Happy New Year!

First, the wedding went off well.

Next, for the Colt shooters, it looks as if Colt finally has an online factory store. You can once again order parts directly from Colt! Of course if you shoot a Kimfield and Wesson 1911, a lot of the parts will fit those as well. Are Colt parts really better? Some are, such as the recoil plugs that capture the recoil spring to prevent the plug from flying into your eye on field stripping the pistol.

Happy New Year!
¡Próspero Año Nuevo!
Gelukkig nieuwjaar!
祝你新年快乐
Bonne Année!
Buon anno!
สวัสดี ปี ใหม่
Selamat tahun baru!
あけましておめでとうございます
Frohes Neues Jahr!
سنة جديدة سعيدة!
Feliz ano novo!
Anno Nuovo e Felice!
祝你新年快樂
새해 복 많이 받으십시오

Colt Recall Update

On Tuesday of last week I filled out Colt's online request for a new Defender recoil assembly. I received the unit in a bubble wrapped plastic envelope today. Decently fast service.

I'm not wanting to send in the other two pistols for a thumb safety replacement under Colt's recall. I don't mind sending them in, it's just that I don't want to have to wait at the house to sign for the package when it returns. I can replace the New Agent thumb safety myself, if Hartford will just send a new recoil assembly my way for it as well. I will have to give them a call and see if they will. Doubtful, but you never know.........

edited on Saturday, 7-11-09: I used the website link and had a new recoil assembly for my Defender in two days.

I called Colt and spoke with a young lady about my New Agent. I explained that the thumb safety had already been replaced by a competent gunsmith (I did not say the competent gunsmith was myself....). Colt agreed to send me a new recoil assembly through the mail for the New Agent. Colt did ask that I ensure the recall thumb safety was destroyed. The second recoil assembly for the New Agent arrived today.

On my WWI Reproduction, I will order a new thumb safety from Colt, and pay for it myself, when they become available. That's my solution to the problem.

A Phone Call

Ring ring! Ring ring!

"This is Xavier, may I help you?" I always answer the cellphone like that in case it's a physician I work with. My daughter finds it amusing at least.........

"Hey Xav, he accepted your offer, five o'clock OK?"

"Roger that."



More later.........

Colt Recall

Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC has determined that the Slide Lock Safety and the Recoil Spring Guide Pad in certain Colt model pistols were not manufactured to Colt specifications and must be replaced. All of these Colt models were sold after March 2007 and the range of serial numbers affected by this product recall is as follows:

1911 WWI Replica (O1911) From: 4597WMK To: 5414WMK
1918 WWI Replica (O1918) From: 1001WWI To: 3431WWI
New Agent (O7810D) From: GT01001 To: GT04505
Combat Elite (O8011XSE) From: CG10000E To: CG11293E
Defender (O7000D) From: DR33036 To: DR35948
Talo Night Defender (O7000NDF) From: NDF0001 To: NDF0400

It seems the thumb safties and the recoil guide rod pads are a bit soft.

Damn. My WWI Reproduction, my Defender and my New Agent all fall within that range.

More information here. At least I don't need to send the Defender in.........

Blue Plastic

I am amazed at the prices modern blue plastic Colt boxes are bringing on ebay. This one is $41.00 and climbing. Of course, you get free shipping. This one is $54.00. Meanwhile, here's a Colt box that is a bit battered, but is a true antique that can't get a bid at ten bucks!

In an unscrupulous dealers hands, these boxes do have the power to transform a used gun into a LNIB gun, but the price differential is often similar to the price for the boxes. I'm not sure what is going on here.

In the past, I have used blue plastic Colt boxes to carry trade fodder at gun shows. When cruising a show with such a box, I never fail to get immediate attention if I belly up to a dealer's table to take a look at his guns. I never have to wait if I have a Colt box. Invariably I am asked "Whatcha got in the box?"

"Just an old gun," I reply. I usually have an old beater H&R revolver and a few grips to trade off in my Colt box, but I only open it when I'm ready. Even then, I am often offered cash for the box. Right now, I have seven or eight blue plastic Colt boxes in my gun room. Perhaps I should ebay them and get myself another gun......

