As far as 1911 quality, dependability, durability, etc. Which is best in your opinion? Springfield Armory or Colt?
The last 20 years means since 2000. Within that time frame, I would rate Colt and Springfield basically even with respect to quality, dependability, and durability. Buy whichever one rings your chimes.JJ45 said:Colt or Springfield, last 20 years?
As far as 1911 quality, dependability, durability, etc. Which is best in your opinion? Springfield Armory or Colt?
The last 20 years means since 2000.
Disregarding brands or brand loyalty, you don't consider a stainless steel pistol to be worth more than the exact same pistol in a parkerized finish? I certainly do, and I don't view $100 as an unreasonable dollar value for the difference.RickB said:The (stainless) Colt cost $100+ more than the (parkerized) Springfield, so someone who didn't have any brand loyalty would consider the Springer a better value.
Then which 1911 currently made comes closest to GI Spec/ commercial and I assume pre Series 70? IOW the original 1911OK, there seems to be a word or two missing in the OP, so I took the question one way, and others take it the other way.
SO, which is the question being asked, which one do I choose, Colt or Springfield, TO last 20 years?
Or, which one do I choose MADE IN THE last 20 years??
I answered the first question, and If what is being asked is the second one, I can't answer because I haven't bought one made in the last 20 years, and don't plan to.
I'd have to examine examples of both, and see which one was built closest to the original GI spec/commercial design. I can tell you that, being an old curmudgeon who was trained on the GI gun and the commercial version, I'm not interested in a Colt Series 70 with a collet bushing and I'm NOT buying a Series 80 with CA lawyer compliant extra parts.
does that mean I'd choose Springfield over Colt? It would depend on the specific guns and since I'm not personally in the market, I think its a rather moot point that I don't have an answer for at this time.
I have a Colt that's been in service in my family since the late 60s, and its in good working order. I've owned a couple dozen other 1911A1 pattern guns over the years, each has come and gone, that one Colt stayed, and will continue to do so, until it moves to one of my kids or grandkids.
Good answer. I am no 1911 expert and I always buy American made if there is a choice and the items are of equal or similar quality.Kind of a different tack on my answer. First of all, Springfield does not make a 1911. Or any other gun, for that matter. They are made by Imbel in South America. OK guns, kinda rough, lots of cast and MIM parts, but overall not bad. The goofy mainspring housings with the lock on them drive me crazy.
Colts, on the other hand, are made in USA. And yes, they have lots of cast and MIM parts as well. Their plastic mainpsring housings just drive me nuts, but overall not a bad gun. I was always a Colt guy from way back (my first handgun is a Combat Commander I bought on my 21st birthday in 1978). Like a lot of others, I got tired of Colt's attitude and high prices, but a few years ago they brought their prices back in line with the industry. I see a lot of them in my shop, so I get to see the evolution of the manufacturing as it breaks.
Having said that, I would still buy a Colt over a Springfield Armory 1911. They both shoot about the same, but the Colts are a little better finished IMO. And you get a cool blue box with them.
Kind of a different tack on my answer. First of all, Springfield does not make a 1911. Or any other gun, for that matter. They are made by Imbel in South America. OK guns, kinda rough, lots of cast and MIM parts, but overall not bad. The goofy mainspring housings with the lock on them drive me crazy.
Not any more. Springfield Armory cut their ties to Imbel about four or five years ago. I don't know where they get their frames and slides now (Remsport, perhaps???), but it's not from Imbel.Scorch. said:Kind of a different tack on my answer. First of all, Springfield does not make a 1911. Or any other gun, for that matter. They are made by Imbel in South America.
Colt uses fewer cast and MIM parts than just about any mass producer of 1911s, other than the semi-custom shops like Wilson Combat.Scorch said:Colts, on the other hand, are made in USA. And yes, they have lots of cast and MIM parts as well.