hmm that's a hard choice. If the S&W were new with the Lifetime Warranty intact, I would consider that, but a 70 series Colt is really hard to pass up. Which gun did you find more attractive? I think this one will come down to looks and personal preference.

Now to the prices specifically. Neither would make me pull my wallet out. I could get a new Colt or S&W at my local shop for that price range, or a fully loaded Springfield.

Have you looked at Springfield models for your first 1911? Huge bang for the buck with SA, they make great guns.
 
As much as I love S&W, when it comes to a .45 semi-auto , go for the Colt. IME the Colt will hold it's value a shade better than the S&W.
 
A little used 70 Series Colt at that price?...

A no brainer. Gotta' go with the Colt for sure.
 
Thanks all for your input. I haven't tried to negotiate yet with the dealer. The colt is original as far as i can tell and it shows really no signs of wear, doesn't seem to be shot as what it was made for. The S&W is advertised as 50 rounds thru it and also seems mint! I really like both but prefer blue guns and the budget is limited. If the choice, which would you go for? The smith seems to have the bells and whistle but the colt seems to say just shoot me, I'm all business and don't need all the other stuff. What do you guys think of the price points? Should I try and haggle? What is a fair price for both? IMHO the smith seems a tad high. Thanks again,
 
Is the Colt configured like you want it, ie, beavertail, good sights, etc.?
Also, if the Colt is a plain Government Model, the S&W is likely to be more accurate. Adding the whistles and bells to the Colt will cost a lot more than the difference in price. A NEW series 70 Colt, ie current production, will likely have comparable accuracy and bells and whistles.
 
ill take the colt, blued 70's. actually im bout to sell a xd to fund a colt commander. i already have a SA 1911, but i want a blued 4.25" colt too. if i get a chance, i would like to have it bob tailed.
 
The 70 Series Colt at $775 is a deal, and will hold its value MUCH better than a S&W 1911. It will also probably be a much better pistol than the Smith, comprable bells and whistles or no (John Browning included all the bells and whistles you need in the original design). When you have a 70 Series, Commercial or GI Colt, you have what every other wannabe 1911 wants to be.
 
Buy the Colt and buy it now.
In CA, that guns worth $100 to $200 more than what they're asking. I'd actually be suprised if it's still there.
In fact, I looked at a series 70 Colt yesterday for $775 and almost bought it. Probably the same one you're looking out. If I didn't already have two, I would have bought it.
 
Dump1567 said:
Buy the Colt and buy it now.
In CA, that guns worth $100 to $200 more than what they're asking. I'd actually be suprised if it's still there.
In fact, I looked at a series 70 Colt yesterday for $775 and almost bought it. Probably the same one you're looking out. If I didn't already have two, I would have bought it.
Click to expand...

Yep, same one! I'll call Monday morning, if they still have it I will likely buy it. With the way my luck has been lately it will be sold. You win some and you lose some....
 
03Fatboy said:
Yep, same one! I'll call Monday morning, if they still have it I will likely buy it. With the way my luck has been lately it will be sold. You win some and you lose some....
Click to expand...

If you get it, you may want to change the collet bushing for a standard one (you can buy one direct from Colt).

Also, your free to do whatever you want with your gun. But I would recommend to keep it stock (except for the bushing) and just enjoy it as a shooter. There's plenty of modified series 70's out there already. For re-sale value, any mods you do will just decrease the value. Especially in CA where you can't get these shipped in. You may also want to keep it away from a holster. Polished blue finishes are getting harder to come by these days.
Just my thoughts as a purist.;)

Here's one of mine. And I like shooting it better than a lot of bells and whistle 1911's I've owned.

DSC04298.jpg
 
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Out of those choices I would take the Colt. Out of any gun out there right now I would get the Ruger. It is stainless and very nice. It also has every upgrade you need and none you don't. Ruger has done an outstanding job with their 1911 and they are not expensive.
 
pass on both

First criteria is fully adjustable rear sights. think gold cup.
Ain't nothing worse for me than the bullet not hitting where the sights are aiming.
2nd, Full SSteel. Ain't nothing worse than rust. 20years from now, and a buff job-- Like having a new friend.
 
I've owned a number of 1911s, including S&W and Colt. One of my favorites is my SW1911 model 108282. Mine is the later edition with the small roll mark, not the huge bill board. I think the price on the S&W you mention is too high, for a used pistol. It is, however, a very accurate and reliable pistol. Some people don't like the external extractor, but S&W seems to have mastered it, where Kimber could not, and it works well on the SW1911 (besides, almost all non-1911 pistols have external extractors.)

