What's the going rate for a basic, brand new Colt 1911?

capp325

capp325

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Every gun enthusiast needs a 1911, right? Well, I'm looking for what will be my first (and most likely only) 1911. Since I don't compete, I figured that a basic model should suffice. I'm also attracted by the idea of getting a genuine Colt because of the history behind it.

So what's the going rate for these guns? I saw a 1991 A1 for $999.00 - is that a fair deal? Also, what't the difference between Series 80 and Series 70? Which one's better?

Finally, does anyone have any experience with recent ptoduction Colts? Is the quality still there?
 
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At the price of the new Colt's, I would look at an STI Trojan, Kimber or Springfield before I paid that kind of money for the Colt, IMHO.
 
tobin said:
At the price of the new Colt's, I would look at an STI Trojan, Kimber or Springfield before I paid that kind of money for the Colt, IMHO.
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+1

While it's nice to have the "name" I too think there's better pistols for the money...
 
I would have to reccomend the Para SSP, if you are looking for a basic single stack/single action 1911. It is one of the best values in a 1911 out there.

The one major thing Para has over every other 1911 company mentioned is that Para-Ordnance is a Canadian based company and their products and support are first rate.
 
STI's are probably good guns, but they look like toys, which doesn't appeal to me (plus they cost quite a bit more than a basic Colt). Springfield quality is too inconsistent from what I hear, plus it's made from cast parts in Brazil. Kimber has also been suffering from poor quality control as of late, if the guys at 1911 forum are to trust. Para Ordnance...I don't even know what to day – of the three different Para's that I’ve shot, every single one experienced malfunctions of some kind – FTF, FTE, slide being almost impossible to rack, etc.

So what's wrong with Colt? Is the quality crap too?

P.S. I just need a basic pistol that will function reliably and be reasonably accurate. I don't need any fancy features like extended this and beveled that.
 
Combat Commander ...Mine was a gift but the ol' man paid around $1300-1500ish (years ago) The fit and finish are great on this pistol and I bet you could hammer nails with it and it would work. My Dad has his Dad's 1911 and it works like a charm still. Never jammed,mis-fed, or anything else and I have put 1000s of rounds through both. My only issue is when the floor plate blew out on one of the oem mags. If your in the Van area let me know as I am at PoCo several times a week and you are welcome to try her out.
 
pitdogboy said:
Combat Commander ...Mine was a gift but the ol' man paid around $1300-1500ish (years ago) The fit and finish are great on this pistol and I bet you could hammer nails with it and it would work. My Dad has his Dad's 1911 and it works like a charm still. Never jammed,mis-fed, or anything else and I have put 1000s of rounds through both. My only issue is when the floor plate blew out on one of the oem mags. If your in the Van area let me know as I am at PoCo several times a week and you are welcome to try her out.
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I appreciate the offer. Unfortunately, I'm nowhere close to Vancouver (I'm in Toronto).
 
If you're honestly looking for the closest thing to a historical WWII 1911 - you should consider a Norinco. The steel is great, and if you ever do decide to make it fancier - you can take the 600-1000 dollars you saved modify it to your heart's content.
 
Mykhaylo said:
If you're honestly looking for the closest thing to a historical WWII 1911 - you should consider a Norinco. The steel is great, and if you ever do decide to make it fancier - you can take the 600-1000 dollars you saved modify it to your heart's content.
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I'd like a gun that works properly right out of the box. Good build quality is also a must. I'd rather spend $1000 on a good gun and enjoy it then buy a $400 Norinco and spend $600 trying to turn it into a decent pistol.
 
I hear ya there...BUT there is a Norc in the EE just posted. I had the chance to shoot it and I must say it is nice. The trigger was done to perfection...Better than my Colt (not for long though) I know the guy selling it and he is a good guy.

That being said...its still a norc. :rolleyes: Yes, I am a gun snob;)
 
ajax said:
i also just got a new gold cup trophy in stainless and the quality is great as
well as its accuracy!!!
you cant go wrong with colt!!
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That's what I heard too. After doing some research, it seems that the NRM (New Roll Mark) guns are some of the best 1911's ever made by Colt. And Colt still makes them the old way – each gun is hand-fitted on a bench by a gunsmith, instead of the assembly line method use by most other manufacturers. Colt also uses primarily high quality forged and barstock parts, as opposed to, say, Kimber and Springfield, which are full of MIM and cast parts.

By the way, feel free to post pics of your new Gold Cup.
 
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Get an Armco prepped 1911. It will cost you less then half what a Colt will and it's just as good as far as accuracy and reliability goes. Armco also does a trigger job on it and guarantees their work for a year. I put 300 rounds through mine last weekend without a hiccup. The Norincos also appear to have an excellent resale value here on the board so if you decide you don't like it's easy to get most of your money back out of it.
 
IShootHostages said:
Get an Armco prepped 1911. It will cost you less then half what a Colt will and it's just as good as far as accuracy and reliability goes. Armco also does a trigger job on it and guarantees their work for a year. I put 300 rounds through mine last weekend without a hiccup. The Norincos also appear to have an excellent resale value here on the board so if you decide you don't like it's easy to get most of your money back out of it.
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Norinco is not an option. See my response to Mykhailo above.

Besides, even if they were making the damn finest 1911 in the world and selling it for five bucks, I wouldn't buy one. I do everything I can to avoid buying Chicom products, and I sure as hell am not gonna give my money to a company owned by the Chinese government. It's a matter of principle.
 
The series 80 came out around 1990 and is modified to include a firing pin block. This causes the trigger to be spongy but can be fixed with shims etc. It also is modified to feed semi wad cutters etc. and the grip safety is lengthend. If you can get a colt buy a colt.
 
capp325 said:
That's what I heard too. After doing some research, it seems that the NRM (New Roll Mark) guns are some of the best 1911's ever made by Colt. And Colt still makes them the old way – each gun is hand-fitted on a bench by a gunsmith, instead of the assembly line method use by most other manufacturers. Colt also uses primarily high quality forged and barstock parts, as opposed to, say, Kimber and Springfield, which are full of MIM and cast parts.

By the way, feel free to post pics of your new Gold Cup.
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I think you want a Colt!
 
Capp325, my old man had 2 Colts (Gov. & Commander) that I grew up with. I was high on Colt all my life until STI came along. Most of the STI's don't look like a regular plain jane 1911, but take a look at the Lawman, all the mods you need without any of the fat . I got mine last summer, it costs a little more (PM me) but let me tell you it's WELL worth the money. Tight and smooth as can be. Sean at Freedom Ventures is a pleasure to deal with too.

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Capp Stick to your instincts! The Colt will appreciate far more than a Kimber, Para or STI ever will. The "johnny come latelys" of today are for the most part decent guns, but I have never had a real Colt 1911 fail me. I now own 7 of them earliest was made in 1918, and it saw me personally through 2 tours in Nam. My others are 70s and 80s all which I shoot LOTS!!!
I agree the Norinco stuff is crap, many guys buy them and they do shoot, make no mistake, but at the end of the day it is still chinese junk. The sheer volume of guys I get asking to have Norcs made to work, by respringing, tuneing, smoothing etc makes me wonder why they would buy this stuff in the first place.
Call me a snob, but Colt means quality, always has , always will.
I seldom see bidding wars over all the others, go to an auction where Colts are being sold and get educated about what "really" is worth the money
 
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