Posted: 9/30/2007 3:42:58 PM EDT
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Of the three, the only one i would recommend based on taste or experience is Springfield. Colt cons: Series 80 safety on all standard models, QC on aesthetics is so unreliable that the gun cannot be purchased unless carefully inspected (which rules out custom shop pistols for many due to the fact that few dealers stock them) Kimbers cons: Swartz safety, built too tightly for their level of QC SA cons: Frames not made in the US, has the ILS system (but can be completely removed w ease, unlike the others). |
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Springfield Armory. For what youget, a Colt is Waaaayy too expensive. Hold their value? Value is defined as what someone else is willing to pay for something. Colts just haven't been at the top of the list in decades. Kimber, too many plastic parts in production line guns. Nice cosmetics though. Dude, do the SA. You won't be sorry. |
It's rare to see even a mid-80's Colt going for under $500. The only ones that get down into the $400s are the plain-jane M1991 ORMs. You won't lose money on a Colt. |
| I just ran a Kimber Custom II through a pretty intense pistol class with no bobbles. Kimbers are well made guns and they are shooters. But pick your own koolaid, I'm probably in the minority when I say who cares that there are plastic and MIM parts in the guns. I threw it on the ground and had it full of moon dust and it kept running. That's all I want my pistols to do. |
Yes you will, you lose money on almost every gun you buy. Very few increase in value - ie very rare Colts,RR's etc. Colts are good if you want a plain jane model. If you want all the bells and whistles the SA is the way to go. |
Comparatively speaking, the Colts will hold more of their value. Usually they won't actually appreciate, although I'd like to see what some of these jokers paid for their Series 80 guns when they were new. Then there are the Series 70 Colts, which despite some shaky QC during several periods, still command a premium. When it comes time to sell, there is an undeniable market bias towards Colts versus other marques. |
Comparatively speaking, the Colts will hold more of their value. Usually they won't actually appreciate, although I'd like to see what some of these jokers paid for their Series 80 guns when they were new. Then there are the Series 70 Colts, which despite some shaky QC during several periods, still command a premium. When it comes time to sell, there is an undeniable market bias towards Colts versus other marques.[/quote] Personal experience confirms this for me also. I picked up an old Colt Gold Cup (70 series) for $400 at an estate sale. I don't know who did the work on it but it has Bomar sights, Briley barrel, a trigger job and I think someone worked the tolerances because the thing is tight as it can be. I wear it openly at work all the time (gun store). Get offers regularly for varying amounts of cash, but nothing less than $800 so far. I am happy with my purchase. |
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I have both. The kimber feels tighter. I have the Desert Warrior without the schwartz safety. The springfield is a GI that I upgraded with a new trigger, mainspring housing, etc. I will probably never get rid of either. I enjoy shooting them that much. Both shoot remarkably well. No problems at all. I use them both every week. I've used a lot of different ammo with a lot of different magazines. The kimber took about 500 rounds to function perfectly, but since then it has run wothout the slightest hiccup. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase either brand again. I would say you would be safe picking the one that fits you best out of either company. |
| Have a Springer GI that is so reliable that I wouldnt hesitate putting it against a Glock or HK in a death match. I once shot so many rounds out of it in one day, it was too hot to hold and rack the slide, well over 10 boxes of ammo went thu it in that day. It didnt jam once, no FTF, no FTE, it ran like a clock. I will probably try the Colt next, They have upgraded the frame and barrel to work better with hollow points. |
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No longer produced by Colt but they can still be found Gun Broker  and for a few hundred less Also on Gun Broker 
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| I just went through a CCW class, and watched a ton of brand new Glock, XD, Keltec and M&P pistols hiccup, but my less than 500 rounds Springfield ran flawlessly. The fact that Imbel forges the frames and slides and assembles them there isn't exactly a con. I've never seen anyone complain about their shitty Imbel receiver on their FAL. |
I have. Imbel has never produced the very best of anything, especially FAL receivers. I have seen plenty of QC issues surrounding Imbel FAL receivers over the last few years and the 1911 parts produced by them are certainly no exception. |