The Colt Hammerless

Firehand has written a bit about John Moses' pocket pistol, and then he took it to the range. If you are interested in this premier period concealed carry piece, go read his report here.

If you really want the Hammerless esoterica then visit Sam Lisker's pages.

The Colt M1991A1

"Hey Xavier, would you be interested in a Colt?" We were getting ready for a case, and the x-ray technician's question was music to my ears.

"I dunno. What kind is it?" I asked.

"A M1991A1," replied Ralph, as he maneuvered the C-arm past my back table. "I took it to the gun store to trade in on a Smith & Wesson M&P, and they only offered me $300."

"That's too bad. Is it in decent shape?"

"Yeah. It's a bit beat up, but not bad," replied Ralph. "I have some custom grips on it."

"How's about $450?"

"Sounds good. Meet me after work?"

"OK, but the deal is dependent on whether it shoots reliably."

"OK."

So it was that I met up with Ralph after work to take a look at another Colt. When he took the blue case out of his truck, my mouth began to water. The Hogue wrap around "Good Year" grip stopped my Pavlovian response though. I hate those things.

The Colt M1991A1 is actually a 1911 manufactured by Colt to meet a certain price point. It was first introduced in..... 1991, and the gimmicky new name was emblazoned across the slide like a big bumper sticker. The finish was parkerizing, and the pistol contained the Series 80 firing pin safety. It was a basic gun, not glamorous, but reliable and effective. The factory installed a plastic trigger and a plastic mainspring housing to meet the price point desired. The model designation is still used, but today's version of the 1991 pistol is brushed blue with sandblasted rounds, and the pistol comes with nice wooden grips. It also sells for seven hundred dollars or so.

Ralph's pistol had some finish wear, and on field stripping it, it appeared as though he used 3 in 1 oil and WD-40 for lubricant. Other than the outer finish wear, it hardly looked to have been fired. "You shoot this much?" I asked.

"Nah, I just had it to have it," he replied.

I went through my process of checking a used 1911 prior to purchase. The thumb safety did not ping when the hammer was pulled back. The feed ramp had not been touched. The bore was like new. The barrel fit well, as did the slide. The magazine was a no name stainless steel mag, but it looked decent enough.

The 1911 wheels in my head got a quick kick start. In my spares box at home, I had a solid black aluminum trigger. I also had a checkered aluminum mainspring housing. I had walnut double diamond grips. This pistol would take very little to turn into a very nice, serviceable 1911. In fact, I would have to put no further money into it.

"I tell you what Ralph, I'll give you three hundred today, and the remaining one fifty after I shoot it," I offered.

"Fair enough," said Ralph. I placed the Colt in its blue box, snapped it shut, and drew three Benjamins out of my wallet.

Once home, I took out a few tools and began to detail strip the Colt. Everything was dry and in good shape, except both bushings unscrewed with the grip on the left side of the pistol. I used a pair of vise grips and a screwdriver to free the trapped bushings from the fat rubber grip, and then I set them back into the receiver with red LocTite.

I used brake cleaner to dissolve the gummed up oil inside the pistol. Digging through my spares box I found the trigger, mainspring housing and grips. It would take a lot to get me to change my mind now. I did a trigger job on the pistol and installed the parts. I removed a little metal from the tab of the grip safety to make it more responsive in my hands. I deepened the plunger recess in the thumb safety so it would engage and disengage with more authority. I dressed the extractor. Finally, I went to my range bag and retrieved a blue Shooting star magazine and stuffed it in the bottom. The pistol was starting to look like a clean, no nonsense pistol.

I was sold. Over time, my tastes in handguns has meta morphed from a love for large capacity European 9mm blasters, to plastic fantastics, to 1911 trend setters. Back in 1991, when this Colt pistol first hit the market, I was wrapped up in the 9mm wonder gun scene. I had passed them by at $400. Now, it is a fortunate man who finds one for that price, in almost any condition. I stuffed the Colt M1991A1 and some ammo in my range bag for a trip to the range.

