What exactly are the differences in these models

[MikePGS]

Hi. I'm currently interested in purchasing a colt 1911, but can't for the life of me even begin to discern what exactly the difference between the 1991, Series 70 Reissue, and the 1911 WW1 issue. I've been told that the series 70 is the one to get, yet also i've read that the 1991 is basically a no frills 1911, which is something i'm interested in since i'm looking for a carry gun primarily. Is there really that big of a difference in any of these models, or is it mostly a matter of aesthetics? Thanks in advance for any help.

[dakota1911]

The big difference to many is in the 1980 safety). Not there in the Series 70 Reissue, and the WW1 Repro. The website is not clear at the first level on a lot of this:

http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/pistols.asp

I just bought a new Commander a mod 04691 I love it for carry. This gun does have the "80 Series Safety", but so far, in many guns, I have not had any problems with the ""80 Series Safety. For more information about what that entails, I would search this web site.

[elijdub]

I'll try to sum it up (hopefully i'll do it justice ;)):

1991: "Entry" level Colt 1911. Reasonably priced, no-frills, reliable gun for ANY purpose.

Series 70 re-issue: As it sounds, a re-make of the Colt series-70, yet interestingly minus two of the three things that defined a series-70 at the time....the "accurizer barrel" and "collet" bushing". The only thing is does have (or rather, does not) is the series-80 "firing pin safety". Colt developed the series-70 as an evolution of the 1911's of the years prior to it's inception. It included (as stated above) the accurizer barrel and the collet-style bushing. The Colt series-80 1911's added the firing pin safety (drop-safety)...some people don't like it. It doesn't really bother me, though if given the choice, i'd go without it. To summarize, the series-70 re-issue is a great gun that, as far as i know, isn't going out of production any time soon. Personally i view it as a shooter and would probably not carry it (as i prefer Commander-sized guns for carry).

WWI Reproduction: It's in an entirely different class, IMHO. It's apparently being made in limited production, with Colt stopping at 5000 pieces. I would NOT carry a repro personally. I'm sure that some would, but with it's beautiful, "off-site" worked, Carbonia blue finish i wouldn't risk damaging it. If i was rich, maybe....but i'm not. I can only afford one (and i'd be lucky to have it considering the number available) and it's going to be very lightly fired and very well taken care of. Characteristic wise, it's the closest thing you can possibly get to owning an original m1911 (pre-WWII). They're made in Colt's Custom Shop and are beeeaaauutifully done!!!

Hope this helps. For a no-frills carry gun the 1991 is absolutely the choice, IMO (though i'd choose a 1991 "Commander").

[Mick_In_Texas]

A Super 38 in Govt length, and a USGI Colt's from 1918.

As others state, the O1991 is a good, very basic 1911 (which is how I like mine), It is a Series 80, with the firing-pin block in the slide.

My Super 38 is also a Series 80, with the slide firing-pin block.

The Series 70 Repro does NOT have it. Neither does my WWI Repro (O1911), or of course my USGI M1911 from 1918. Neither of my Springers have the firing-pin block ("Series 70", to Colt's fans); my Rock Island Armory 1911A1 does NOT.

Personally, I prefer mine WITHOUT the "Series 80" firing-pin block; I like mine just as John Moses Browning designed them. The firing-pin safeties ("blocks", which my Ruger P90 has, but my Taurus PT92AF does not) are concessions to a litigation-mad social environment in the United States. What Springer did, was to make the firing pin a titanium, smaller than mil-spec 9mm with as I understand it a heavier fp spring. Of course, they also have the ILS in the mainspring housing.

I LOVE my O1911 WWI Repro: it's built just like I like a 1911, minimal sights and all... Heck, I love ALL my 1911s... But, I'd LOVE to have the Colt's Series 70 Reproduction. To me, the less mechanical doo-dads, the better. The 1911 platform RULES, but it requires learning your pistol. Personally, I LOVE it, in all its modern variations... but if you want a basic, the O1911 WWI Repro is as close as you'll get to an original M1911, and the Series 70 Repro is about as close as you'll get to an original M1911A1. Seems anything Colt's makes is VERY GOOD. All mine are good, but I have way more Colts than anything else. So far, they all work EVERY time.

Mick

[Rio Vista Slim]

MikePGS,
Okie Dokie........

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_0898.jpg
Colt's MkIV/Series 70 (current production) pistols in blue and stainless.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_2095.jpg
Colt Model 04691 blue steel Commander.
Colt Model 04091U stainless steel Commander.

