Is colt 1911 worth trading my Para 1911?

[Mity2]

I've been Colt hater for long time.
Not because Colt's are not good or anything, but I've always hated the misteque surrounds Colt, and i hated the people's attitude towrds colt.

You know that type - those pay arm n' leg for Python or 6920 or 1911, eventho there are other manufactures who makes just as great gun for less money, because its not Colt, its just not as good.

Well, I have an oppertunity to trade my Para 1911 (PX745S) for SS colt 1911 Series 80. Gun itself is bit dirty. But being stainless, I presume it'll clean up nicely.
It look about as basic as 1911 can be. It have small GI type blade/natch sight, GI type grip safety without extended beaver tail, plastic grip(I take it its not original) simple spur hammer, curved MSH, no guiderod, and 3 hole trigger.


My Para which I paid around $750NIB, have everything people want in 1911(extended grip safety, Novak combat sight, commander style hammer, match grade throated barrel, guide rod, extended safety, power extractor, beautiful rose wood grip, flat MSH, 4.5Lb trigger, 2" group at 25yrds from sandbag, Shoots and slide flats are polished to mirror shine. You know everything people want, except one.
Its not colt.
Heck its not even made in USA.

I can prolly get this colt for my Para plus $200~$250.
Now I have no complint with my Para. Always been great gun for me. Never carried it, because while I consider this gun as nice shoow off, accurate target shooting gun, not truely dependable feeding HP(does hang up feeding Hydrashock once in blue moon. Since its not 100%, i won't carry it).
I donno if colts are considered as target type gun, or reliable combat gun as original colt 1911.

You guys think its worth trading?

[DaveM55]

First let me admit I am a Colt snob.

Do you plan on modifying the Colt or keeping it stock?

If you are going to modify the Colt start adding lots more money to the overall deal.

Personally I'd keep the Para since it's already got all the bells and whistles you want. And send it to a good pistolsmith to make it more reliable.

[Lycanthrope]

No...it's not worth it.

I was tooling with a Colt series 80 National Match this past weekend and I'm still surprised how much one can pay for a gun that doesn't have a decent fitting grip safety and a barrel with loose lock up.

Spend $200 and have the Para worked by a smith until it feeds ashtrays from the magazine. Maybe upgrade some internals. EGW or Gans guns would make it sing for that money.


Lycannowaythrope

[DaveM55]

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

EGW or Gans guns would make it sing for that money.


Lycannowaythrope

Does that make a 9mm a soprano, a 40S&W a tenor and a 45ACP a baritone?

[Lycanthrope]

Originally Posted by DaveM55

Does that make a 9mm a soprano, a 40S&W a tenor and a 45ACP a baritone?

That, my friend, depends on your grip.......

Lycanfirmbutnottoooootightthrope

[DaveM55]

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

That, my friend, depends on your grip.......

Is that with or without the soldering iron?

[Mity2]

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

No...it's not worth it.

I was tooling with a Colt series 80 National Match this past weekend and I'm still surprised how much one can pay for a gun that doesn't have a decent fitting grip safety and a barrel with loose lock up.

Spend $200 and have the Para worked by a smith until it feeds ashtrays from the magazine. Maybe upgrade some internals. EGW or Gans guns would make it sing for that money.


Lycannowaythrope

One I looked at, barrel lock up was fair, and slide to frame fit was fair as well, definately not shockingly good or anything.
I think when it boils down to, your paying $$$ for the name. As long as people are willing to pay more for colt name, colt 1911(or Python or anaconda, and 6920) will remain unreasonalbly expensive.
I could trade my Para for it, spend $200 more right off start, then odd:

beaver tail
extended safety
better grip
better sight
tighten up the slide/frame fit worthy of Colt's price
match grade barrel
match grade bushing
replace arched MSH to flat checkered MSH
work the trigger so that again, its worthy of colt's price
And polish the hell out of it(since my para is)

by this time its about as good as my Para is right now, but who knows for how much more.

[96D]

NO! You'll be sorry!!!!!!!!

[Rule10b5]

Hell no.

First, every stock Colt auto I've ever owned has been a pain in the ass to get running properly. Even if you wanted to leave it dead stock you'd have to mess with it to get it working.

Second, you'll spend $200 plus your gun for the Colt. Then you'll spend another $500 or so to get all the add-ons to equal the Para. Then you'll spend another $100 to get it to feed properly. That's $900, for what? A name -- that's it.

Third, if your gun hangs with hollowpoint, you can get it fixed for $100. Or you can just carry Powrball or EFMJ which will feed 100% if hardball feeds 100%.

[RLS]

Keep the Para.

If it coughs at the Hydra-Shocks, do yourself a favor and get better ammo.

Hydra-Shocks are out dated, there is better ammo available.

POW'RBALL should feed just fine.

The price that is being asked of you for the Colt is too steep.


Rick