I shot 230 hardball, 185 grain hollow points, and a couple magazines of reloads. I shot the pistol right side up, upside down, and on it's side. I let my thumb ride the slide and I limp wristed it. No matter how I tried to induce a failure, the Colt gobbled anything I had to stuff into it's magazine. It was accurate, more accurate than I was.

It looks like I'll be taking $150 to work in the morning.

The Delta Elite is Back!

At the 2008 Shot Show, Colt fans were bizzing like bees over the announcement that hartford would again spit out it's famed 10mm 1911, the Delta Elite. Sadly, it would not come to pass. Colt was trying to do too much in upgrading the pistol with a bushingless barrel. Like many traditionalist Colt fans I was not overly enthusiastic about the redesigned pistol with XSE enhancements.

News from SHOT 2009 is that the Delta Elite is back, and will be produced as it was originally designed. Colt is still planning on putting out a bushingless enhanced version, but who gives a damn when the original can be had?

Also being displayed by Colt is an enhanced stainless 1911 with an integral rail and a fitted beavertail grip safety. This pistol has been given the unfortunate moniker "Colt Rail Gun." At least they did not name it after a reptile or a hooved mammal. A 22 Long Rifle AR is being shown by Smith & Wesson, and rumored about by Colt.

Pawn Shop Circuit: A Vintage Carry Gun

I stopped in Kenny's pawn shop this afternoon when I left work. He had several Ruger centerfire autoloaders, a Springfield XD, and the Taurus P92 was still gathering dust. Among the handguns though, was a shiny Colt.

Specifically, it was a 1903 Hammerless in .32 ACP. It appeared to me to be a Type 4, with the original magazine. The nickel finish was well worn, and I wasn't sure if it was original. The wood grips did not appear to be original either. The pistol had just come out of hock, and did not yet have a price tag. I asked Kenny how much he wanted for it.

"How about three hundred?"

"You're dreaming!" I handed it back to Kenny, and he placed it back in the case.

The Colt 1903 Hammerless is a 32 caliber pistol that makes a very nice carry gun if you feel comfortable with the bullet size, and if you can use the sights. I recall reading somewhere about a Colt 1903 that had Novak sights installed and the front strap checkered. As a durable alternative to the KelTec P32, a Colt 1903 in good shape is a viable carry option. They carry like a dream.

Several years ago I purchased a Colt 1903 at a gun show for $240. It had very little blue left, and I probably paid too much, but I wanted the pistol for my wife. It has been a reliable shooter, although accuracy is not all I would like it to be.

If you purchase one of these pistols, be sure to get one with the original Colt magazine. Aftermarket mags are generally a recipe for poor feeding, and the originals are hard to come by and pricey if you do find one. Buy the pistol in the best condition that you can afford, and if possible shoot it first. Do not purchase a non-functional example, unless it is for parts. Parts are generally unavailable. Reproduction grips are available from Vintage Gun Grips Inc and NC Ordnance.

A plethora of information concerning these fine little carry guns can be found at Sam Lisker's website, Colt Autos.com. Before making a purchase, learn as much as you can there, compare the pistol you are considering to the many photos and run the serial number through the data base to determine the year it was manufactured.

Perhaps I will check back in a few days to see if Kenny adjusted his price.

The Colt 1902 Military

"Browning's idea was to make the barrel free to move somewhat, unlike in the straight blowback design, and anchor it to the frame by means of a pair of swinging links, one at the rear of the barrel and one at the front. On firing, the whole assemblage of barrel and slide would move rearward locked together by means of lugs machined atop the barrel that fitted into mortises in the underside of the slide. This would only be for a short distance, as the links would naturally pivot about their pins, causing the barrel to drop down and unlock from the slide."

Tam has written an incisive article on the Colt 1902. Read more about the forerunner to the 1911 here.