Someone else will have to provide the photo of a WWI reproduction.....I, unfortunately, don't own one of those. :(

[Joni Lynn]

WW1 repro
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/Joni_Lynn/ColtWW1.jpg
This is perhaps the most well made modern Colt I've owned to date. The fit is perfect, accurate and reliable.

[Rio Vista Slim]

WW1 repro

This is perhaps the most well made modern Colt I've owned to date. The fit is perfect, accurate and reliable.
Thanks Lynnie!! :)

I was hoping you were online to contribute a photo of that fine WWI repro.

[elijdub]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_2095.jpg
Colt Model 04691 blue steel Commander.
Colt Model 04091U stainless steel Commander.

Someone else will have to provide the photo of a WWI reproduction.....I, unfortunately, don't own one of those. :(
Hey RVS, Beautiful as it is, that doesn't look like a Commander above your 04091U....;)! Spur hammer, arched MSH...(sorry for the uneccessary nit pick ;)).

Here's another WWI repro (courtesy of *Noah Zark*):
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/IMG_0531.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/IMG_0533.jpg

[Joni Lynn]

If I had enough $$$ I'd buy another just to have some custom work done to it. Nothing extreme, just better sights.

[daveohno]

Beautiful Colt's all! My WW1 repro is quite a nice pistol. I should probably shoot it more, but I usually use my Gunsite Pistols. I bought them to wear them out shooting them and I am doing my best to fulfill that notion...

[Hawkmoon]

Detail differences that I didn't notice being discussed so far:

* The hammers are different. The Series 70 reissue uses a flat-sided, narrow, long-spur hammer. The WW1 uses a wide-spur hammer such as was used on the original M1911 pistols.

* The Series 70 reissue uses an arched mainspring housing, of the type introduced by the government when they modified the M1911 pistol sufficiently to redesignate it the M1911A1. The WW1 uses the original, straight style mainspring housing.

* The original M1911 had a very simple, uniform relief (bevel) around the top and rear of the trigger guard area of the receiver. When some shooters with small hands complained that they had difficulty reaching the trigger, as part of the A1 changes the government called for "scalloped" relief cuts behind the trigger. Both the 1991 and the Series 70 reissue have these relief cuts. The WW1, being a replica of the original M1911, does not have the relief cuts.

* The WW1 has a military lanyard loop on the bottom of the mainspring hausing. The other two do not.

The 1991 series comes off the regular production line at the Colt factory. Both the Series 70 reissue and the WW1 replica come from the Custom Shop.

[tailgunner]

Guys, the replies with pics will be of no help to MikePGS whatsoever. After seeing all that beautiful Colt hardware, how can he choose only one? ;)

Seriously, this is a very informative thread, I wasn't aware of all the detail differences between the various models.

[MikePGS]

Tailgunner's right, those pictures only make me lust after one more and more :P So from what i've gathered so far, the 1991 is a good one to carry because it's not as precious as a series 70 or ww1 colt, yet at the same time it has a firing pin block which is bad... for reasons unknown to me :D Thanks for the advice so far, and please keep it coming.

[elijdub]

Mike, That pretty much sums it up, but i wouldn't go so far as to say the "firing pin block is bad". I don't like to speak for others, but i can say (with caution) that i think if many of us had a choice we would opt to avoid the series-80 firing pin safety, BUT, most Colts built since it's inception (in the early 80's) have had it (with the exception of a few custom shop models, etc.), and many manufacturers use some type of firing pin safety (due to legal matters)...point being, if you want a new Colt (with the exception of those mentioned) you're going to get the safey. It's not so bad... The issue is that traditionalists, myself included, prefer to have the gun exactly as it was designed, and the further the design gets from original "specs", the more problems (or potential problems...more moving parts that can fail, etc.) can arrise.
I will absolutely continue to buy Colts that have the series-80 firing pin safety, while probably buying an equal number that don't (simply because i have a fondness for the older models...NOT because of the safety!). Now maybe, just maybe, i might consider, someday, only "carrying" guns without the safety...or if i was in a persistent hostile situation i wouldn't want it...but barring that, and considering the quaility of a Colt (and it's parts), i wouldn't give it too much thought. Of course this in just my opinion....Please take note of that.

