The Colt Brothers

[melissa5]

So, I bought a series 70 repro a few weeks ago and loved it so much that I had to buy a 9mm 1911. I looked at the New Agent, Defender, and SA EMP. The SA looked great but was heavier than the Colts. The New Agent looked really good also, but I didn't think I'd like the trench sights. That left the Defender. I picked it up today and shot 100 rounds of NATO through it. LOVE IT! The only way it could have been better is if the insert in the front sight had not fallen out and gotten lost. Oh well, I'll be calling Colt next week. I might see if I can wangle some discounted night sights for my trouble. Also, I removed the rubber grips and put on some cheap woods until I can have Bawanna make a perfect set of thin grips.

I also found out that you don't really want a sweat guard on a 1911 holster.

Here she is with her big brother.

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7360/dscn2101h.jpg

[Bill K]

Me thinks you have way too many guns and need to share... :)

Nice looking pistols you have there. Are they for carry or just range guns?

Bill K.

[TheTman]

Why Melissa, what a nice pair you have. :p

[melissa5]

Me thinks you have way too many guns and need to share... :)

Nice looking pistols you have there. Are they for carry or just range guns?

Bill K.

Thanks! I must have gotten over my fear of cocked and locked and plan to carry the little one. The big one will be for HD. They are both a pleasure to shoot and I will be selling a couple of Glocks that don't blow my socks off anymore. I do have more guns than I need. ;)

[melissa5]

Why Melissa, what a nice pair you have. :p

Thank you...I think. ;)

[CJB]

I'm gonna get slapped, but there's a joke there (someplace) about a gal with a set of .45's.

Sorry. Couldn't resist. (and now reading up, I see its been used... oh well)

Those Defender's are nice! Great grab. The 1911 is like a Fender Telecaster - ya just can't have too many.

[MW surveyor]

You people ahead of me took my praise phrase for Melissa! Dang it all!

Looks like you are getting the 1911 SA bug bad! Anyway, nice set (of pistols).

MW

[Bawanna]

That Defender has the short Officers Model size grips don't it?

I still have the bookend half that matches what's on the Colt if you want a matched or as close to matched as I can remember what I did.

Or we can do something completely different. Just know we're here for ya and ready to make dust whenever you decide.

Like the others already said, that a really nice pair you got there. Very nice indeed.

You do be ultra alert on that thumb safety and that trigger finger, I know you are and I have no worries but dont drop your guard not for a single second. I'd be devastated to hear of you hurting yourself.

[melissa5]

That Defender has the short Officers Model size grips don't it?

I still have the bookend half that matches what's on the Colt if you want a matched or as close to matched as I can remember what I did.

Or we can do something completely different. Just know we're here for ya and ready to make dust whenever you decide.

Like the others already said, that a really nice pair you got there. Very nice indeed.

You do be ultra alert on that thumb safety and that trigger finger, I know you are and I have no worries but dont drop your guard not for a single second. I'd be devastated to hear of you hurting yourself.

Yes, officers size grips. I'm thinking that the Defender needs something a little more bold than Spalted Maple. I was looking at some blue and purple dyed box elder the other day. I don't know...still looking.

Since I've had Glocks for the past year, I've trained myself pretty good about keeping my finger off the trigger until I'm on target. And I know I'll need to be even more careful with these since the trigger pull is shorter. Thanks for being a concerned cyber husband. :)

[ltxi]

There are two things wrong in this thread so far...
-- a 1911 in 9mm is a crime against nature.
-- The proper name for the short barrel, short grip 1911 Colt isn't Officers Model, it's Officers ACP. Bawanna's old enough to know better. The Colt Officers Model was a .38 revolver.

:rolleyes:

Kidding aside. Congratulations, Melissa, on your conversion to 1911 and cocked and locked. Always my preference even though as a practical matter the PM9 is the usual carry piece. Also Wilson sells, or at least used to, some very nice slim grips with matching bushings. Have always fit my small hands well and nicely trim the butt a bit for concealed carry as well.

