Colt 1991A1

I bought mine about 6 or 7 years ago. After getting over the plastic trigger and mainspring housing, plus some rough machining on the frame near the grip safety, I consider it more or less worth the bucks I put into it. Took a couple of hundred rounds to break it from occassional stovepipe jams. I have added an inexpensive compensator and a full length recoil spring rod just for fun. If I were buying today I would probably put a little more money in and go for a Springfield, Kimber or maybe the new Para LDA 14-45.
 
Great base gun for customization. If you want a reliable 1911 that goes bang, it's good for that too. If you want a tack driver, look at other makes.

If you decide to go with the 1991, at the very least, ditch the plastic trigger and cheap sights.

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Son
1911 Addiction
"Rangers Lead the Way!"
 
A 1991A1 is one of my favorite guns. Mine is far from stock, but like mentioned above, they make a good gun to start with. You can customize later. My Commander model is still a little on the heavy side, but I love the way it feels in a holster. I will put up with a little extra weight for a gun that fits the hand well, and shoots well. I also carry a customized Defender.....but when I can dress to conceal my 1991, I would rather carry it!
CJB

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" I SHOOT BACK! "
 
Other than the plastic trigger and mainspring housing, I like the 1991A1. All things considered, it's the closest thing on the market to Colt's original 1911. Since the "originality" of the gun particularly appeals to me, I don't modify my 1991A1s. Of my three (.45, .38 Super, and 9mm), the only problem I've encountered was a weak extractor in the 9mm. Colt's service department repaired it.

Having said the above, it's my experience that 1991A1 quality is not consistent, although I haven't seen one that was really bad. So maybe part of the reason I've had good luck with mine is that I picked them very carefully.

YMMV.
 
I love mine it hasn't jammed on anything other than my faulty reloads. Its the first handgun i ever bought. I got it for about$375 from a guy in mint condition. I'm not sure if i want to carry it yet. I actually placed a post a few lines down from this one on "The Hazards of Carrying a 1911" even though i own a 1991A1. It seems to be a hot topic but so many people love this gun type and its design and it really is the most comfortable pistol i have ever held in my hand. I've taken 100yd shots with it and hit man size targets with it. If you can get one in decent condition for a good price there are so many things you can do to it. Plus I've bought some fairly cheap ProMag 8rd magazines and there all feed perfectly. I have had virtually no urge to buy any other pistol. I haven't heard any real complaints from many people about the 1991A1 I don't think its a cheap imatation. Buy it!!!
 
Colts are great if your willing to put the extra cash to bring them to acceptable standards.Get yourself a Kimber.They are hands down the best 1911 from the box.I just bought a Kimber Compact Custom,I dont think theres anything I could do to this gun to make it better.Its one fine tack driver.I paid about $700 for mine.You could maybe find a better price if you check around.They are not much more then the Colts but you'll save money in the long run and have a better 1911. SHOKz
 
After a couple of thousand rounds, the front sight on mine loosened up (replace it with a dovetail sight) and the slide stop broke (replaced it with a Wilson). Other than that it works OK.

Problem is now with Colt being where it is, the formerly $400 1991 is now $525, and if you get that high you are getting into low Kimber territory, which is a much better gun out of the box.
 
I just bought an East German Makarov that was made with more care than my Gold Cup. It might be a good gun to customize, but I'd rather own a gunt hat was built right from the start, and not massaged into something better. Besides, I believe the 1991 models are cast instead of forged.
 
Did I mention that you can buy Argentine Colt milsurps made in Hartford under contract for a bit less than a 1991? Made in the good ole days of Colt.
 
Arizona Eric makes a good point about the price of 1991A1s these days. At the local gunshop, a new 1991A1 that sold for $449 last year now sells for $599. That's about a 33% price increase! I think the dealer heard that these guns were selling for $650 at the area gun show, so he decided to go crazy, too. Maybe the prices will return to a rational level when and if Colt's gets going again and starts pumping 1991A1s into the pipeline. Meanwhile, surely not all dealers have gone goofy over Colts, so there must be some bargains left out there.
 
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