New Colt 1991A1?

B

boiler03

New member
I was shopping around on GunBroker and found some good deals on NIB Colt 1991A1's (because my local gun shop wouldn't give me the time of day on the phone). The ads stated that they were NIB, but the picture shows the old rollmarks, and nothing is mentioned about them being the New rollmarked guns. So my question, is there a quality difference in these guns or are they of the same recent batch, just before the rollmarks? I understand that the rollmark is purely cosmetic, but I also (to my understanding) have heard that the 1980's-1990's colts weren't that great and seemed to be hit/miss. I mean what year (or month this year) did colts finally get the review of being a reliable, quality pistol? I am also looking at the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec. Thanks.
 
1911forum

Ya, I read that one already. I was hoping that that was an iscolated incident and I assumed he was referring to the new rollmarked guns. I am a millitary buff and I think you have to get a colt, if you get a 1911, but that Springfield Mil-Spec for almost $100 less is looking more and more appealing. Thanks.
 
NIB (New In Box) doesn't mean they were built last week, they could've been built in 1990, it means that they haven't been sold to a retail customer since they were built.:rolleyes:
 
NIB

Ya, I understand that, I just have heard about the "bad" days of colt and wanted to know when they were so when I inquired about the gun, I could tell by serial number. Thanks.
 
boiler,

Unfortuantely, Colt's troubles have been long lasting. Their quality has been variable since at least the mid '80s (my first (POS) Combat Elite).

If you got a good one (my Delta Elite has been), it was usually very good, but if you got a bad one, you were sunk as Colt did not respond well to complaints back then.

Unfortunately, it looks as though history is repeating itself in terms of "consistent" quality control. I have heard they are more responsive to complaints, but can't personally verify it.

Good luck and let's hope things improve.
 
Actually, the newer 1991A1's with the old roll marks were very nice guns. The tolerences were much tighter, and quality was pretty good. They were using new machining on these guns. The New roll mark COLT's are nice guns also, so you can't judge a gun by it's roll marks. I personnaly have a hard time buying a gun I can't pick up in my hand and check the tightness, barrel lock up etc. That is just my opinion.

I recently just bought a new LW Commander and after 200 rounds the rear sight came loose. I had a gunsmith friend of mine fix it and it was no big deal. The magazine was a POS also. I was pretty hot so I faxed a nasty note to COLT's Customer Service. About a week later I received a letter from COLT's. thanking me for my letter and asked me to return the gun to them for repair. I thought that was pretty good service. I'm going to send that POS magazine back to them and see what happens.

All that being said, I am an avid 1911 fan and devotee, and I still prefer the COLT's. c I bet my life on one every day.

Good luck! :cool:
 
Colt has been turning out some freakin’ outstanding guns the past few years. I would put them up against any (yes I said any) equivalent level of 1911 (i.e. Colt 1991A1 against a SA mil-spec, etc). I couldn’t give you an exact year that they started producing good guns again, but based on my personal experience and the anecdotal evidence I have been able to compile I would guesstimate it to be somewhere in the mid 90’s. Colt made some real poor products for a certain period of time and they have a long way to go in order to pull their name back up to where it should be, but they are getting there and if they continue to make pistols as good as they are right now I have no doubt they will get there.
 
I bought one of their model O1091 in year 1999. so, far I had no problem on it. I am trying to make it more accurate & reliable following some advices from internet gun writers and from TFL members. I put single full lenght guide rod, put a red dot, put an ivory grip, polish well the feed ramp and throat. It was advised that if the trigger pull is between 4 to 4.5 then theres no need to adjust it to lower pound pull. I bought match bushing for it, but I had not seen any difference with its original barrel bushing so I put it back. I also file rounded the pointed magazine follower of the ChipMcCormick for the pointed second layer magazine follower is putting deep dent to my feed ramp, now that is corrected also and I can't see any hassle to it already. When I shop around, I have seen that the new McCormick mags has no pointed mag follower already.

The little problem I had seen is, loosening of the rear sight but it was fixed now. I dehorned of the sharp edges too.

I was satisfied of its performance for these past few years for it eats all the bullets I am feeding, hollow points from Hornady, Corbon, Firestar of PMC and our own local bullets hereon.

What I don't understand well now, is, what is this statement i.e "the 1991A1 series is sporting a NEW Rollmark" that was put in the Colt web site. When I bought my piece there is no word like this before. Does it mean the model I had or stock I had bought is included in the new rollmark or just this latest production of Y2K.

Anyway, I had no problem on it, so perhaps my colt is sporting a NEW Rollmark too.

Enjoy your M1991A1 my friend.

Thanks

;)
 
You'll know if your pistol has the new rollmark just by looking at it. The old ones simply said in large block letters:

M1991A1

The new ones say:

-------COLT'S-------
GOVERNMENT MODEL
45 CALIBER AUTOMATIC

The new ones also have polished flats. While I definitely prefer the new guns for aesthetic reasons, the new finish and rollmarks came at a hefty new price (tag, that is). Colt was in a better position to reclaim the 1911 market with the matte finished, but lower-cost M1991A1.
 
1911forum

I posted on that forum about this issue too (as hilega). I got my gun last saturday. It has the NEW rollmarks and is beautiful. I am waiting for my 500 rds of ammo to come in, and then I will give you all a range report.
 
dsk,
My M1991A1 has this mark:

Left side of slide: COLT MA991A1TM
----STAINLESS----

Right side of slide: -----SERIES 80----

The receiver has a mark "COLT'S PT:F.A. MFG CO. HARTFORD. USA"

is this kind doesn't belong to the new RollMark. If, so, is it inferior then the new model. I am just wondering. Hope you can advise more about it.

Thanks,
 
boiler 03, you have exactly the same post with hilega in 1911 forum.com, I think you are one personality. Whilst I was reading the answers of your post in 1911forum, I had my queries hereon answered thereon while I was browsing in that forum. But anyway thanks for it. :)
 
I had a very early 1991A1 and a later model one (about a year before the switch). Never had a malfunction with either of them and both were good shooters. The newer one was slightly tighter and more accurate, but not by much.

Had ever really "gotten into" 1911's either would have been fine, just never really got the bug.
 
hitinthexring,
At least I received a reply! I hav3e not received responses from Kimber, HK and SIG when I have inquired or needed assistance. I'll take COLT's anyday.:cool:
 
hitinthexring,
At least I received a reply! I have not received responses from Kimber, HK and SIG when I have inquired or needed assistance. I'll take COLT's anyday.:cool:
 
shy_man

Yes hilega = boiler03. I found the forums at different times and for some reason used a different log in. Sorry. I am not trying to be deceiving or anything. I like both forums, so you might see some repeats. I see dsk on both too. Thanks for all of your replies.
 
I've had some lousy Colts of recent vintage, but I will say that most problems were cosmetic, such as nicks and scratches, unclear beadblasting margins, etc. that shouldn't have been on $1000+ guns. Sending it to Colt to fix only exacerbated the problems (such as when I asked that my python's barrel be set back to give a less than .008 cylinder gap and it came back with the barrel 15 degrees off center).

I'd suggest a drive down to Indy to browse gun stores so I could get my hands on what I'm buying, or be prepared to sell what isn't up to spec on sight unseen purchases.
 
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