Reproduction vs original Colt 1911?

[Army GI]

I've been thinking about selling my Colt 1911 WWI reproduction for a while now. The original reason I bought it was because I figured I'd be shooting it a lot and I didn'twant to wear out an original. But the older the get, the more I care about "authenticity" (and I put that in quotes because the reproduction I currently own is an authentic Colt, just not original gov't issue).

I know this is the C&R forum so this is probably an obvious question to you all. But if you could only have one which would you choose? Colt reproduction with modern steel or an original military 1911 and why?

[CSACANNONEER]

My only Colt is a 1918 vintage according to this site. Other than that, I shoot modern 1911s.

[09rubicon]

No reason you cant have and shoot an original. If your that worried about wear you probably have many 1911 patterned firearms anyway! I love shooting all my C&Rs, thats half the fun, knowing its age, history and that it can still be called upon if necassary!

[DennisCA]

I love to have a original but I don't think I can afford it.

[beetle]

depends on what you mean by "authenticity". If you mean an all original and matching WWI 1911, you'll have to sell that reproduction and put in a few more thousand to get one. Then you'll have an expensive collectible 1911 that shouldn't be shot too often. They only did spot hardening on the WWI 1911s, so any time it is shot could be the time that the slide cracks.

However, you can get "mixmaster" WWI 1911s in the same price range as that reproduction. Mixmasters are guns that the parts don't match or are from different manufacturers. It will still carry with it the history of being a "real" WWI gun, just not a matching one. In this case I have no issue with shooting it -- the gun is already a mixmaster so adding more wear or replacing a part isn't going to significantly hurt value. Just be aware of the same caveat -- that the slide isn't hardened so may crack. If this happens just by another WWI era slide....

or another alternative is go after a WW2 1911A1. By WW2 colt figured out most of the same techniques used today to make 1911s last. Same recommendation as before -- feel free to shoot mixmasters, but try and preserve/shoot sparingly true collectible matching guns.

[Army GI]

I think I would definitely go with a mixmaster if I do end up selling.

[Tonymin]

I shoot all mine.

[Enfield47]

My goal is to get a GI issue WWII Colt 1911 some day. They are pretty expensive so it a down the road purchase. Until that day, I will continue to live vicariously through those of you who have one.

[Army GI]

Tell me more about the "spot hardening" issue with the WWI 1911s. Does it happen all that often? Is it something I should be worried about if I shoot less than 500 rounds of standard factory ammo through it? And if it does crack, is it catastrophic or can I just get a new slide?

Also, I don't think I can ever own a true collectible all matching original gun of any type. Besides the fact that I can never justify spending that kind of money on a gun, I like shooting all of my guns and I don't think I can stand the notion of owning a gun I can't shoot. I own 5 rifles from the CMP (Krag, 03, 03A3, Garand, Carbine) and all are mixmasters.

Though all original guns are cool, I assume that mixmasters just reflect the reality of what more commonly happens to guns in military armories; they are rebuilt and replaced. Hell at my reserve unit the receivers on our A2s are actually A1's that have been "X'd" out and "A2" stamped over it.

[NOTABIKER]

original because when i hold it in my hand the history takes over.

[2shotjoe]

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/colt1911a11930original-bestgrade.aspx

[Paulie Lugnuts]

Shoot or collect or little of both? We have a WWII 1911 that gets shot sparingly, 500 rounds a year maybe. I don't think I'm going to wear it out at that rate. I don't know what WWI 1911s go for, but WWII ones are fairly common and not too expensive. Here's ours.

[Magazineman]

Some people still sell Argentine Systemas cheap. Check 'em out.

[beetle]

Tell me more about the "spot hardening" issue with the WWI 1911s. Does it happen all that often? Is it something I should be worried about if I shoot less than 500 rounds of standard factory ammo through it? And if it does crack, is it catastrophic or can I just get a new slide?

Also, I don't think I can ever own a true collectible all matching original gun of any type. Besides the fact that I can never justify spending that kind of money on a gun, I like shooting all of my guns and I don't think I can stand the notion of owning a gun I can't shoot. I own 5 rifles from the CMP (Krag, 03, 03A3, Garand, Carbine) and all are mixmasters.

Though all original guns are cool, I assume that mixmasters just reflect the reality of what more commonly happens to guns in military armories; they are rebuilt and replaced. Hell at my reserve unit the receivers on our A2s are actually A1's that have been "X'd" out and "A2" stamped over it.

Actually I made a mistake in my earlier post. WWI and earlier slides were not hardened at all. Thus the relatively "soft" slide is easy to crack or break.

In WW2 they spot hardened the high stress areas -- front the slide, slide stop notch, etc.

Post WW2 they went with a fully hardened slide.

You are correct in that many guns became "mixmasters" in military armories. However guns rebuilt by the armories will carry the arsenal stamp -- which makes these "mixmasters" a legitimate collectible and worth more.

a intro the the different types of WW2 M1911A1 -- scroll down to my post.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=851102

[2shotjoe]

Actually I made a mistake in my earlier post. WWI and earlier slides were not hardened at all. Thus the relatively "soft" slide is easy to crack or break.

In WW2 they spot hardened the high stress areas -- front the slide, slide stop notch, etc.

Post WW2 they went with a fully hardened slide.

You are correct in that many guns became "mixmasters" in military armories. However guns rebuilt by the armories will carry the arsenal stamp -- which makes these "mixmasters" a legitimate collectible and worth more.

a intro the the different types of WW2 M1911A1 -- scroll down to my post.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=851102

thanks, i need to look at the proof marks on mine. it does match the pic of the colt in your post.