[CJB]

Bawanna's old enough to know better.
:rolleyes:

I once had the opportunity to babysit a Lightweight Commander, in 9mm. Those had extra thin slides. They had the top of the slide hollowed out a bit, to the same depth as the recesses for the top locking lugs. Only at the lugs and at the bushing were they "full thickness". Aluminum frames. The extractor had a cut under it, for lightening. The main spring housing had a cut in it (against the leaf spring) that was for lightening. Lean they were. And not bad either, except... not very accurate due to the way the barrel fit, and the chambers were half-assed. It was workable, with a new barrel, but it wasn't mine to do that with.

Some of us... may just be old enough to remember when dirt was still under warranty.:rolleyes:

[melissa5]

Well, mine seems to be pretty accurate if I do my part. I was able to drill the little number on the head of my target at 7 yards. Double tap to the chest and one in the head. Maybe it was a mistake...:p I'm not usually that accurate.

[OldLincoln]

I used to shoot Dad's 1911 better than anything. Now it just consistently shoots where it's pointed. To bad I don't point it as well as I used to.

[Bawanna]

I'm so ashamed of myself I'm gonna go wash my hands with soap for typing that incorrect terminology. You are correct on both the terminology and me being old enough to know better. I might even use that antibacterial soap. That'll teach me.

We're all slightly dumber for having read my post and I apologize whole heartedly.

[Dietrich]

Congratulations are in order Melissa.I`m happy for you.

[CJB]

Well, mine seems to be pretty accurate if I do my part.

The one I was referring to was made in the dark days of Colt production, mid to late 70's. I'm sure they have their collective ducks in a row these days. And, I'm glad to hear that its shooting well!!!

Goin by memory (huh, what day is it?), Colt cut really oversize chambers back then, and the barrel fit was loose at best. They'd usually begin to wear the top lugs pretty rapidly.

[Willieboy]

Beautiful guns Melissa. You ARE a "gun lovin woman".

[mrsig239]

Great pic and great looking guns. Watch out for that 1911 bug. I started the year with none and now have three.;)
If I dont watch out the PM9 could end up traded for another one and I'd have to leave the forum.:(

[melissa5]

If I dont watch out the PM9 could end up traded for another one and I'd have to leave the forum.:(

You can't stuff a 1911 in your pocket! Keep that PM9! ;)

[CJB]

You can't stuff a 1911 in your pocket! Keep that PM9! ;)

I beg to differ on that pocket stuffable thing! But do keep all PM Kahrs... great guns.

[melissa5]

I beg to differ on that pocket stuffable thing! But do keep all PM Kahrs... great guns.

:eek: You must have some big pockets! :)

[CJB]

<cues up the Dragnet music>

Just Wranglers, ma'am... just Wranglers...

[jlottmc]

-- a 1911 in 9mm is a crime against nature.

Finally, some one else gets it. 9mm in that platform is blasphemy, makes me shudder just to think about it. I still like the Commander in 45, in fact that be near right now. A full size 1911 is sexy too, anything else is an abomination. I have a P45 for smaller needs, and a couple of pocket guns (40 and 357) if I need to get smaller still, bottom line is this, the 1911 should never be made into what it can never be. Having said that though, the Springfield EMP in 40 really does it for me. That was a gun designed from the ground up not to be a chopped 1911 though. It gives all the looks of a tiny 1911, but none of it is 1911.
Congrats on the new toys, but I just can't enjoy a little pop gun like that with you. I guess we'll chalk that up as a difference of opinion, and appreciate it like that.

[melissa5]

Finally, some one else gets it. 9mm in that platform is blasphemy, makes me shudder just to think about it. I still like the Commander in 45, in fact that be near right now. A full size 1911 is sexy too, anything else is an abomination. I have a P45 for smaller needs, and a couple of pocket guns (40 and 357) if I need to get smaller still, bottom line is this, the 1911 should never be made into what it can never be. Having said that though, the Springfield EMP in 40 really does it for me. That was a gun designed from the ground up not to be a chopped 1911 though. It gives all the looks of a tiny 1911, but none of it is 1911.
Congrats on the new toys, but I just can't enjoy a little pop gun like that with you. I guess we'll chalk that up as a difference of opinion, and appreciate it like that.

