Rik: Just want to go on record that the only good guns COLT ever made, IMO, are the 45 Automatic and the AR15. That is despite the 160 year history of the firm. I know that the single action revolver, in its day, particularly during the Mexican War, did fine service as it was high tech for the time. A pair of revolvers beats a bow and arrow every time!
What am I trying to say? COLT has never been a choice for me if I was buying anything other than an AR15 or a 1911 Pistol. But COLT has always been my choice for either of the above.
That said, I understand perfectly the quality control issues, politics, financial challenges, etc., COLT has been embroiled in too. You are right, they are overpriced and there is no two ways about it. They had the whole 45 market to themselves until recently.
But they are still the best. They have been building the 1911 pistol for about 90 years. That's a lot different than 5 or 10 years.
When in the market for a 45 or AR I carefully select my weapons because COLTs are built by United Auto Workers union labor, and I know the type of products they can produce. Typically, I buy used, well cared for weapons. That's all I'm saying. Anybody can produce a 1911 type pistol today. The Chinese do it. The Philippinos do it. The Canadians do it. It don't necessarily mean they are put together right, maybe they are, but you have to be knowledgeable to know for sure.
But a COLT 45 Automatic, when properly executed, is the finest commercial pistol on the planet.
PS: I'm not denigrating custom pistol smiths like Kuhnhausen, Heinie, Bilby, Baer, etc., etc. These guys are craftsmen of the highest order, and if you require a pistol for a particular purpose, be it bullseye, or IPSC Open Class, get one of these guys to build it. But, if you're buying a commercial 45, especially if you don't know much about the animal, it's safer to get a COLT. If you're an expert, you can make your own decision. Just telling you what mine is. Regards
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There is the science of
Ballistics and the Art of
Bullistics
Yankee Doodle