1911 Candidates and Finishes

Departed402 · April 29, 2014, 11:18 PM

During a recent range visit I shot my friend’s new 1911, and well, I caught the bug, which is apparently very contagious! I want a full size model, and after doing some online research I’ve narrowed the brands and models I am interested in to the following:

Colt XSE or Rail Gun
Springfield Operator
Dan Wesson Valor or Specialist

It seems that out of those, Dan Wesson has the best reputation at the moment, but of course Colt and Springfield are right up there. One thing making me lean towards Dan Wesson is their Duty Coat or Duty "Treat” which some people are calling it. It sounds as though the newer Dan Wessons’ black finish is a metal treatment (somewhat similar to Glock slides), and it won’t flake/chip/wear off as easily as Duracoat or Cerakote. I think black 1911s are beautiful, and the durability of the finish would be a huge selling point for me. Does anyone have any experience with Dan Wesson’s Duty Coat? Do any other companies offer 1911s with similar treatments?

Venom1956 · April 29, 2014, 11:43 PM

mines duty coated. it holds up fine. Its not a metal treatment its a ceramic surface treatment. Mine has one spot of wear on the under side of the slide where the twist of the gun causes it to rub. Underneath its stainless.

It actually isnt black either. mine is a blueish has a rainbowish flecks in the finish when sunlight hits it. dont really know how to describe it. its not black for sure. A nice coat of oil makes it look really black and sexy.

Armory coat is that deep flat black paint like finish. more the look you'd like I think

DBH45 · April 30, 2014, 12:49 AM

All the ones you mentioned are fine weapons, how ever the only one I have experience with is the Colt. I recently started shooting matches after a 30+ year absence. I was lucky and managed to obtain a Colt Combat Elite, a finer pistol I could not imagine. At 50 yds I can put all 10 shots in the head! I can and did load RN's& SWC's plus empty cases in the magazine and it fed every one, obviously it didn't fire the emptys. So IMO I would go with a Colt. With judicious shopping you can obtain one for under $1100.00
GL

dgludwig · April 30, 2014, 02:20 PM

Your friend really is a fiend (your word

) getting you infected with the 1911 plague!

KyJim · April 30, 2014, 09:03 PM

There is a difference in Dan Wesson's Duty Coat and DW's Duty Treatment. Dan Wesson started using Duty Treatment on its Valor pistols in 2010 and it is a metal treatment similar to Melonite or Tennifer. Both involve salt bath nitriding. Before that, DW applied its "Duty Coat" which is a finish similar to Cerakote; i.e., a ceramic type "paint." DW still uses Duty Coat on their aluminum framed 1911s like the CCO and Guardian because they evidently cannot treat aluminum like they can steel.

I carry my CCO quite a bit in cool weather and the finish still looks great. I carry in leather holsters.

RussB · May 3, 2014, 11:40 AM

You can read my range report of the DW Specialist here

LINK

Departed402 · May 5, 2014, 01:24 AM

Thank you for the replies!

kcub · May 5, 2014, 04:29 AM

On Saturday I saw a Colt Royal Government at the LGS. Royal blue (think Python) on a Government model. Not the most resilient finish but it is just supermodel drop dead gorgeous.

RLM870 · May 5, 2014, 07:51 PM

^^^^^^^^

That is one beautiful Colt

kcub · May 6, 2014, 04:02 AM

That Colt is probably a gut cinch to double in value fairly quickly. They only made 300 and they cost just under 2K. But homey don't buy safe queens nor 1911's with unusual finishes and no ambi safety.

KyJim · May 6, 2014, 05:55 PM

KCub --

That is a gorgeous pistol. I purchased a Colt Ultimate Officer's a few years ago with a similar finish. No box or papers and came with non-original (and ugly) grips. I put some new shoes on it:

ttheel · May 6, 2014, 07:35 PM

I own a Dan Wesson VBOB with the "duty treat" finish. It is a fine weapon. Don't think you would be disappointed.

