Colt MKIV 70 series or Springfield 1911A1 GI?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Colt MKIV 70 series or Springfield 1911A1 GI?

Posted: 9/11/2017 12:54:21 AM EDT

Hi guys,

I've never owned a 1911 and until recently I will be acquiring one of the two, a Colt MKVI 70 series or a Springfield 1911A1 GI. The thing is I can get to choose which one. Since my knowledge on them is slim. I wanted to ask all of you. Which one should I choose? The condition on the Colt is not bad, no rust, only 60% of bluing left, the barrel is shot out, no scratches and it's all original. On the Springer it's a true 1911A1 GI model with US grips, parkerized finished, very little finish wear, a few light scratches on the slide, the barrels looks good and all original as well. I do plan on shooting it and maybe down the line have it sent for a restoration. All the help will be much appreciated. Thanks

Posted: 9/11/2017 1:29:07 AM EDT

[#1]

Colt Colt Colt..

Resale, History, Quality...

And as the colt guys will tell you.. Its not a 1911 unless its a colt, its just a copy.

Ok, on the other hand, the Springfield will probably make you just as happy..

ETA: If the Springer is a WW2 pistol, then I vote for that one.

Posted: 9/11/2017 10:04:41 AM EDT

[#2]

I have owned, and presently own both Colt's and Springfield 1911 Pistols. These two brands are both good in my experience. Some things that have been important to me over the years:

1. The grip frame dimensions of Colt's and Springfield pistols is slightly different, making the feel of the gun in-hand different. I prefer the feel of the Springfield, but your milage may vary.

2. The customer service of the Springfield company is unequalled in the firearms industry in my experience.

3. I've put tens of thousands of rounds through my Springfield pistols and they just get smoother and better with use.

They are both good guns, as I said. But, Springfield has the edge I feel -- if you actually intend to shoot the gun a lot.

Posted: 9/11/2017 10:25:09 AM EDT

[#3]

Colt!

Attached File

Posted: 9/11/2017 10:31:42 AM EDT

[#4]

Colt.

Posted: 9/11/2017 11:08:07 AM EDT

[#5]

Colt for sure! You have to inspect clean and shoot it to determine if the barrel has issues. It is pretty hard to "shoot out" a 1911 barrel- I know some chugging along well with over 100k shots through them. Often people think barrels are shot out and what it needs is a tighter bushing or good cleaning.

Posted: 9/11/2017 1:22:28 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Colt Colt Colt..

Resale, History, Quality...

And as the colt guys will tell you.. Its not a 1911 unless its a colt, its just a copy.

Ok, on the other hand, the Springfield will probably make you just as happy..

ETA: If the Springer is a WW2 pistol, then I vote for that one.

View Quote

How would I know if it's a WW2 period pistol. The serial number does start #WWxxxxx

Posted: 9/11/2017 1:24:37 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
Colt for sure! You have to inspect clean and shoot it to determine if the barrel has issues. It is pretty hard to "shoot out" a 1911 barrel- I know some chugging along well with over 100k shots through them. Often people think barrels are shot out and what it needs is a tighter bushing or good cleaning.

View Quote

The inside of the barrels looks almost smooth bore. You can see some groove marks but I believe not enough to do its job.

Posted: 9/11/2017 1:45:53 PM EDT

[#8]

Springfield armory ( the original one not the commercial firm of today ) made some 1911's prior to World War One. The pistol you are discussing most certainly is a modern production gun.

Posted: 9/11/2017 1:47:48 PM EDT

[#9]

Also most if not all the modern springfields of that time period were made in Brazil not the states. Some had the FI Brazil stamped right above the serial number others under the grip panel and others on the underside of the dust cover.

Posted: 9/11/2017 2:20:51 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:

The inside of the barrels looks almost smooth bore. You can see some groove marks but I believe not enough to do its job.

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Could just be lead build up, but a 45 acp grove depth is not much.

Posted: 9/11/2017 2:25:42 PM EDT

[#11]

Colt any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Posted: 9/11/2017 2:28:37 PM EDT

[#12]

And since this thread is useless without pics, here's a potato pic of a Colt with Ivories:

Attached File

Posted: 9/11/2017 2:54:58 PM EDT

[#13]

Colt.

