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Has anyone had issues with recent Colt production quality? I received 3 of the Custom shop Series 70's in blue. This one was returned by the customer when he got it home and inspected it. Looks like polishing marks to me. Looks like it was blued over the marks. They are not as noticable as this photo makes them look. But still when you pay $800 for a stone stock 1911 from the "Custom Shop" you expect better. Colt says send it back and if they determine it is a factory defect they will fix it for free and reimburse shipping. Lot of time and expense for a maybe when you have less than 5% profit margin (wholesale is $756 + $8 s&h).

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

In my somewhat jaded opinion, That rollmark is not surprising at all, really. That's why in our little world the "New" Colt's are considered "base guns", and suitable only for what they might become, rarely if ever for what they already are. That said though, they're probably the best guns Colt has made in years. Professional smiths see and fix problems in all vintage of Colts, from post-wars, to "pre-70's" to Series 70's and 80's. They all have their issues, but the real smiths, who are able to do so address and correct these deficiencies, while less capable hands just give up and push the latest Ed Kimsonfield as the answer to all our needs. I'll take a cosmetically inferior Colt that I can fix to an entire production run of cookie cutter customs. And when I'm done, well... we'll have a really nice Colt now won't we? Just my .02

Unfortunately, this topic is discussed ad nauseum in all the internet trailer parks, with everyone offering their take on what will fix Colt's problems. Fact is, outsiders will never have any effect on what happens at Colt. Even if those outsiders are customers or potential customers. It's not right, and it doesn't make sense, but it's the way it is.


For me, I think it all requires a shift in perspective and time. I don't even bother looking at a Colt anymore for what it is - only what it will be. I guess my expectations have shifted to coincide with my experiences with Colt.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

TR

Ted, HEY, I like my Ed Kimsonfield real gud!

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Hey that looks awfully familiar!!

Don't ever hesitate to deal with Gary.... he's a real standup guy.

Gary,
I tried to figure the whole Colt QC thing out over the past few years, and all it's done is put a few more CUSTOM Colts in my safe. The only one I ever had that I even considered a decent gun is now in Ted's posession for use as LTW#3. All I can say that Colt really has over any other 1911 is those darned rollmarks... they just draw people to them like a siren's song. Of every Colt I've ever even seen, not just owned, only one has left me thinking it needed no work done. It was a Python. Tell your customer not to be discouraged, Gary, as Colt will likely take care of it.

Ted,
I wrote a very long post a short while back on 1911 Forum that I re-posted here on LTW, arguing the differences between Colts, Springfields, and Caspians. IMHO, I thought it was a pretty good, non-biased take on it. I could have summed it up for Colts using your response to this one. My new take on Colts, as it has been shifting over the past year or so and was just set in stone by your last post, is now "What can it become?" IIRC, I have two with you now that I'm kinda wondering the same thing about. We'll see. I have a feeling one of them is going to be a "sleeper."

It is sad that Colt doesn't really give a hoot about the customers' wants in guns. I'd like the Delta Elite brought back, the older style 1920s - 1960s rollmarks put into production again, and a 70 series 38 super. But, the folks here represent a very small portion of the Colt fan base, and the stuff we think is in serious need of overhaul is what many consider superlative. I guess there is no objective way to look at it since every take will be based on what the end user wants. Go figure.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Simply put....Colt is 'the' pinnacle of the signature grade 1911's.

Everybody knows that a Colt is a Colt and a clone is a clone.

I just picked up a NRM series 80 government model, and I have to say that the horse looks like my 4-year old daughter drew it. The one on my 70's LW Commander looks MUCH better. Also, they left bluing salts on the grip screws. On the up side, the slide to frame and barrel fit are the BEST I've ever seen on a production Colt. Slide fit is tight but not overly so, and it moves smooth as glass. The trigger breaks cleanly with a little take-up.

I've owned four Colt 1911s in the past (not counting the LW Commander- Ted worked it over before I got it, so I don't know how it was out of the box) and not one was nearly this nice. Every one of the other four had issues, some of them serious. The 'enhanced' commander was close to the biggest hunk of crap I've ever owned.