The Reason I Crossed the Bridge

One of the reasons I passed up Preacherman's turn-off yesterday was because I thought an old favorite gun dealer would be first on the route. I was headed his way. I had learned that there would be no gun show my hometown this year, the Police department had canceled their show, and the independent promoter of the alternative had health problems. I had money saved, and remembered a certain pistol that I had seen last year.

Hutchinson's Guns is in Tioga Louisiana, a Ma and Pa operation with little overhead and good prices. I was in the market for a pistol. Hutch was walking across his front yard as I parked in his drive, and we went into his crowded one man operation. Gun cases were stacked shoulder high, ready to be loaded into a trailer for the next show. I asked if he still had a Colt Defender.

Hutch went to a stack of blue plastic cases and deftly pulled one from the center. The pistol inside had the low profile sights, but it also had the ugly duck bill grip safety. Hutch agreed to give me the price I had seen at last year's gun show, and so, I bought the pistol.

I commonly advise people to shoot a 1911 for at least three months before they change anything. Alas, I suffer from the "fix 'em up" bug as well. Already I have a list of changes for this gun.

The Hogue wrap around Good Year grip has got to go. Slim wood panels only. Maybe checkered double diamond cocobolo.

A Nowlin "speed demon" hammer with a short, classic Commander grip safety should help concealability, comfort, and still prevent hammer bite.

The black trigger has got to go as well. Silver. Solid.

I'll likely keep the teardrop thumb safety and the polymer mainspring housing. No need adding weight to a pistol designed to be light weight. Finally, a dehorning. I may take this pistol to Clarks to get the slide melted.

So, I guess I am susceptible to the 1911 "fix 'em up" bug as well. Time to break out the parts bin......... Or get to the range with some .45ACP.

My Colt Compact

One of my favorite 1911 style pistols is a Colt M1991A1 Compact that I modified for carry. As an unmodified pistol it had an uncanny accuracy despite it's short sight radius. All the work I performed on it was done to enhance the shootability, reliability and durability of an already accurate firearm.

The Colt Compact is the bare bones parkerized version of the Colt Officer's ACP. As with most of the 1911s that I have modified for my own use, I installed an Ed Brown grip safety and an Ed Brown tactical thumb safety. I kept the Colt hammer, sear and disconnect. The trigger, though, was swapped out for a Dlask magnesium and titanium unit. I fitted a Ted Yost retro rear sight into the slide and had a dentist friend fill the original front sight recess with a bit of gold. The Colt slide stop and the barrel that held the pistol's accuracy were retained.

But wait...... There is one modification I forgot to mention, the one most people are interested in. The Colt Compact and Officer's ACP both suffer from a reputation of a recoil plug that depends on a small lug that fits in the dustcover for retention. The barrel bushing is a thin unit, and through the rigors of prolong use, the lug on the recoil plug has been known to shear off. When that occurs, the plug and recoil spring are launched down range, and the gun becomes an amusing club. I wasn't going to have that on a carry gun.

To rectify the problem, I ordered a reverse recoil plug from Clark Custom for $20. This plug has a lug that fits in the original recess, but more importantly, it has a flange that goes around it's rear that prevents it from ever breaking. The Clark reverse plug is a solidly over-engineered chunk of steel, and only a glimpse makes even the most skeptical shooter realize it isn't going anywhere. It uses the original recoil springs and guide, and requires minimal fitting to the pistol.

With the big chunk of Clark steel up front, the thin Colt Compact bushing was looking pretty anemic. I started to shop around, and finally decided on an EGW Melt bushing to replace it. For $22.50, the EGW Melt bushing is another hefty piece of steel. It is designed to extend to the edges of the slide to prevent a seamless blend on the muzzle of the pistol if it is radically dehorned, or "melted." along with the EGW bushing, I ordered the bushing wrench necessary to turn it. The bushing required fitting to both the slide and the barrel, but the specs were so close that I was able to achieve a close tolerance fit with emery cloth and a bit of oil and elbow grease. The bushing extends out past the barrel's crown a bit, effectively protecting it. Between the Clark reverse plug and the EGW bushing, the pistol has all the reliability of a ball peen hammer,

I gave the pistol a subtle dehorning, and I took my new carry pistol to a pro for refinishing. I wanted a tough finish, but also one that was dark and nondescript. I chose a teflon coating with a black slide over an olive drab receiver. Finally, Pearce rubber double diamond grips and a Wilson Combat magazine with a low profile base pad rounded out the package for a durable, reliable and accurate carry gun.