The Springfield sounds like a contemporary copy. If so, it will have a location of Geneseo IL on the right side close to the SN.

Posted: 9/11/2017 4:09:48 PM EDT

[#14]

I've been trying to post pics ever since Photofuckit did their thing. What other sites can I use to store pics and post them?

Posted: 9/11/2017 4:20:58 PM EDT

[#15]

Attached File

Posted: 9/11/2017 4:21:53 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've been trying to post pics ever since Photofuckit did their thing. What other sites can I use to store pics and post them?

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Buy a team membership and upload from your computer.

Posted: 9/11/2017 5:32:08 PM EDT

[#17]

Without knowing the prices idk how to give a real answer.....

If they cost the same or close i'd buy the colt

If the colt is 1800 and the Springfield is 200 id buy the Springfield

Posted: 9/11/2017 5:38:36 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
Without knowing the prices idk how to give a real answer.....

If they cost the same or close i'd buy the colt

If the colt is 1800 and the Springfield is 200 id buy the Springfield

View Quote

Price wise, they will cost me the same each ($500).

Posted: 9/11/2017 5:49:46 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Colt any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

View Quote

Colt

Posted: 9/11/2017 8:38:26 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've never owned a 1911 and until recently I will be acquiring one of the two, a Colt MKVI 70 series or a Springfield 1911A1 GI. The thing is I can get to choose which one. * * *

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:
I've never owned a 1911 and until recently I will be acquiring one of the two, a Colt MKVI 70 series or a Springfield 1911A1 GI. The thing is I can get to choose which one. * * *

Quoted:

Quoted:
Without knowing the prices idk how to give a real answer.....
If they cost the same or close i'd buy the colt
If the colt is 1800 and the Springfield is 200 id buy the Springfield

Price wise, they will cost me the same each ($500).

Fuck that.

For $500, I'd buy 6 Series 70 Colts.

Forget the current Springer bullshit.

Posted: 9/11/2017 8:49:18 PM EDT

[#21]

Attached File

One of my 4 Springfield 1911s

Attached File

One of my 3 COLTs.
An all original 1933 Commercial
I paid $500 for each several years ago. I underpaid for the Springfield and overpaid on the COLT. I regret neither purchase.

Posted: 9/11/2017 9:25:11 PM EDT

[#22]

FPNI

Get the COLT
Mk.IV Ser. 70 were the last of the good ones IMHO
Had a Gold Cup from that series, amazing pistol....really miss it

Posted: 9/11/2017 9:50:24 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

Price wise, they will cost me the same each ($500).

View Quote

Easy decision colt

Posted: 9/11/2017 10:45:49 PM EDT

[#24]

I would probably skip both.

There are some good deals to be had on new Colts, and you won't be taking the chance of buying a POS that someone has monkeyed with.

Posted: 9/12/2017 9:57:52 AM EDT

[#25]

My old 70 ser. I just picked up.

Attached File

Posted: 9/12/2017 1:00:00 PM EDT

[#26]

The Colt as long as it's all original. The Springfield was under 500 new.

Posted: 9/12/2017 11:02:56 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:

How would I know if it's a WW2 period pistol. The serial number does start #WWxxxxx

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He meant one of the “GI”models instead of the “mil-spec” model. Springfield never made 1911s during World War II, Springfield didn’t exist then.(Springfield is related in name only to the actual Springfield Armory)

Posted: 9/13/2017 1:09:28 PM EDT

[#28]

I'll repeat what everyone else said:
Colt.

Posted: 10/1/2017 8:09:26 AM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:
Colt!
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1234/addtext_com_MDkxNTQxNDcwNDY-304800.JPG

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Exactly.

Posted: 10/1/2017 8:34:05 AM EDT

[#30]

Colt.

Older WW2 [repro] Springers have 2 piece barrels and shitty MIM extractors which will not hold a set. They are not bad pistols and great for building on but the extractors need to go for ones made from tool steel and not the MIM crap. [nothing ''wrong'' with MIM but this is the wrong application for it.] Colt learned that lesson in the short time they tried it.