Colt is definitely not perfect, but I'm very happy with this one. I kind of took a chance buying it, given my previous experiences, and now I'm glad I did. I agree with Ted that it is a 'base gun', but that's okay- that is what I was looking for. This gun just screams "1*"

Truer words were never said. I just completed a 3 day Colt AR15 / M16 armorer’s course. The instructor said that Colt was not interested in the civilian market. Too much liability. They are putting most of their efforts into the military / LE market. While their handguns may leave something to desire, Colt AR rifles, IMHO, are some of the best.

Just my .02.

Mike

Of all the Colt's I have owned the best one was a Special Combat Government model. Great gun, but couldhave been so much more if Colt would just listen to folks.
I have even talked to a couple of marketing people there about this. With IDPA and Limited 10 the Special Combat could be perfect for it.
Get rid of the nickle finish, that went out of popularity in the 70's, hard chrome the frame instead, make it two tone.
They will not listen, I think they are too caught up in the mind set that they can't change anything anyway so why bother!!!
Pisses me off really, all they need to do is change a couple of things about the guns and they could be kicking Kimbers butt, especially right now since Kimber won't listen to anyone either (that is why we have external extractors and series II parts!!!)

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Jake Martens
Indianapolis, IN
https://www.facebook.com/USPSAIndiana

Hey Mike, did Ken Elmore teach your class?

No, the instructor was Dave Bates. He did a great job.

Copy that. I had Ken at my last one- he's quite a character. Put on a good class.

Gary, as I look at that pic I think back to all the posts I have ever read on all the forums that I never visit any more just because of these same problems. Someone will expect that their gun be made by Merlin the Magician and be totally flawless. When its not they post that they were screwed on every forum they know of. You should see my working guns. Heck, the Baer Custom Carry I now use as a daily 24/7 gun is so scratched up you wouldn't want it and its a $2k gun. But its a tool I practice and train with. I wouldn't hesitate to buy that Colt from you with those marks. It would just save me the trouble of putting them on first.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

Beauty may be just skin deep, but Ugly goes all the way to the bone... (or internal component)

My first 1911 was a Colt Special Combat Govt. (Hard Chrome). As the 1911 rookie that I was at the time, I wanted the Best 1911 pistol from Colt's "Custom Shop" Well, in the store it looked like a Million Bucks. I plopped down my $$$ and was a happy camper all the way home.

When I took it out of the box, I inspected the bore with a bore-light. Much to my disappointment, there was a 1/4" section of one of the lands missing from the barrel.

"I suppose any manufacturer could let a bad one through QC once in a while." I told myself as I packed it up and sent it back to Conn. After more than 10 weeks, my new Special Combat was returned to me. I was all ready for a day at the range! (Or so I thought) After having feed problems at the range, I decided to field strip it and examined the new barrel they "fitted". I noticed the link pin was loose, and would drop out if I wiggled the link with my finger. Back it went on trip #2 to Conn. I figured it would be a while before I saw that pistol, so I found a good deal on a Sig P220 at a local store. I made the purchase and had put about 650 flawless rounds through it by the time my Special Combat returned. "AWESOME!" I thought, and I went out to the range with my new .45s!

Disappointed again, I noticed most of my old style Hydrashoks (which worked fine in my P220) would hang up on the big gap between the barrel and feed ramp. "This is really a Target Gun anyway" I told myself. It seemed to do fine with Ball and Blazer Match and I was pleased to be enjoying the Special Combat I had purchased 4 months prior. I think it was about 1500 rounds where the firing pin stop developed a 7-O'clock crack. (Colt sent me a new one free of charge.)

It was well before 2K rounds of normal pressure target ammo when it developed a hammer follow. Off it went for it's #3 trip to Conn. This time it didn't bug me so much, as I was now a HUGE SiG/Sauer fan. My P220 kept running like a sewing machine and I found a nice P226 to keep it company. It may have only taken 5 or 6 weeks to get my Special Combat back for its last problem. I decided at that point it would do much better hanging in my safe than going to the range.

I continued to enjoy my Sigs, Glocks & HKs for a number of years. The last few range trips went fine when I shot my Special Combat, but I can tell the extractor needs to be adjusted as it will drop an empty case or snap cap down the magwell when I rack the slide by hand.

Even from their "Custom Shop" I have not seen ANYTHING to impress me from Colt. As an interesting side note, the Python my father gave me was also defective out of the box. (Go figure. )

I had given up on 1911s completely. Until I bought my GSR... It's been Flawless from day one and has never given me an ounce of grief. These days, my Colts are my Show Ponies... My SiGs, Glocks & HKs are the work horses.