The Police Positive Pocket Pistol

I enjoy guns with a history. One day, while in a hole in the wall pawn shop near Arcadia Louisiana, I spied what I thought was an early Detective Special. It looked rather lonely in it's fake stag Franzanite grips, so I asked to see it. What was handed to me was even more interesting.

I was handed a First Generation Colt Police Positive. As serial number 1529XX, it came out of the Colt factory late in 1923. All the numbers matched, and it locked up with the famed Colt tightness. It was chambered in .38 S&W. What was interesting was the barrel. It had been cut down to two inches and had the original sight silver soldered back on. As I held the gun, I felt the history flow out of it. I felt more history in this gun than any sock drawer special collector gun I have held. The gun was altered and as such, it had no real collector's value. I'm more interested in the history of concealed carry than the history of firearms manufacture though. The pawnbroker and I dickered a bit and finally agreed on a price.

To me, this gun had value.

Because of the quality of the work, and the use of the original sight, I made the leap of faith that the attenuation of the barrel occurred early in this Colt's life. At one time somebody needed effective concealed protection, or perhaps an officer of the law made detective and transitioned to plain clothes. Either way, the gun needed wasn't available from the factory or in the township, or perhaps money was scarce. The owner of this revolver decided to take matters into his own hands and delivered the gun to a skilled gunsmith. The revolver was delivered back to the owner as an effective carry weapon. I am drawing this conclusion based on the availability of weapons and the economic reality of the time, but I believe the barrel was cut down either before or during the Great Depression. Because of the remaining blue finish, I believe this gun was stored for several decades before it came into my possession. An interesting aside is that it fits perfectly into my J frame pocket holsters.

I was at first confused that on a weapon such as this, the hammer had not been bobbed. I later learned from one of my patients that in the 1920's there were many people who had learned to shoot with the Colt SAA. Cocking a hammer on a draw was commonplace. On this gun, the carrier's thumb would likely have rested on the hammer while the gun was still pocketed, effectively shrouding it on the draw stroke, and cocking the weapon while it was drawn. The unbobbed hammer supported my conclusion of when the barrel was cut down.

I've shot the revolver a few times, but the cost of .38 S&W is rather prohibitive. I'd rather buy .45 ACP. Still, the old cut down Police Positive is one of my favorite beater guns from days gone by, a real concealed carry belly gun that must have an interesting story behind it.

The Combat Elite

One Colt 1911 pistol that makes Colt the connoisseur heart go pitty pat is the two toned Combat Elite. With a polished blue slide and a stainless frame, it is an elegant handgun.

My Combat Elite was purchased at a gun show for $600 a few years back. It has been modified a bit since then, with an Ed Brown grip safety and thumb safety, a flat mainspring housing, a McCormick trigger, and a Wilson bushing to tighten things up. It's a good, reliable shootin' gun.

Although my Combat Elite has Accro adjustable sights and an enhanced frame and slide, the Combat Elite originally appeared in the classic fixed sight vertical slide serration format. Many Colt guys prefer that version, and I can't argue. Calling an adjustable sighted gun "Combat Elite" makes one wonder if the person naming it knows combat.

At any rate, the Combat Elite remained an elusive firearm for many. Now, Hartford has re-introduced the pistol. The good news is it has a fitted beavertail and a swept back Novak style rear sight. It also has the skeletonized hammer and a three hole trigger. The neato *Combat Elite* rollmark is carried over with the blued slide and stainless frame combination.

