I'm curious as to why you would pick the Colt over the Springfield. I have both also, but just asking. ThanksI've got Colt and Springfield both are nice guns, but if I had to choose it would be the Colt. I have the Competition model which comes with some nice basic upgrades.
I can't tell you how modern Colt's are coming out because the last one I purchased was in 2008. I bought a Series 70 reissue that was a mess. I used it as a build, and unfortunately the project cost much more than expected due to unreliability issues that had to be fixed. That was after going back to Colt for cosmetic issues. In 1911s I have only owned Colts and Springfield's. Several Colts have gone back to the factory, and zero SAs have gone back. SA customer service far exceeds Colt's in my opinion. I carry two guns these days. The Series 70 and a Springfield Range Officer Compact 45. The Springfield cost a fraction of what I have invested in the Colt, but runs just a good. I would be hard pressed to try another Colt these days, with so many other good options. I'm interested to see how CZ/Dan Wesson handles the new Colt line.I bought a Colt Gold Cup in 1989, workmanship was REALLY BAD. The gun was not reliable, I had to do a lot of work to make it reliable. I can see tool marks inside the slide, it's just rough. My S&W 659 or the Walther PPKS are much better polished. The slide was not tight to the frame. BUT, it was accurate, I used it for competition.
I don't know how's Colt's workmanship now, it's been a long time. I definitely wound NOT buy another one.
I remember I looked at a Springfield, the fitting was very tight, nothing like the Gold Cup. It's a shame Gold Cup was very expensive and still like that. I did gun smithing myself, I had to squeeze the slide and lap it to get a tight fit, change the link to make sure the barrel is tight when pushing down.
Let me know has Colt improved or still the same. If not, I would buy the spring field for half the price(at the time) and had better fit. Let me know how are they compare today, it's been a long time for me. I can only speak from experience 30+years ago.
I am glad I wasn't unlucky, so it is a trend!!!I can't tell you how modern Colt's are coming out because the last one I purchased was in 2008. I bought a Series 70 reissue that was a mess. I used it as a build, and unfortunately the project cost much more than expected due to unreliability issues that had to be fixed. That was after going back to Colt for cosmetic issues. In 1911s I have only owned Colts and Springfield's. Several Colts have gone back to the factory, and zero SAs have gone back. SA customer service far exceeds Colt's in my opinion. I carry two guns these days. The Series 70 and a Springfield Range Officer Compact 45. The Springfield cost a fraction of what I have invested in the Colt, but runs just a good. I would be hard pressed to try another Colt these days, with so many other good options. I'm interested to see how CZ/Dan Wesson handles the new Colt line.
Dan Wesson or a good used Les Baer.$1200-2000 roughly