Are colt 1911 still be produced?

[tcritter]

I really want a fullsize colt 1911. I live in a rural area and started calling LGS and had one tell me that colt doest make 1911 and they only way to get one is a used one. I'm no expert on the topic but I think this guy is clueless and will not get any of my business.

[Spats McGee]

Perhaps this will answer your question. I don't know if any of the new ones are called "1911s," but they sure make pistols that look a lot like 1911s to my untrained eye.

[DPris]

They are still making several 1911-pattern variants, if that's what you're asking.
No straight military replicas.
Denis

[Evan Thomas]

Originally Posted by DPris

No straight military replicas.

Not so sure about that. From that same link:

Originally Posted by Colt

Modern semi-automatic pistols all trace their roots to the famed Colt M1911 pistol, designed by John Browning and the standard-issue U.S. military sidearm from 1911 to 1985. Colt 1911 pistols and their descendants were in the hands of confident World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam-era servicemen. Colt customers today can purchase reproductions of these weapons, each faithfully manufactured to the original specifications from factory blueprints.

Or, you can get one of the more modern "descendants" of the original. Even the .380 pocket pistol looks like a larval 1911, give or take some size-related changes like no grip safety...

[RickB]

I think they make about twenty different cataloged models, plus an additional half-dozen limited editions commissioned by various distributors.
Everything they make is in short supply.
A buddy took a factory tour, last Fall, if you want to take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eij9GxSaIYw

[DPris]

Vanya,
Colt's last straight military replica was a while back, their last WWI version. They are not currently producing any direct 1911 replicas right now, to the best of my knowledge.
Denis

[RickB]

Another recent one was a Talo limited edition that somewhat resembled a pre-war M1911A1, with blued finish, etc. On 1911forum it was booed for not really being a good reproduction of any particular model or era, but I like the G.I. rollmarks a lot better than what's on the Series 70.

[James K]

Technically, the dealer is correct. Colt has not made an M1911 since the 1920's or an M1911A1 since 1945. Those are military designations.

Colt still makes several pistols that are nearly identical to the military model, and your dealer should be able to order one. Other makers turn out pistols with many and varied changes and "improvements" to the M1911A1.

Jim

[BODAME]

See Colt LLC:

Also: Check out the New Colt M45 Close Quarter Battle Pistols (CQBP)
being produced for the Marines.

[tcritter]

So from what I understand the true 1911 isnt being made, but they do still make and sell 1911's that are different from the original. I was just on gallery of guns and their are several pages of colt 1911's that they produce but are currently backordered.

[SauerGrapes]

Here's an example of my latest addition. It's looks close enough for me.

Attachment 88579

[KyJim]

Here's the Anniversary, Tier III edition, a darned close replica from WWI :





I saw one of these on sale last Friday at a local hangout. Still trying to figure out if I should try to swing it.

[DPris]

Critter,
It depends on what you're calling a 1911.
Strictly speaking, the "1911" was a military pistol in a specific configuration, with specific markings, not made since the 1920s.

Colt is not currently building those. Colt has produced replicas that were close, but not identical & not precisely correct to the original 1911.
Colt does produce a number of variations of the 1911 pattern.
Today, MOST of the time when somebody refers to a 1911, it's used as a generic term for the design.
Denis

[alex0535]

Depends on what you consider to be the 1911. We have one from 1912 and let me tell you, you don't want the world war 1 sights these guns had one them if you want a gun to shoot. I would describe them as adequate. Not adjustable and very small sight picture.

That being said they have come a long way. These older models are still available, and a well taken care of Colt 1911 can function for in excess of 100 years. The really old ones like the one we have really shouldn't be shot. Replicas have been produced to the original designs. Do not be afraid to get a Colt 1911 because it is used, they were built to be used.

I would want a more modern version of the 1911. Better sights are the main concern there for me though. I am also sort of partial to the smaller versions to. Those little sub compact 1911 style New Agent and Defender colt producers are nice little handguns. I wish ruger would make a blued SR1911 in the commander size. A lot of companies make very good 1911 style handguns that work basically the same.