The bad news is the slide is not polished, and the pistol has forward serrations. I guess you can't have it all. Still, word has it these pistols are selling at a street price between $800 and $900. If you have the scratch and a hankering for Colt's two toned beauty, this gun, Model O8011XSE, is not a bad rendition at all.

Fitz Special on Gun Broker

"COLT Commando
Parkerized Finish
Caliber 38 Special
4 Inch Barrel
'Fitz' Special Speed Trigger

This Revolver is in Very Good Vintage Condition.

Timing and Bore are excellent.

The Revolver is fitted with the Original Factory Brown Checkered Plastic Grips. Please note that the forward edge of the LEFT Grip Only is Damaged.

These Revolvers were made during World War II from 1942 - 1945.

This example has modified in the 'FITZ Special' style. 'Fitz' Special Speed Trigger modifications were performed Originally on Colt Revolvers by Colt. This type of modification was also done in the private sector to both Colt & Smith & Wesson Revolvers. This Modification was a popular aid to facilitate rapid trigger acquisition and to allow the use of heavy gloves. Bill Jordan carried a 'Fitz Special' Modified Revolver while on duty with the US Border Patrol. This modification was popular in the Decades Preceding and following WW II.

Please note the Military Inspection/Acceptance Marks on Upper Left Frame above and behind Cylinder Release.
Marked:
"G.H.D." (Guy H. Drewry)
Ordnance insignia (flaming shell or bomb)
In Original Form, the US Counterintelligence Corps, Military Intelligence and the Office of Strategic Services orders totaled nearly 12,800.
Many more were purchased/used by the Defense Supplies Corporation (DSC). The DSC provided arms for Defense Plant Guards, Police Departments and Security Personnel for various US Government Organizations. Others were used in the US Merchant Marine, and Lend Lease Programs.
US General Eisenhower is reported to have had one, and some Colt Commando revolvers were definitely used in the war zones."

Blah Blah Blah. The seller sounds like a used car salesman with a rusted out Caddy on the lot.

1. This revolver was reparkerized. Note the parkerizing in the GHD and US Ordnance proof. These proofs were applied after the revolver was accepted by the military. After it was originally parkerized. Thus, one would expect to see bare metal in the proofs rather than parkerizing.

2. After this revolver was reparkerized, some knothead decided to make it into a Fitz Special. He lopped off the front of the trigger guard, and did a fair job of roughly blending things out. The area under the frame could use a bit more polishing though, and some parkerizing........ Oh, and bob the hammer, and cut the barrel down to a snubby. Replace the front sight and you might be getting close to a Fitz. Maybe some nice stag grips to compliment the parkerizing.

Sell the finished fake Fitz for $200-$300 instead of $600, and I might be interested. At $600 though, this is a revolver that is overpriced. This Colt Commando is also either ruined, and not followed through on the conversion, depending on how you look at it. $150 tops.

Here's a nicer Colt Commando (that isn't screwed up) starting at $301. Here's one that is supposedly unfired. Note the differences in the finish.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Actually nothing. Go to Colt CCO to see a new Colt with a problem.

The Colt Army Special

One old Colt revolver that occasionally comes up for sale is the Army Special. The Colt Army Special is a superbly fitted handgun that was crafted by some of the finest artisans of it's day. It was developed from an 1890's Colt double action revolver frame known as the Colt "41 caliber" frame. The Army Special was available in several calibers, .41 special, .38 special, .32 WCF, among others. They were available in blue and nickel finishes.

The term "Army Special" moniker was a marketing ploy. No army ever officially adopted the revolver as a sidearm. In 1927, the Colt Army Special became the Colt Official Police with only a name change. This particular revolver is one I picked up at Kay Clark-Miculek's place for $275 a couple of years back. The prices have not changed drastically since then, but Here is a Range Report.

Payback.....A Colt WW1 1911

When I was a boy of two, my father died. He was a sportsman and owned a variety of firearms and fishing equipment. Regrettably, my mother was forced to sell much of his belongings to keep our family afloat. Of course, she did not know the fair market value. She trusted the buyers, my father's former friends, to be fair with her. Some were men of honor, others had no scruples about taking advantage of a widow and two toddlers. Such is often the case when a gun owner passes to the 500 yard range in the sky where bulleyes are granted by divine intervention.

