What is a good 1911 really worth?

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JEVapa

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I've heard bad things about the new Colt company. If you buy a new Colt gun, it needs work under warranty and you need to call customer service, it's nearly impossible to get through over the telephone. New Colt revolvers have also gotten bad reviews. I have not seen any new production Colt 1911-type pistol in person so I can't speak for their fit and finish. I can only speak for the great fit/finish on a few older (pre-1980) Colt handguns (two Govt. Model 45's and one Lawman Mark III revolver, 357) I've owned. I really have to hold a gun in my hands and look at it under bright light to judge it well. Many new firearms I've seen over the past year or so leave something for me to be desired in cosmetics. My original question asks what a 1911 is really worth? To me, I have to start out with the LOOKS and judge it from there on. I can never love any gun with sloppy cosmetics from the gun factory no matter how well she shoots and no matter the price. I just know I loved the cosmetics of those pre-1980's Colts I've owned by experience and sadly miss them.
I refer you to my post above on fit and finish. I have one of the new Series 70s and it's as good or better than my old series 70. It runs like a raped ape and I'd put it against any other factory 1911.
 

coolhandluke

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I've heard bad things about the new Colt company. If you buy a new Colt gun, it needs work under warranty and you need to call customer service, it's nearly impossible to get through over the telephone. New Colt revolvers have also gotten bad reviews. I have not seen any new production Colt 1911-type pistol in person so I can't speak for their fit and finish. I can only speak for the great fit/finish on a few older (pre-1980) Colt handguns (two Govt. Model 45's and one Lawman Mark III revolver, 357) I've owned. I really have to hold a gun in my hands and look at it under bright light to judge it well. Many new firearms I've seen over the past year or so leave something for me to be desired in cosmetics. My original question asks what a 1911 is really worth? To me, I have to start out with the LOOKS and judge it from there on. I can never love any gun with sloppy cosmetics from the gun factory no matter how well she shoots and no matter the price. I just know I loved the cosmetics of those pre-1980's Colts I've owned by experience and sadly miss them.
I've owned two Dan Wessons (PM-45 and Valor) and a Colt M45A1 within the last few years. Both Dan Wessons are gone and I chose to keep the Colt. Aside from the crap fitting of their thumb safeties, the fit and finish on the current production Colts are perfectly fine and likely much better than some of the late 70's series pistols. If I were in the market for an entry level 1911 chambered in .45, I'd look hard at a Competition. The chances that you'd need to involve Colt customer service on a 1911 would be minimal. If stories of Colt customer service worries you, take a minute to research Dan Wesson's ongoing issues with galling on their stainless models.
 
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JEVapa

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I've owned two Dan Wesson (PM-45 and Valor) and a Colt M45A1 within the last few years. Both Dan Wesson are gone and I chose to keep the Colt. Aside from the crap fitting of their thumb safeties, the fit and finish on the current production Colts are perfectly fine and likely much better than some of the late 70's series pistols. If I were in the market for an entry level 1911 chambered in .45, I'd look hard at a Competition. The chances that you'd need to involve Colt customer service on a 1911 would be minimal. If stories of Colt customer service worries you, take a minute to research Dan Wesson's ongoing issues with galling on their stainless models.
My thumb safety is perfect. I haven't seen any of these issues folks are talking about in either my 1911 or my SAAs.
 

AlongCameJones

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I refer you to my post above on fit and finish. I have one of the new Series 70s and it's as good or better than my old series 70. It runs like a raped ape and I'd put it against any other factory 1911.
Just for the devil of it, I will have to try to see if there is any local gun shop that has a new Series 70 in stock. I'm interested to have a peek at one up close. I'd hate to have to try to deal with Colt on any warranty claim unless "customer service" has improved lately. Of course when one buys an pre-1980's gun, there's no warranty anyway. Back in the 1990's and into the 2000's I would see new Colt 1911's/Government models in gun stores. Series 80 and I think they had a Series 90 later on. All of them invariably had rough-looking roll stamping and that was the deal-breaker for me then. Springfield Armory looked rough in the markings too. I really have to see a gun in person to be a believer. Pictures on the Internet don't always do gun cosmetics justice. Pictures on a PC screen can be deceiving to the human eye. Some new Smith revolvers, even $900 ones, look nice in pictures at the Smith site but look rough in person.
 
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JEVapa

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