[RickB]

"1911" doesn't really mean anything. It's applied to WWI military pistols, and it's applied to plastic-framed, 9mm hi-caps. Just about any gun with a swinging link and sliding trigger has been called a "1911".
We can all agree on M1911, which haven't been made by anybody since the '20s, and M1911A1, which haven't been made by anyone since the end of WWII.
Colt still makes many different models of pistol based on the original M1911, all of them lumped together by most people as "1911s", but none is built strictly to original M1911 specs.
Full-size models include both Series 80 and Series 70 Government Models, the Special Combat Government Model, and Gold Cup; all currently in production.

[Webleymkv]

If we use the term 1911 in the strictest sense, then you couldn't walk into the local gun shop and buy one in 1911. As a matter of fact, just about the only way you ever could buy a true 1911 was as a used military surplus gun. This is because M1911 was a military designation, neither Colt nor anybody else ever made M1911 or M1911A1 pistols for anybody but the military.

What you could have bought new in 1911, and still can for that matter, was a Colt Government Model. The Gov't Model was the commercial version of the M1911 and later M1911A1. The Gov't Model was, and still is, available in configurations identical to the military model with the exception of certain markings.

If you want a new Colt Gov't Model that is as close to the military-issue M1911A1 as you can possibly get, then what you're looking for is a Model 01970A1CS.

http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/Colt...%E2%84%A2.aspx

[DPris]

So, before this runs on endlessly, what is it you're looking for, Critter?
Original vintage military or current production commercial pistol?
Denis

[tcritter]

I'm looking for a current production gun. I will buy a new colt (when I find one) and call it my colt 1911. thanks

[DPris]

In that case, Colt is still making brand new ones. They're just in high demand & may take some looking to find one.
Good luck.
Denis

[swcc22]

I just bought my dad a colt government nib for Christmas.I paid 859 at bullet trap in Plano tx

[tipoc]

I'd like to buy a pair of tennis shoes.

Tennis shoes? Strictly speaking no ones made a tennis shoe since Billy Jean king was playing.

Who?

No one makes a tennis shoe anymore.

What's that on my foot then?

That's a worn out variation on the low top basket ball shoe made popular by Bill Russell and sold by Nike some years back.

Ok. Have any of these?

No. No one makes them anymore.

No one makes Nikes?

No. No one makes variations of the Bill Russell shoe. Were you looking for a Nike?

Well if that's all that's left...sure!

Sorry no true Nike has been made since the company moved production to China.

Look man, where's the next nearest shoe store?

No true shoe has been made for many years now. You see..

Ah, nuts to this see ya later...

tipoc

[Double Naught Spy]

Thank you, tipoc!

Technically, the dealer is correct. Colt has not made an M1911 since the 1920's or an M1911A1 since 1945. Those are military designations.

Right, but I think we all know that what the LGS dealer was saying wasn't a statement of particular historical fact, especially given that the common vernacular of referring to 1911 pattern pistols is to call them 1911s (even though they are mostly 1911A1 pattern pistols, but who is keeping track?). He was making the claim that Colt doesn't make 1911 pattern pistols anymore...which sounds a lot like the rumors from 13 years ago about how we need to buy our Colts NOW because Colt won't be selling to the public anymore. This was a pseudotruth rumor meant to spur sales. Colt wasn't selling directly to the general public (via FFLs) as much on individual firearms (though still accepting custom orders), but was selling indirectly to the general public through typical retail channels.

So far this week (and it is only Tuesday), I have read online now that Colt isn't making 1911 (pattern pistols) anymore. Keltec is closing. Oh, and the EPA is shutting down ammo manufacturing plants. A couple of weeks ago it was that S&W can only make 300 guns a day (union contract) and that DHS was buying all the ammo as backdoor gun control (to keep it out of our hands). Oh, and CCI is ceasing production of .22 ammo and retooling for all centerfire only production. All of these rumors have been reported to come from gun stores/dealers.

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by DNS

All of these rumors have been reported to come from gun stores/dealers.

And they are all true, because we read them on the Internet.

[dsk]

Gotta love these name games. Technically nobody makes an AR-15 anymore either. Nor would any of the 7.62x39mm rifles we can buy be considered AK-47s. In fact nobody anywhere on the planet has even made an AK-47 since the 1950's.

OP, to answer your question Colt is still making 1911-pattern pistols, but supply hasn't been keeping up with the demand for many years now.

[tcritter]

I have a colt commander in the mail right now. I hope my lgs calls tomorrow and lets me know he got it. thanks