Ever since Colt decided to reproduce a WW1 1911 replica, I have lusted after one. I have kept an ear to the ground to no avail trying to find a used one, and the price of the pistol new was hard to justify. Two weeks ago, when I expressed my condolences to a co-worker over the loss of her husband, we got to talking about him. It seemed he was a sporadic gun accumulator, and the lady eventually asked me to have a look at his things. A few days later, I drove over with the expectation of finding a Glock or two, and perhaps a Steven's shotgun.

As I held Vicki's young uncomprehending son in my lap, I knew that someday, he would be where I once was. He would wonder if his father's friend who shook his young hand at church and ruffled his hair on the basketball court really was a friend. There are so many things lost to a boy raised without a father, not the least of which is the guidance needed to determine a true friend.

After a bit of coffee, Vicki and I finally got around to the reason I was there. She told me she had taken David's guns to a dealer in town and sold most of them. She said the pawn broker accepted what the dealer would not. I immediately regretted that I had not asked her to wait for me to evaluate the firearms, but I held my tongue. I knew what had happened. Vicki went on to tell me she had saved me one because she had overheard me talking about my Colt between cases at work. She then removed a white box from atop the refrigerator and handed it to me. On the outside was an orange sticker warning that the pistol inside lacked a firing pin safety. Vicki did not know what that meant, but it did not sound good to her. I could hardly conceal my anticipation as I removed the blue box within, and then the stamped pasteboard box within that.

Inside was the Colt pistol I had long desired. It was pristine, unfired. It appeared to be untouched, except to place it on top of the brown wax paper. I was likely the first to open the slide and check the chamber. It was empty. I looked the Colt over knowingly, having spent a couple of years researching the cosmetic flaws that sometimes appeared on them. The recoil tunnel was spot on. The rollmarks were precisely done. The finish was immaculate and beautiful.

Then Chase waddled up and said "Cawful cawful bang bang!" I laughed. I let him back in my lap and told Vicki to hold the pistol until I returned from the bank. About an hour later, I returned and purchased the pistol. I doubt I will ever say what I paid for this Colt. That is up to Vicki to relate as she wishes. I will say that I repaid a debt left by unscrupulous men to a fractured family almost half a century ago. Mama, you would be proud.

Colt's World War I U.S. Army Replica

Colt's Delta Elite is Back!

Word from SHOT is the 10mm Colt Delta Elite is back!

Out this year with a bull barrel, FLGR, low profile three dot sights, and wood grips. It appears to be a Series 80 gun with an extended single sided thumb safety and the duck bill grip safety. More at the 1911 forum.




I also hear Colt has a DAO New Agent.....?!!!

Colt New Agent: Range Report

In the Summer of 2007, Colt released a pistol to little fanfare. It was a pistol designed to take Kimber's Ultra RCP and smack it down to the CCW mat. For a while, I had secretly lusted over Kimber's dedicated concealed carry pistol, but I never could get past the Series II thing. Now, I didn't have to.

It took me several days to decide to purchase Colt's dedicated carry gun, even after I had found a nicely priced example at a gun show. When I finally realized the price was the same as a used Lightweight Commander, I broke down and purchased my first new gun in several years.

The Colt New Agent is an Officer's ACP sized pistol with an aluminum alloy frame. The barrel length is three inches, and it carries 7+1 rounds of 45ACP. The pistol has a blued slide atop an anodized frame. The black color is all business. The grips are slim grips, with a double diamond pattern that is pressed rather than sharply cut. The thumb safety is the same little nub as was present on the M1911. The mainspring housing is plastic and the frontstrap is serrated. The New Agent is a Series 90 pistol, incorporating Colt's patented firing pin safety. It comes with two magazines.

