Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Which era of the Colt 1911 are the "best"?

I really find these "best of" threads kinda goofy, but anyway...

So which era of 1911's would you rather own? Not as a collector piece but as a shooter.

One from the early, early years?
WWII era?
Pre-70 Series?
70 Series?
80 Series?
Redone 70 Series?

FWIW, I do have a '69 full-size that has just been a real pleasure to own, shoots marvelously.
Thinking I might bring home a lightweight Commander someday.

Series 70 Gold Cup. First pistol I bought when I turned 21. Left it at home when I deployed. 6 months later my parents split and my dad and his girlfriend stole it along with my HK93.

Redone 70 series for me.

The Colt Commercial....like your 1969 model....to me are the best. I also like the reissue Model 70's.

The 1911's that won two world wars, would be my pick

For pure enjoyment, the USGI issue pistol from any era of its service life. For pure function, the post 95 1991A1 pistols have been excellent for me.

My M1911A1 made in 1994 was modified before I got it in 1999.
The change in hammer, trigger, safety, safety, and recoil springs were before I got it.
The safety mod was to make it more like an earlier 1911.

This is still true.

Colt has not diminished their quality since the '90's . A few years in the 1980's had some problems. Colt's website has a serial number plug in to identify the year of manufacture on most of their guns except custom shop builds.

Unless you are a purist, pay no attention to '70 vs '80 series.

Wartime (WWII) models had spot heat treatments instead of full heat treatments.

Muelshoe, live in pottawattamie county. I have a 70 series which is very accurate and smooth. Know nothing of the later production.

The Light Weight Commander is in my opinion the best compromise of all the 1911's for a true "battle" pistol for EDC. Colt has a standard one which is all you need. Not a bad price.

Their Wiley Clapp (21st Century Commander) has everything you need. Custom shop build and the price has come down some on them. When your eyes are old, the special Novak sights on the WC pistol is the best out there for you. Trust me.

There's nothing quite like a pre-war commercial Colt.

But if you're looking for a pure shooter, the pistols Colt makes today will wipe the floor with a Series 70. More accurate, and MUCH more reliable.

I’ve got a pre-70 Government Model from 1961 in great shape. Never had a jam with it, even with 230 grain JHP. I carried it for a couple of years too.

Got one made in 1915 that’s pretty nice.... 😬

Only interested in Colt's?

my first 1911 was a series 80 that i converted to 45 super love the gun.but the colt that i enjoy most is 21 century wiley clapp commander

I have a dedicated 45 Super that I adore also.

I’ve got a Colt Gunsite CCO. I believe it’s similar to Wiley Clapp CCO. I’m beginning to really warm up too it. Hasbeen

I have a 1943 Colt 1911A1 marked "Property of U.S. Army" that is cool as heck. But it bites the crap out of the web of my hand and the sights and trigger suck. For a serious shooter all the modern amenities like a wide beaver tail, good visible sights and decent trigger are very welcome.

From a purely functional standpoint including the ability to feed HP ammo reliably, the current production Colts are hard to beat.

MM

Yep.

I have a lightweight commander size Kimber that gets carried quite a bit, thinking I'd like another pistol with the dancing pony on it.

Thanks for the input guys, I'm a bit surprised to hear so highly of the new production pistols.