Colt or Springfield, last 20 years?

[Aguila Blanca]

Then which 1911 currently made comes closest to GI Spec/ commercial and I assume pre Series 70? IOW the original 1911

Colt's Classic Series pistols, of course.

https://www.colt.com/series/TRADITIONAL_SERIES

Also, though made longer than 20 years ago, Norinco (China) and Ballester Molina Argentina?(who knows who makes it?) are supposed to be very well constructed , close to original, 1911 .45s

The Ballester Molinas are not 1911s. They accept 1911 magazines, and possibly 1911 slides and barrels (I don't remember about that), but the internals are different. Your are thinking of the Sistema 1927s.

http://sightm1911.com/lib/review/sistema.htm

 

[JJ45]

Colt's Classic Series pistols, of course.

https://www.colt.com/series/TRADITIONAL_SERIES



The Ballester Molinas are not 1911s. They accept 1911 magazines, and possibly 1911 slides and barrels (I don't remember about that), but the internals are different. Your are thinking of the Sistema 1927s.

http://sightm1911.com/lib/review/sistema.htm

I looked at that....That Classic Colt is a sweet one if looking for an original, except for the sights.

I think the original war pistols were expected to be shot one handed or just instinctively. The new Colt Classic does have what most would call usable sights but IMO, would be closer to the original with the appropriate tiny sights.

 

[smee78]

If it were me I would go with the Springfield. Colt's filled for bankruptcy before (will they be around to service their own products) and their on again off again love for the civilian market (if they can cancel AR's for civilian market they can do it with 1911's also) shows poor decisions on their behalf. I have owned both Colt and Springfield among others and have had new and used guns and to be honest they both shot well. It seems to me that I can get more bang for my buck from Springfield VS paying the pony tax. YMMV

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I looked at that....That Classic Colt is a sweet one if looking for an original, except for the sights.

I think the original war pistols were expected to be shot one handed or just instinctively. The new Colt Classic does have what most would call usable sights but IMO, would be closer to the original with the appropriate tiny sights.

I don't think anyone currently makes a 1911 with tiny, original, useless sights. If you want a pistol that doesn't have usable sights, you'll have to buy a used one.