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

The pony may look like he is dancing. But he is Rampant and ready.

"Rampant Pony" is the official stamp name.

The best ones are the ones with Les Baer stamped on the side.

Of the models the OP mentioned, I'd take the Wiley Clapp model or the new U.S. Marine model.

Here's my 1961 Colt Government Model. It's not going anywhere.

Very nice indeed..

It came into a local gun shop as part of a large purchase from the Sheriff's Department, i.e., confiscated guns. I happened to be there when it came into the shop. I asked if I could check it out, and was told I could. I told them I was interested in it, and they gave me a very good price on it. I think this was about ten years ago. It's been 100% reliable. Nice trigger, too. Only thing I did was take off the original hard rubber Colt stocks and replace them with classic rose wood. It's 100% factory original, apart from the rose wood stocks.

I was told by many collectors never to take off those original stocks, because they are known to shrink unless kept installed, but I just didn't like their looks.

I have collected colts for a long time, and go back to WWI versions, WWII and so on, plus the commercial colts. The military colts are just cool but heat treatments, intentionally sloppy, i wouldn't compare them to a modern gun.
My own opinion is a few years ago i picked up a colt 1911 70's series mark IV, i think it was. It had the bushing with fingers in it, which i promptly replaced.
I had a mid teens grandson with me one day, never fired a gun like that before. 200grain swc H&g bullets. Gave him the gun to shoot.
six out of six beer cans at about ten yards, surprised me he could do it.
I also have a very tweaked 70series gold cup. I still like that mark 4 as much or better.
A little off topic, but maybe not. I also have a s&w and a colt model of 1917, made when they couldn't get enought 1911's for WWI.
I understand some at the time like them better than the 1911. I can well understand that for a variety of reasons.
I think some of the bias as to the military guns is they were used and reused way past their respective times, i.e. all shot out.
i have seen a couple of in the kraft box WWII 1911's, unfired. They are a different animal to the ones you normally see. Another one that would be in the running except for rarity is the preWWII colts made for the U.S. Navy, i have seen a couple that were just pristine.

Here's a 1939 Navy Colt 1911A1 that I'm selling on Gunbroker now. It is nice!

Congrats. Beautiful piece. Wish I hadn't sold off a few I had.

That's in very nice shape for its age. Can't imagine selling it unless you have another one just as nice or better, or else really really need the money.

I sold one that was its twin but in a little better condition back in the early 80's for $750 bucks & thought I was making a killing since I bought it at a Pawn Shop for $225 bucks!
I'm still kicking my self

Mine was made in 1918.

The pre-war guns ARE nice. This one is from '31.
Bob

WOW!!! IT doesn't get much nicer than that one! Great old school leather too!

Very nice. I used to have a 1927 Colt Government Model. It had been badly refinished, though. Nice touches on those guns, like the checkered trigger face, the old school look of the hammer and thumb safety, checkered grip safety, etc..

Makes me want to s h i t can all my Glocks!

I have a bunch of glocks, as a friend said, they are perfectly aedequate bullet dispensers. I have carried one for years.
It's a gun i describe as one that has no soul, no beauty, actually ugly, but works all the time.
The are in a different category than 1911's.
some years ago i came into a 1911 made in 1918, a "black army". had a period military holster of the same vintage and three of the "dipped" mags as shown in the picture. Hate to tell you what i paid for it, all original.
guy selling to me saw the eagle head stamped on the left side of the frame and from the color thought it had been refinished for WWII. Nope, it was a black army and the eagle was the springfield acceptance stamp for the military. Still haven't shot it.

you can lose yourself in the bluing of one of these old girls. I haven't checked the prices of those mags in a long time, but wouldn't surprise me floating at maybe 75 to a 100 dollar bill.
i just wish somebody could direct me to a late 43 or early 44 front sight, remington.
i bought the remington which came from a guy getting it from the NRA for around 20bucks. He made a bullseye shooter out of it replacing the military sights with target sights. I found the original rear, but as those front are staked i haven't been able to find the right one diameter and heighth wise.

My SEA Colt..side arm I flew with... Mfg 1913...No it's not USAF property..it was my grandfather's. Had to have special orders to take it across the pond and back..Of course I saved all the original parts.

Woody, that is several orders of magnitude UBER cool.
Ron, you have some great stuff, sir.

Thanks jorge, Always wanted more firepower available in case we got bagged and had to fight it out before the cavalry arrived... I'd rather throw rocks than try to defend myself with our standard issue S&W model 12 .

Ron that's a sweet one you have, just something about 1911's that make them special !