Should I Get Rid Of My Colt Defender?

[Hero45]

I was thinking about getting rid of my Colt Defender because it has a 3" barrel and I now have the CCO that I originally wanted. However, I have noticed that my local gun dealer sells their fair share of 3" 1911's, and over the past couple of years I never see any of them on consignment or being resold as used weapons.

It appears that the 3" 1911's are keepers after all or am I just looking in the wrong place?

[sac7000]

I'd rather cut my arm off with a rusty bandsaw blade then sell any of my pistols. Even my $49 (new price) Raven .25 auto will always have a place in my gun safe. When you get the feeling you need to downsize your collection, take a walk, the urge will soon go away.

[eddailey]

I'd rather cut my arm off with a rusty bandsaw blade then sell any of my pistols. Even my $49 (new price) Raven .25 auto will always have a place in my gun safe. When you get the feeling you need to downsize your collection, take a walk, the urge will soon go away.

Good advice!! Besides, if your Defender "runs" (mine certainly does) it'll make a good backup.

Ed

[jim young]

I did this last winter, got cabin feaver, wanted to sell everything and move south [I am still going south I hate the winter] I sold my krag, winchester grand,m1carbine,and several pistols, I regained my sences and spent serveal thousand and a year buying back my guns [not the same] I up graded my collections, most of my rifles were import marked, now I have dcm m1 m1 carbines, even the 2 k98s I sold, I up graded on to a exclent nonmatching russian cap. gun with exc, bore, and a ce 44 all matching very lightly sanded H still visible stock. I have a lot better collection now but it was a year of hell. I am now in the proses of selling my norinco,which I purchased 10 years ago, the dealer was suposed to buy me a 1991a1 and they were sold out so with out asking he buys me a norinco, I just kept it. so I have a couple of colt 1911s and with this sale I am buying a fn highpower. The only time i recomend selling your guns is if you are selling something you dont want to buy something you do want in your collection.

[Cameron]

PM me and I'll help you "get rid of it"

Cameron

[Hero45]

I'm actually trying to compile valid reasons for keeping my Defender so the more unbiased input the better.

[jim young]

personaly I would sell it and buy a gov. model, but that is just me.

[Chuck S]

I've never fired a Defender, but a lightweight 3" M1911 has a place in my wardrobe for many occasions. My Officer ACP has a steel frame so it's heavier than my Commander.

-- Chuck

[Sabre]

Allow me to answer your question by relating a situation of my own:

So I have three 1911-pattern pistols. A Kimber Stainless Pro Carry II, Springer GI model, and (most recently acquired) a Colt Government Model. I'm really liking the Colt. A lot. Now, I see that my SA GI model and Colt are kinda redundant. That, and I find that I enjoy carrying the full-size models, especially the Colt, more than the Pro Carry. So, I have my Colt, which I am definately keeping and want to carry. On top of that I have the GI model, that is kind of redundant to the Colt now, and the Kimber, which is kind of redundant, also, if I'm going to carry the Colt. So, what am I to do?
The "practical" solution is to sell the two pistols that I won't use that much and use the cash for something else. But, I really think that if I sell either one, I'll regret it. So they'll probably stay right where they are.

Does that answer your question?

[Chuck S]

What's the problem with selling pistols? ;)

In the past couple of years I've sold:

Kimber CDP Compact Series II
Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry IIe
Springfield M1911A1 ("WW2" model)
Para Ordnance P14-45
Para Ordnance Para CCW
Taurus PT945
HK USP45C
Glock 21
Beretta M8045
SIG P228
Browning High Power
Mauser Broomhandle

Don't get me wrong, I've still got several M1911s and a couple of others, but unless these have real historical or sentimental value (like my original '67 Commander) they don't do anything for me just sitting there.

-- Chuck

[stumbler]

:) One can never have enuff!

[Hunter]

No but if you must let me know I would like to have it

[Sifu]

I sold my new Colt Defender after sending it back to Colt twice for broken parts replacement. IMHO there are better-made 3" pistols on the market. Although the Defender has a 3" barrel, it is built on a Commander size frame making the weapon more difficult to CCW. Most 3" 1911s are built on the Officer's frame which is lighter and more easily concealed. FWIW

Regards

[eddailey]

If you had the "Commander size frame" (accepts full length magazines) then you had the Defender Plus. My Defender has the "Officer's" length grip and conceals well enough for me to carry it wearing only a T-shirt and jeans.

Ed

[Sifu]

Ed -

I did have the Defender + and I don't want to sling mud on anyone else's Colt. I was speaking of the frustrating personal experience I had with my last Colt. The extractor broke after the first few rds and the "staked" front sight post fell out shortly thereafter. 2 trips back to Colt. That was enough to turn me off. Considering it unreliable, I sold it and havn't looked back. Just my personal experience with today's Colt product.

Regards

[warmrain]

There has not been a DAY that I have not regretted selling my (purchased NIB) SS Colt Officers. Keep it (or PM me and we'll satisfy your desire to part with it)!

[warmrain]

I sold my new Colt Defender after sending it back to Colt twice for broken parts replacement. IMHO there are better-made 3" pistols on the market. Although the Defender has a 3" barrel, it is built on a Commander size frame making the weapon more difficult to CCW. Most 3" 1911s are built on the Officer's frame which is lighter and more easily concealed. FWIW

Regards

What would your choice be today for a 3" 1911? Are there choices beside Springfield and Kimber?