The Colt seems to be a good price...but, as others have mentioned, is it configured the way you are going to enjoy shooting? If not, and you plan to add a beaver tail grip safety, commander style hammer, and three hole trigger, which are common modifications made, then you will have more to invest. (I don't like hammer bite, so all my 1911s have the beaver tail safety and the other mods I have mentioned.) Of course, many people prefer the GI style, and in a series 70 Colt you won't have the firing pin safety system that many don't care for. The number of magazines aren't a consideration, since you should buy new (and better) magazines anyway...I like Wilson Combat mags, personally.
 
I'm the kind of guy that prefers my wheel guns from S&W, no lock, no mim. For flat guns, a traditional 1911 rocks. If I had to have a standard 70 series pistol it would have to say "Colt", my personal choice is a Les Baer but that's comparing apples to oranges.

I learned to shoot with a Colt 1911 when I was 12, 42 years ago & while I really appreciate S&W revos, nothing beats them for me.

As many of the others have said, get the Colt. Good luck.
 
Decker said:
A little used 70 Series Colt at that price?...

A no brainer. Gotta' go with the Colt for sure.
Click to expand...

DITTO ! ! ! The Colt will hold it's value and the '70 Series guns are much sought after. ANYTHING other than a Colt 1911, is merely a copy........
 
I would buy the Colt, but ONLY if you "have to have a 1911" and are getting your second or third pistol in that type.
I would NOT, however, recommend the Colt if it's your very first 1911. I think it's like a teenager with cars: you will not be able to leave it alone, and if you're going to hose it up, do it with something besides your beautiful Colt.
 
I think it's actually a crime (or at least 7 years bad luck) to pass up a 70 series Colt, ever, for any reason.

But what you'll do with it is another matter.

In that regard I'll tell you; you never know how it'll shoot 'till you shoot it.

I've had lots of 1911s over 35 years of shooting: Colts, Springfield, S&W, Kimbers, modified, way modified, and stock.

A few years ago I bought a fairly beat up, used, 1991 series 80 as a base gun for a Ted Yost build. At the last minute I changed it for an even more beat up 1911 70 series I stumbled across.

When I got the 1991 back unmodified I shot it and guess what? It shoots like a rifle! Stock! Same chezey plastic trigger, crappy beat up finish, stock bushing, crown, slight creep in the trigger, etc.

The only thing I added was a piece of skateboard tape on the frontstrap, 18.5# spring, and I changed the rear sight (for a Harrison Retro) when it was so loose it started moving in the dovetail.

Don't get me wrong I love my Yost (so sweet!) and all the rest, including my old pin gun built on an essex frame, Clark barrel, S&W adjustable rear sights, and a Hogue beavertail (installed by Jim Hogue himself!).

...but that lowly, stock, 1991 shoots better than some and within 10% of the best.

/c
 
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We'll I bought the Colt! I overly estimated the condition, but it's a bit better than 90%, some handling marks and idiot mark, two mags, no rust, nice bluing, nice original grips and a clean bore. The seller had some flexibility in the price so OTD at $790, I ain't complaining. As a first it should be a fun shooter for general range fun. Seems like a solid 1911. If bells and whistles are wanted later I guess another would be in order, at this time it stays as is....Thanks all!
 
Congrats on your new Colt!
I have only passed on one "great deal" Colt 1911, and this was because not only did it have the idiot mark, but it was DEEP.
Enjoy your pistol!
 
03Fatboy said:
My LGS has a S&W1911(stainless with black accents) and a Colt 70 series (Blue) for sale. The colt is $775 and the S&W is $875. They both have been shot very little, both say 98%. The colt is original (really nice) with no box though and one mag and the S&W comes with a box and all paperwork and extra mag. Looking for my first 1911, what should I do? It will be for range plinking primarily, but I'm hoping for the straight scoop and not S&W bias, ob course. Can I go wrong either way, I will likely have this for a long time?
Thanks and appreciate you help.
Click to expand...


Since you live in CA I need to correct some information. The Colt is NOT an orginal series 70 it is the Colt 1991 version with MIM parts. That Colt does not hold the same value as the pre 1991 Colts. New in the box that Colt can be purchased from Buds and others for 850. The S&W will hold the price better.
 
luis said:
Since you live in CA I need to correct some information. The Colt is NOT an orginal series 70 it is the Colt 1991 version with MIM parts. That Colt does not hold the same value as the pre 1991 Colts. New in the box that Colt can be purchased from Buds and others for 850. The S&W will hold the price better.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Colt he bought was an original series 70 from 1981. It was used and brought into the shop and sold on consignment.
 
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