April 29, 2014, 11:18 PM	#1
Departed402 Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 884	1911 Candidates and Finishes During a recent range visit I shot my friend’s new 1911, and well, I caught the bug, which is apparently very contagious! I want a full size model, and after doing some online research I’ve narrowed the brands and models I am interested in to the following: Colt XSE or Rail Gun Springfield Operator Dan Wesson Valor or Specialist It seems that out of those, Dan Wesson has the best reputation at the moment, but of course Colt and Springfield are right up there. One thing making me lean towards Dan Wesson is their Duty Coat or Duty "Treat” which some people are calling it. It sounds as though the newer Dan Wessons’ black finish is a metal treatment (somewhat similar to Glock slides), and it won’t flake/chip/wear off as easily as Duracoat or Cerakote. I think black 1911s are beautiful, and the durability of the finish would be a huge selling point for me. Does anyone have any experience with Dan Wesson’s Duty Coat? Do any other companies offer 1911s with similar treatments? __________________ Slow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast. Last edited by Departed402; April 30, 2014 at 02:32 PM. Reason: fiend to friend, thanks dgludwig

April 29, 2014, 11:43 PM	#2
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	mines duty coated. it holds up fine. Its not a metal treatment its a ceramic surface treatment. Mine has one spot of wear on the under side of the slide where the twist of the gun causes it to rub. Underneath its stainless. It actually isnt black either. mine is a blueish has a rainbowish flecks in the finish when sunlight hits it. dont really know how to describe it. its not black for sure. A nice coat of oil makes it look really black and sexy. Armory coat is that deep flat black paint like finish. more the look you'd like I think __________________ E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that. I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug Last edited by Venom1956; April 29, 2014 at 11:56 PM.

April 30, 2014, 12:49 AM	#3
DBH45 Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 16	which one All the ones you mentioned are fine weapons, how ever the only one I have experience with is the Colt. I recently started shooting matches after a 30+ year absence. I was lucky and managed to obtain a Colt Combat Elite, a finer pistol I could not imagine. At 50 yds I can put all 10 shots in the head! I can and did load RN's& SWC's plus empty cases in the magazine and it fed every one, obviously it didn't fire the emptys. So IMO I would go with a Colt. With judicious shopping you can obtain one for under $1100.00 GL

April 30, 2014, 02:20 PM	#4
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	Your friend really is a *fiend* (your word ) getting you infected with the 1911 plague! __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

May 5, 2014, 01:24 AM	#7
Departed402 Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 884	Thank you for the replies! __________________ Slow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast.

April 30, 2014, 09:03 PM	#5
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	There is a difference in Dan Wesson's Duty Coat and DW's Duty Treatment. Dan Wesson started using Duty Treatment on its Valor pistols in 2010 and it is a metal treatment similar to Melonite or Tennifer. Both involve salt bath nitriding. Before that, DW applied its "Duty Coat" which is a finish similar to Cerakote; i.e., a ceramic type "paint." DW still uses Duty Coat on their aluminum framed 1911s like the CCO and Guardian because they evidently cannot treat aluminum like they can steel. I carry my CCO quite a bit in cool weather and the finish still looks great. I carry in leather holsters.

May 3, 2014, 11:40 AM	#6
RussB Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 159	You can read my range report of the DW Specialist here LINK

May 5, 2014, 04:29 AM	#8
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	On Saturday I saw a Colt Royal Government at the LGS. Royal blue (think Python) on a Government model. Not the most resilient finish but it is just supermodel drop dead gorgeous. Last edited by kcub; May 5, 2014 at 04:35 AM.

May 5, 2014, 07:51 PM	#9
RLM870 Junior Member Join Date: January 2, 2013 Posts: 5	^^^^^^^^ That is one beautiful Colt

May 6, 2014, 04:02 AM	#10
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	That Colt is probably a gut cinch to double in value fairly quickly. They only made 300 and they cost just under 2K. But homey don't buy safe queens nor 1911's with unusual finishes and no ambi safety.

May 6, 2014, 05:55 PM	#11
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	KCub -- That is a gorgeous pistol. I purchased a Colt Ultimate Officer's a few years ago with a similar finish. No box or papers and came with non-original (and ugly) grips. I put some new shoes on it:

May 6, 2014, 07:35 PM	#12
ttheel Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2008 Posts: 259	I own a Dan Wesson VBOB with the "duty treat" finish. It is a fine weapon. Don't think you would be disappointed.