[myanof]

Every time I sell one I regret it later. I would keep your Defender around for a while before making a snap decission. If you still don't want it later, you can always use it as a trader for someting you really want.

[emiddio]

i have 4 defenders -- all obtained in 1998 - they are all alloy frame, stainless steel
slide; mine are not +1, all have officers frame size, dovetail front , and some kind
of fancy rear site that makes use of a hex screw to lock down. 1 defender is in 40sw,
others are 45acp. they all look the same.

the +1 defender may have a commander size frame -- i dont know.

current colt pictures -- see coltsmfg.com and then media links - show simpler style sites -- pinned front.

[singlestack00]

I was thinking about getting rid of my Colt Defender because it has a 3" barrel and I now have the CCO that I originally wanted. However, I have noticed that my local gun dealer sells their fair share of 3" 1911's, and over the past couple of years I never see any of them on consignment or being resold as used weapons.

It appears that the 3" 1911's are keepers after all or am I just looking in the wrong place?

Your Defender should get rid of you for even thinking about getting rid of it...

[Biohazurd]

Good advice!! Besides, if your Defender "runs" (mine certainly does) it'll make a good backup.

Ed


yeah i agree i would keep it as a back up.

[michael t]

A Pistol is a item of value. If you sell you will receive money. Now this money will soon be spent and then you will no longer have the money or the pistol.
I may trade but I never sell. Even when times are bad I will part with other items not my firearms.

[Hunter]

That is good advice Michael T gave. Once it is gone most likely it will be gone forever. In the end you could lose money trying to get another one.

[warmrain]

What michal t said!

Michael, I could not have expressed it better!

[res1b3uq]

It's only a gun. Reading some of these posts would lead people to believe that you were getting rid of something sacred. If you don't need it, why keep it?

[Hunter]

It's only a gun? Some folks think a little different that that. To me and I am sure more folks they can to a degree be sacred like the second amendment. It is possible to become attached to material possessions and often the degree of attachment isn't relazied until that paticular possession is gone. Or it could be that I am crazy.

[warmrain]

Sane, very sane Hunter.

[sac7000]

It's only a gun. Reading some of these posts would lead people to believe that you were getting rid of something sacred. If you don't need it, why keep it?

Every gun I've ever sold, even 35 years ago, has left an emotional scar. It's like losing an old friend, you just never forget. Nowadays when I get the urge to sell, I just wait a while until the feeling passes. Even the guns I didn't like I have regretted selling. Can't explain my actions, it's just the way it is.

[SMMAssociates]

Hunter:

Or it could be that I am crazy.

I don't know you well enough to make that diagnosis, but we should consider the people you hang around with.... :D

Seriously, a friend of mine has an S&W M19 that he'll never part with. Never.... He was an LEO, and got a call to respond to a bar fight. When he entered the building a gentleman was pointing a handgun at him, with the hammer coming back.

The gentleman survived - his wrist pretty much exploded, driving fragments into his chest - but he won't be doing that again real soon.

I have a snubbie that was my first "real" gun (I bought one before it that was sufficiently crap to be happy to sell off, and just safe enough not to bury in the back yard) too. It'll stay in my hands as long as I can keep it.

I suppose there is a distinction between "really want to keep" and "would be nice".... I sold a PPK/S some years ago because I needed the money, and ended up buying another one about a year later. I think I'd happily swap this one for the S&W version, but I've had it for more than 30 years, and would have to think about it....

So, if you've got one you don't want, send it to me....

Regards,

[res1b3uq]

Some of my guns are not for sale. My grandpas old double barrel. My Dad's Browning. My model 62A which was my first rifle. And no, you can't buy my series 80. Everything else is for sale, if the price is right.

[Brother Bear]

My experience has always been that I've found a "use" for every gun I've ever sold, usually within days of the sale. Unless you absolutely, positively HAVE to sell a gun, don't. Even then, don't sell.

We spend a lot of time, effort, and thought on selecting our weapons. As noted above, disposing of them seems to leave an emotional scar.

[The Sheriff]

Considering how cheap I usually am, unless I see something special, I'd probably rather have an abortion.

[ArmyCop]

I did this last winter, got cabin feaver, wanted to sell everything and move south [I am still going south I hate the winter] I sold my krag, winchester grand,m1carbine,and several pistols, I regained my sences and spent serveal thousand and a year buying back my guns [not the same] I up graded my collections, most of my rifles were import marked, now I have dcm m1 m1 carbines, even the 2 k98s I sold, I up graded on to a exclent nonmatching russian cap. gun with exc, bore, and a ce 44 all matching very lightly sanded H still visible stock. I have a lot better collection now but it was a year of hell. I am now in the proses of selling my norinco,which I purchased 10 years ago, the dealer was suposed to buy me a 1991a1 and they were sold out so with out asking he buys me a norinco, I just kept it. so I have a couple of colt 1911s and with this sale I am buying a fn highpower. The only time i recomend selling your guns is if you are selling something you dont want to buy something you do want in your collection.

Did you also change your mind about moving south? Gun's are welcome down here too ya know.