What makes the pistol unique in Colt's line-up is the sights. The New Agent lacks conventional sights, relying on a 2mm channel cut along the top of the slide. The idea behind the "gutter sight" is a snag free, quick to acquire sighting system. The trough is not meant for accuracy so much as it is meant for speed.

Once I had my New Agent home, I cleaned and properly lubricated it. Then I spent some time dry firing and trying to get used to the sighting system. The trigger was crisp and about four pounds. There was no creep, and no overtravel screw to adjust. For a defensive weapon, the lack of that trigger overtravel screw is a blessing.

I gathered up some ammunition, stuffed my Colt Compact in my holster, and took the New Agent to the range. I planned to shoot a variety of hardball, along with some Gold Dots and HydraShoks. I brought my Colt Compact along for comparison.

I started off with my usual drill, making certain the light weight Colt, even though new, was safe to fire. After a few single shots, I progressed up to a full magazine. then I tried to make the pistol jam. I limp wristed it. I fired it sideways, upside down. I let my thumb ride the slide. The New Agent was boringly reliable. The modified Colt Compact had a definite edge on shooting comfort though. The Ed Brown grip safety, the polished frame, and the additional weight all combined to make the Colt Compact a relative pleasure to shoot and the New Agent a handful by comparison.

In addition, the Teflon coated Colt Compact was quicker out of the holster. I was using a hand made IWB holster similar to a Summer Special. I swapped over to a Don Hume JIT, and I experienced the same results. Perhaps as the New Agent is used a while, it will rival the Compact in ease of presentation. Time will tell.

The Colt Compact also ate the New Agent's lunch on accuracy, not surprising since it has sights. The New Agent did not come to sights for me quicker than the Compact. If anything, the sighted pistol had the edge in speed. Perhaps that was due to my unfamiliarity with the gutter sight, but those were my results. On the Colt Compact I have a Ted Yost retro rear sight paired with the stock Colt front sight. I had a dentist friend press some gold filling stuff in the recess of the Compact's front sight. The result is an accurate pistol with quick sights. Plus, I'm used to it. The lack of contrast in the gutter sight was detrimental. Perhaps I will paint the channel red white.

I continued to blast lead down range with the New Colt. The pistol seemed to be grouping low and to the left for me. I wondered what could be causing that, and then I noticed my finger placement on the trigger. I was over reaching the trigger, and shoving the muzzle over with the trigger stroke. Once I corrected my finger placement, the gun got in the black. I wondered, though, why that had happened. Then I realized.....The slim grips had changed the profile of the gun, as well as my grip on it. The screws and bushings were too short to try alternatives. I adjusted my grip, and the problem evaporated.

The New Agent had shot 300 rounds without a failure, so I loaded the magazine with HydraShoks, charged the chamber, locked the hammer, and put the pistol in my holster. My jacket draped over it, concealing it completely. I loaded my gear back in my range bag and went on about my day. I thought about going back to the gun show, but I had shopping and chores to do. I went to Wal-Mart and the hardware store, and then I continued about my business at home. I forgot the New Agent was on my hip. In the Don Hume JIT, on a good gun belt at 4:00, it carried that well. No, the unprotected thumb safety did not disengage. It is my hope that the pistol will slick up some coming out of the holster. I also hope that highlighting the gutter sight with paint will have a positive effect. If so, the Colt New Agent will be a welcome addition to my choices for carry.

Update
The New Agent passed my carry gun qualification test......500 rounds with no failures, 100 of which are carry ammunition, and it has earned a place on my hip. It carries like a dream. In a OWB holster supported by a gun belt from The Belt Man, I forget the pistol is even there. It is still chilly out, and I frequently use a sweatshirt as a cover garment. The pistol carries just as well underneath a sportscoat. These are my two preferred modes of carry.

When it warms up, I may swap back to my old Model 38 slid inside a Uncle Mikes #3 and stuffed into the front pocket of my khakis. For now though, having 6+1 rounds of 45ACP on tap if needed gives me an extra pocket, and I can't tell the difference in the effort it takes to pack it.

More on the Colt New Agent

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