My First Alloy Gun

[Nipperdog]

I have been shooting 1911s since my Army days in 1964 and at present have a large collection of 1911s. I have never owned an alloy framed 1911 before. I was talking to my Son in NY the other day, and he was telling me that he has a LNIB Colt Defender with the 100yr rollmark that he wanted to sell to purchase an AR15. So it seems like I will be shipping his FFL my SP1 AR15, and he is sending me his Defender. From what I have read they are pretty well liked as a concealed carry piece.

[maddmaxxx]

-congrats on the great luck and SON !!!

-ive carried an '86 LWCommander since new [45acp]

-due to severe back pain i went out and bought a '12 defender [45acp]

-i have been fortunate to report 00 malfunctions of ANY kind [aprox 2k rds]

-being your potential defender is the 100 yr rollmark...a beavertail grip safety may be in order...i am a little younger than you [army 80], i feel i need the 'edge'...i am unclear which GS is on the '11 defender

-CCS will be happy do do this for you...but again you may prefer the GS installed

-i use an OWB holster and US manufactured ball ammo...Winchester silvertips for carry...that may be the reason of zero problems

-i have noticed some of the problematic defenders have 'poorly' ramped barrel
chamfering [both lower and to the side]

-i am completely satisfied defender customer...bought 'new', sight unseen thru an internet broker...Trust my life with her completely

-perhaps if Colt introduced the defender in '86...my back would be in tip top shape LOL LOL

-please keep us in the loop guy ...GOOD LUCK !!!

[dakota1911]

I think the .45 Defender is one of the more "forgiving" little .45 ACPs and this includes the Glock 36, KAHR and S&W. I started with a Detonics back in 1984 I think and have owned a bunch. Mine is a 2002 and I have had no problems with it since about the first 50 rounds or so but it isn't the alloy frame, it is the length of that barrel I think.

[michaelgee]

Originally Posted by Nipperdog

I have been shooting 1911s since my Army days in 1964 and at present have a large collection of 1911s. I have never owned an alloy framed 1911 before. I was talking to my Son in NY the other day, and he was telling me that he has a LNIB Colt Defender with the 100yr rollmark that he wanted to sell to purchase an AR15. So it seems like I will be shipping his FFL my SP1 AR15, and he is sending me his Defender. From what I have read they are pretty well liked as a concealed carry piece.

LW Colts are the best carry gun, especially for long days.
I have 7 LW Commanders and they are, IMHO, the greatest all day carry 45acp alive.

If you want a fine all day carry go LW, if you want a range gun to shoot many thousands of rounds a Combat Commander may be even better.
My Series 80 Colt LW Commander just finished two weeks ago.

[Nipperdog]

Well I got my Defender from my Son and it sure is pretty where in lies the problem. I had wanted the gun for a concealed carry piece to replace my hefty steel framed Officer model .45. The Defender has the 100year rollmark and is in new condition. I hate to mess up a potential collectable by carrying the gun. I feel like tossing the Colt into the back of the safe and forgetting about it. The kid says I'm nuts and just put the thing in a holster and use it which is what I will probably do.

[alde]

Nice looking pistol. I say shoot and carry it. That's what it was made for. I shoot the heck out of my 100 Year Series 70.

Originally Posted by Nipperdog

Well I got my Defender from my Son and it sure is pretty where in lies the problem. I had wanted the gun for a concealed carry piece to replace my hefty steel framed Officer model .45. The Defender has the 100year rollmark and is in new condition. I hate to mess up a potential collectable by carrying the gun. I feel like tossing the Colt into the back of the safe and forgetting about it. The kid says I'm nuts and just put the thing in a holster and use it which is what I will probably do.

[hogrdr]

i carry a defender, an older one. it has had zero malfunctions, however it has a bad habit of wanting to throw the front sight. last time it did i staked the crap out of it and it has stayed on for the last few hundred rounds. can't see from the picture but i think yours is dovetailed.

[Nipperdog]

Originally Posted by hogrdr

i carry a defender, an older one. it has had zero malfunctions, however it has a bad habit of wanting to throw the front sight. last time it did i staked the crap out of it and it has stayed on for the last few hundred rounds. can't see from the picture but i think yours is dovetailed.

Yes mine has a front dovetail. My kid sent it back to Colt, and had night sights installed. The next time you have to re stake the sight put some loc tite on the tenon. That usually works to keep it tight in the slide.

[pyunker45]

Originally Posted by Nipperdog

I hate to mess up a potential collectable by carrying the gun. I feel like tossing the Colt into the back of the safe and forgetting about it.

Do you think it might be "collectable" because of the 100 year rollmark?

I don't, plus as you already know, we will be gone before in production Defenders will be collectable.

Carry it like you intended to.

[TREEMAN]

Shoot and enjoy.........

[michaelgee]

Originally Posted by pyunker45

Do you think it might be "collectable" because of the 100 year rollmark?

I don't, plus as you already know, we will be gone before in production Defenders will be collectable.

Carry it like you intended to.

Today you can't get agreement, in 99 years it WILL be worth more than other Colts of the same vintage. Over the next 99 years they will become rare to see as we put them in the safe. We may not live to see the 200 th year Colts but we have them today and that is cool to me.

The folks that are down on them are the same folks that most often don't have one.

[CarlCyrus]

Shoot it and carry it.

In 99 years, at the rate this Nation is going, our grand children will be standing in line waiting for their Soilent Green rations from their "Dear Leader." Dear Leader will have a large army to keep the serfs in line.....there will be no private firearms.

Carl

[Rick McC.]

Hey neighbor; I'd carry and shoot it!

They'll be worth a bit some day; but likely not soon enough to do us any good.

Here's my carry Commander with the rollmark:



Congrats on a great Colt!

Take care,

Rick

[Shad Roe]

My new alloy gun:







Why carry more weight than you have to?

Thank God for Colt alloy frames.(I like S&W alloy 1911s too.)

[Nipperdog]

Originally Posted by Rick McC.

Hey neighbor; I'd carry and shoot it!

They'll be worth a bit some day; but likely not soon enough to do us any good.

Here's my carry Commander with the rollmark:



Congrats on a great Colt!

Take care,

Rick

Hey Rick: Taking it to the range on Tue. and if it shoots ok I'll start packin it. Guess its time to retire the Officer model, even that little gun feels heavy now. Hope to see you at the range one day........Lew

[zenner22]

Shad, I have a Lightweight Government Model and love it. But my slide doesn't look as nice as yours! Who did the finish on the slide? It looks great.

[Shad Roe]

Originally Posted by zenner22

Shad, I have a Lightweight Government Model and love it. But my slide doesn't look as nice as yours! Who did the finish on the slide? It looks great.

Colt custom shop.

[Rick McC.]

Lew:

I hope so too!

I'm planning to go Tuesday (I was there today sighting in a new SR22P) to IDPA practice in the back with Andy and the gang; but the wife's on vacation that week, so my plans may get changed (hope not).

The last time we were talking about meeting up; she came down with a really bad bug, and I had to stay home.

Anyway; practice usually runs from 9:AM - 11:AM.

Take care,

Rick