Belgian Blue

Al, it was my gun and I sent it back because I DO expect a level of perfection especially from the "custom shop", even more so when it's essentially an $800 Mil-spec. I also posted no grievance with colt on any forum nor will I. Will I buy another NIB Colt?? Maybe.... maybe not. Either way if it was a carry gun or a base gun I would have kept it. However this was bought to play with for awhile at the range and when it got some wear and tear on it.... to be sent to Yost-Bonitz.

JD8,
I owe you an apology. As I re-read my post after yours I could see how it could be taken as a direct insult to the buyer of the gun which turned out to be you. Sometimes we post and it seems ok. I was mistaken.
You would not have kept the gun, I would have and thats the difference between us.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

Al, I understand where your coming from and dont think anything you said was insulting. But to me it is like buying a new car. You dont mind scratches but you would like to put the first ones on yourself. Colt has always been one of my favorite and I own several. But it is a little disappointing to get one from the custom shop with blems. How many guys here would accept those minor finish flaws from Ted, Ned, Don or the others? On top of that as a small retailer it makes it tough to sell a "top of the line custom shop" Colt to a customer with blems. Heck I couldnt sell a Commander LW for a base gun on this forum because the finish was bad.

Anyway I didnt start this thread to slam Colt. Didnt post it on any of the million member forums. Just wanted some input from the guys who see them on a daily basis. Thanks to everyone who shared the opinion!

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

No harm no foul and I really dindn't take insult. Just wanted to clear the air. I see your point and I agree with it for the most part but a good part of the reason I bought one of these was the finish. I just bought two new STIs.... both had discoloration on the controls, and one had some finish wear on the slide, never crossed my mind to send them back as one will be a range gun and the other for carry.

How will I know... I have not owned a colt .45 in over 35 years now, (I do own six or seven 1911s) I will have to go buy one. You guys are responsiible if my wife complains. (you can never have too many 1911s.) Anyhow, I will have to make my own decision.


Tony

Cape Canaveral, FL

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Tony T
The only guns I like are those with triggers..

JD8, I do appreciate the understanding of the misunderstanding.
I do see your point that I missed. It does depend on the gun and the usage. I'll agree.
Gary, please don't think I was referring to you either. This is not what I intended. My original post was meant as a general description of minor flaws most guns have including Colt. I had a bad day, a bad post. It came out wrong. Please have the judge instruct the jury to disregard.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

"I find the defendant guilty of a non-intentional misunderstood bad post. By the powers vested in me by the state of confusion, I hereby sentence you to non-stop shooting a factory stock Lorcin .25ACP, weak handed and limp wristed, with no possibility of parole, for two days. Bailiff, please take the prisoner into custody." - Judge "Dredd" Keeney

Al jokes aside... are the series 70 guns actually made in the custom shop? I thought they were going to be limited editions but turned into production guns after the sales took off. IIRC, my stainless 70 had similar marks all over. The finish was far from even, and I really didn't see at all what was done to that gun that made it a custom shop style gun. I am 100% serious in asking this... are they custom shop guns still?

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Jim,
WOW. a Lorcin, I've died and gone to H%$#@!!! I thoughtyou liked me?

As far as I know they all come from the Custom Shop. Only the 1991s come from the standard production line. I really think its the same line if you ask me. they just call it something different.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

Al, I think you're probably right about the "same line". I've seen Gold Cups from the "Custom Shop" that were fit and finished worse than all the 1991-A1's I've ever seen. According to a friend whos' 'been there' at the factory, Colt just sends you to the Cutsom Shop if you've been there long enough, not as in the old days when the quality of your work was the determining factor.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

But you get a pretty blue box......

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

Bet that doesn't have any marks on it.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

I don't mean to revive an old thread, but I had to comment on the Q&C w/ Colt. I just bought a new series 70 online, and I recieved it with very similiar scratches all along the left side of the slide flats. You can tell it was done at the factory. I thought about sending it back to colt to be reblued, but I'll just scrap and save until I can send it into a shop for custom work. I'm just kinda dissapointed after spending $900 for a base gun.

On my 2005 Colt catalog, it's listed as an "O" model, or custom shop gun. My next 1911 purchase will be a S70 for what it could be.

I am totally satisfied and fully depend on my Colt 6920 carbine.