[MikePGS]

Thanks again eli. Do you find the commander length to be significantly easier to carry than the government? I've always admired the look of commanders, and after a little research today i found that they don't significantly affect velocity... but does it actually make carrying easier, in spite of the grip length being the same (as far as I know)? Keep in mind that i have never in my life carried a gun in a holster or anything, so i'm completely ignorant of such things:D

[Hawkmoon]

So from what i've gathered so far, the 1991 is a good one to carry because it's not as precious as a series 70 or ww1 colt, yet at the same time it has a firing pin block which is bad... for reasons unknown to me
The firing pin safety is not "bad." Most, if not all, of the true believers simply don't think a pistol with multiple safety mechanisms built into it needs an additional firing pin safety -- since the purpose of a firing pin safety is to prevent accidental firing if the pistol is dropped and tests have shown you can drop a 1911 onto the muzzle end from a height of fifteen FEET and it won't go off. Contrary to urban legend, the Series 80 firing pin safety does not result in an ugly, horribly heavy trigger pull. Several other manufacturers license this system from Colt, including Para-Ordnance. Which means that both my primary carry weapons have it and my primary competition pistol has it. I've got all the triggers set for right around 4-1/2 pounds, and they're all "clean." I can go lighter even with the Series 80 system -- I prefer not to. 4-1/2 pounds IMHO is about ideal for a carry pistol. It's what I try for on every pistol. So in that sense it is not "bad."

Some states require a firing pin safety. In those states, it is obviously "good."

Nonetheless, it is a mechanical device, designed and constructed by mortals. Therefore, it can (and sometimes will) fail. Am I concerned about it enough to remove it from my pistols? Nope. Would I be happier without it? Yup. Given my druthers, if all factors were equal I would pick the gun without the firing pin safety every time. But if I were shopping for a new Colt that was to be used primarily for carry and self-defense, my first choice would be the blued 1991 Combat Commander. It's the right size, it's an excellent no-frills pistol, and it's still rolling off the assembly line so if it gets lost, stolen, damaged, or strayed, I haven't lost an irreplaceable firearm.

[MikePGS]

Thank you very much for that information Mr Hawkmoon, i greatly appreciate it.

[Rio Vista Slim]

Hey RVS, Beautiful as it is, that doesn't look like a Commander above your 04091U....;)! Spur hammer, arched MSH...(sorry for the uneccessary nit pick ;)).

Eli,
You are, of course, correct. I can only plead "tired eyes" after a twelve hour day at work. :D

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_1746.jpg

Colt Model 04091U, Tucker HF1 holster, Colt Model 04691

[elijdub]

RVS,
You are forgiven my friend ;). ...and 12-hour days! (sheesh! Vacation time required :D)

[MikePGS]

You know, i think if someone were to send me a sample of each it would really help cement the various differences in these models :D

[russian]

I'd carry a WWI repro.....if I could. *sigh*

Speaking of which, does anyone here carry one?

[OD*]

I'd carry a WWI repro.....if I could. *sigh*

Speaking of which, does anyone here carry one?
mtngunr does.
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=38385

[MikePGS]

Wow, thats a nice finish on that OD. Does a blue finish typically have a problem with rust? If so, how much is the going rate for having it refinished in arsenal?

[OD*]

That's not my M1911, Mike.
I think Lance posted the cost somewhere in that thread.

[Mick_In_Texas]

Wow, thats a nice finish on that OD. Does a blue finish typically have a problem with rust? If so, how much is the going rate for having it refinished in arsenal?

The Carbona Blue is contracted out. It's a BEAUTIFUL finish; but I hear here that it's not all that durable in a holster and with constant use. I HAVE carried my WWI Repro; because I LOVE the original M1911, and I'm not about to carry my USGI in Black Army from late 1918, even though she's fully functional.

The Carbona Blue is an approximation of the Black Army Colt's and other contractors were using in the late 19-teens on contract pistols for the American military. The O1911 Repro is an EXCELLENT gun, and I WISH I had a "second" to have hard-chromed or TBlacked, to carry regularly. But, ain't gonna happen, unless I win the Texas Lotto, and holding my breath hasn't helped the past few years... I'd LOVE to carry an "M1911" as my primary, because it's the "original". As it is, I can't for personal reasons, because I DO want to preserve the finish on my O1911. Occasionally, I've carried it, but mostly not on my hip but in my truck and beside my bed in motels on business or at my dad's house. But, I love that Carbona Blue; I don't want to damage it with holster wear or excessive use.

Hope this helps. Y'all take care.
Mick