Different strokes for different folks. :)

I could have gotten a single stack 9mm in another platform, but the short trigger pull of the 1911 is very seductive.

[jlottmc]

Indeed it is, and if you get a real good one, then it's a thing of beauty.

[Bill K]

Different strokes for different folks. :)

I could have gotten a single stack 9mm in another platform, but the short trigger pull of the 1911 is very seductive.

Melissa,

These guys are mild when it comes to their criticism. Many years ago I mentioned on a traditional archery forum that I had tried and actually had some good things to say about shooting carbon arrows out of my traditional longbow. There were actually a few threats of physical violence should I ever how up in their presence. I was accused of ruining "their" sport.

Bill K.

[jlottmc]

I don't really care what you carry, just carry the thing. I also won't react with violence or threat thereof without good reason. I may not care for a particular piece, but I will not stoop to that kind of level either.

[TheTman]

Melissa, you want to know what I was originally going to post then decided it might be over the line? It was another smartaleck comment, a bit off color, but not much worse than what I did post.

[melissa5]

Melissa, you want to know what I was originally going to post then decided it might be over the line? It was another smartaleck comment, a bit off color, but not much worse than what I did post.

Sure, go ahead.

[TheTman]

Ok, since you've been warned, and this is all in fun, I was going to post:

Wow Melissa, what a great pair! Oh, and the guns look nice too. :D

But I thought someone would probably be offended so I didn't post that.
BTW, you get a free dig at me anytime you get the oppurtunity. :)

[melissa5]

Ok, since you've been warned, and this is all in fun, I was going to post:

Wow Melissa, what a great pair! Oh, and the guns look nice too. :D

But I thought someone would probably be offended so I didn't post that.
BTW, you get a free dig at me anytime you get the oppurtunity. :)

LOL! The girls thank you and I thank you! ;)

[CJB]

No 1911 9mm content, so I came as close as I could... honoring Melissa's new found 9mm infatuation:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/IMG_53511.jpg
Charlie the Cat, with protection (70's era Browning Hi-Power, 9mm)

Well, its no heavier than the OACP, or at least it doesn't seem that way

[jlottmc]

Now the HP in 9mm is ok. That is the design for the 9mm that Browning had in mind. Nice work there. Answer this if you can though: why has the HP not been terribly popular in the US?

[melissa5]

Now the HP in 9mm is ok. That is the design for the 9mm that Browning had in mind. Nice work there. Answer this if you can though: why has the HP not been terribly popular in the US?

OK, I'll bite. It seems like I've read that there are a lot of levers on the left side of the gun. Having never held a HP, I don't know.

[TheTman]

I don't know, maybe because it was a 9, and over here we prefer .45's? And when 9's did get popular here, perhaps it wasn't modern enough to gather much attention, seems like Glock and Beretta were getting all the press back then, DA or DA/SA seemed to be the hot thing, and an SA 9 just didn't have the appeal I guess. That's my best guesstimate. I'd sure like to have stainless HP. Is the HP rated for +P, if not then that may be part of the problem.

[CJB]

OK, I'll bite. It seems like I've read that there are a lot of levers on the left side of the gun. Having never held a HP, I don't know.

Slide stop, thumb safety, magazine release. Sound familiar?

No grip safety. Has a magazine disconnect safety that some folks remove.

Why not popular... my own 2c on it is that it all stems from US Military. That lead to the 1911's being used in matches (bullseye). They led to vast improvement in accuracy, handling, triggers, ergonomics.. which led to non-bullseye competition, with even more accessories being produced. The 1911's are the most accessorized pistols ever, fair to say.

Hi-Power triggers have a terrible geometry that requires very hard parts, both hammer and sear, to maintain the good edges. Trigger refinement with factory parts tends to slip back into grittiness, the factory parts tend not to be up to match standards. They can be made to be so, it takes more work.

The EGW "hard sear" coupled with a Cylinder and Slide hammer is a pretty good combination for a Hi-Power trigger.

[CJB]

Here ya go, I thought I had another HP shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/P1055948.jpg

Very simple, no?