1911

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turkeestalker

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My oldest son turns 21 this coming June, and his gift from me will be his first hand gun. He has always been enamored with the original 1911s for the nostalgia of it all, but that is one pistol that I've never personally owned. So my question is this....
To me it seems that there are a myriad of choices out there, but which current production Colt is the closest to the original?
 
If you are willing to shop around a bit, there are some Centennial models that are very close in appearance to the original M1911/Government Models.
I don't think they are still in production, but you can still find NIB examples.
The closest to the original among current production models would be the Series 70 Government Model, O1970A1CS.
 
I own a couple of weapons solely for the sake of nostalgia, so I'm no stranger to your son's inclination. But it might be instructive to take him some place where he can actually shoot a 1911(A1) extensively, and see if his interest in one remains. It'd be a shame to spend money on a pistol for him that he cannot shoot to his satisfaction, or in which his fascination has waned.
 
You will have a hard time finding a true 1911 reproduction these days. If you can find one I would look for a WWI Reproduction in Carbonia Blue or the Black Oxide gun.

They can be found in LNIB or NIB condition but you will pay. This is a carbonia blue WWI reproduction.





The other option is the 100 year anniversary Tier III Colts which can be had from CDNN for $1200

COLO1911ANVIII.jpg

http://www.cdnnsports.com/colt-1911-45acp-100th-anniversary-blue.html#.Vk5hMeKAapA
 
turkeestalker said:
My oldest son turns 21 this coming June, and his gift from me will be his first hand gun. He has always been enamored with the original 1911s for the nostalgia of it all, but that is one pistol that I've never personally owned. So my question is this....

To me it seems that there are a myriad of choices out there, but which current production Colt is the closest to the original?
Click to expand...


By original do you mean the 1911 or 1911A1? Might be worth trying to sneak that info out of him.
 
I appreciate the information guys, very much. My son is not a stranger to the platform, I do own one Kimber which he has shot extensively and absolutely loves. It is a 4" barrel with the shorter 7 round magazines, and he has expressed that he would like a full size pistol. I was looking at Colt simply because they are the original.
I was in fact eyeing a 70 series, a Mk IV Government. It is in essence an A1 because of the curve of the backstrap. It has the 5" barrel but the capacity is only 7 in the magazine like my Kimber. Is it actually a shorter grip compared to what I thought was traditionally the standard of 8 rounds?
 
Your Kimber, and any Colt Government model will accept 8 round magazines which fit flush with the bottom of the grip. The 8 round magazine has a shorter follower in height in order to allow that 8th round.

Some folks like them, some don't. Its always a good idea to test any magazine you put in your pistol to ensure that it works correctly with the ammo style of your choice.

I have a Gold Cup Trophy Match, a National Match and a Government model and all of them function correctly with Colt supplied or Shooting Star magazines, FWIW.
 
The 7 round magazine was standard military issue. My new Gold Cup National Match, Trophy Match and Government model all came with one 7 and one 8 round magazine.
 
I appreciate the information guys, very much. My son is not a stranger to the platform, I do own one Kimber which he has shot extensively and absolutely loves. It is a 4" barrel with the shorter 7 round magazines, and he has expressed that he would like a full size pistol. I was looking at Colt simply because they are the original.
I was in fact eyeing a 70 series, a Mk IV Government. It is in essence an A1 because of the curve of the backstrap. It has the 5" barrel but the capacity is only 7 in the magazine like my Kimber. Is it actually a shorter grip compared to what I thought was traditionally the standard of 8 rounds?
Click to expand...
The "backstrap" (really the mainspring housing) can be easily replaced with a straight style, as used on the original M1911. The major difference between the M1911 and the M1911A1 that can't be changed is the "scallop" relief cuts just behind the trigger on the A1 version. The shape of the grip safety tang is also a bit fatter on the A1, but those can also be changed.

As others have correctly commented, the original M1911 (and all 1911s up to whenever Colt introduced the Officers ACP model) had 7-round magazines. That's what's traditional -- it's the 8-round type that's non-traditional. In fact, I believe some Colts still come with 7-round magazines. The difference is in the follower design and the spring. You can interchange between 7-round and 8-round magazines in the same pistol.
 
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Alright, got the rifles in for their Christmas, now time to go back to thinking about June's gift.

I have had the chance to discretely work the boy in conversation for information. It seems he'd rather have a stainless model so he's obviously not as concerned about the authenticity factor as I first believed him to be. That or he's simply changed his thinking... kids! ;)

Locally there is a fella with a 70 series stainless NIB that has the hump in the mainspring housing and wood grip panels. It is beautiful and my son has handled that pistol with a spark in his eyes so I've no doubt he would be happy.
The fella that I secured their rifles from has a '1991' stainless NIB with a flat mainspring housing (I like the flat better myself), with composite grip panels. Not certain if my son is concerned about the wood panel vs. composite or not but I'll find out. His price shipped is $150 less than the local one, add my $20 fee for a transfer and $130 bucks is $130 bucks not accounting for the sales tax savings.
My question is this... aside from the composite vs. wood grip panels and the firing pin safety, what are the real differences in these two stainless pistols?
 
Something else that kind of surprised me when he and I were out wasting a rainy day and hitting local stores....
One of the three local big box stores had no Colts, just every other manufacturer under the sun. I asked why they had no Colts and the salesman, (gun counter attendant as it seems in these places), said simply that, " we can't get any more because they quit making them"!!!
Squeeze me?? Did I miss something???
I understand about Colt's financial woes, but they're not going out of business are they?
 
Colt seems to have been going ouf of business for years, google it and you will have days worth of reading. Yes they are still producing firearms, my 1911 should be in my LGS early this week. Look on line, I ordered mine from Buds, you will most likely get a better price anyway.
 
Turkeestalker said:
My question is this... aside from the composite vs. wood grip panels and the firing pin safety, what are the real differences in these two stainless pistols?
Click to expand...
Mechanically there is no difference aside from the firing pin safety in the 1991 models. Since a well-respected firearms expert named Walt Kuleck has conducted drop tests to prove conclusively that a 1911 without a firing pin safety WILL fire if dropped from as little as three feet, more and more of us have seen the light and begun favoring the firing pin safety. Grips can be changed (and probably will anyway, so don't obsess over those), and the flat and arched mainspring housings are also easily swapped.

Unless he has expressed a preference for no firing pin safety, I'd get him the 1991.
 
Came late to the party..............

Has he shot a 1911 without a beaver tail? Even though I think the A1 looks cool, and has nostalgia, I can't shoot it without bleeding. Any 1911 I shoot HAS to have a beaver tail.
 
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