? about WWI reproduction

[lavern23]

I have an itch for a WWI Reproduction Colt and have read something that has thrown me a curve. I read a deleberation between the WWI repro and the WWII and the differences. Several people say to get the WWII since the WWI is not actually a Colt.

Could someone shed a little light on this please.

[Hawkmoon]

Got a source?

The WW1 reproduction comes out of the Colt Custom Shop. It is, as far as I know, every bit a Colt, and in fact is a more accurate replica of a WW1 M1911 than the WW2 replicas were accurate reproductions of true World War 2 M1911A1s. The WW2 replicas, by the way, have been out of production for several years, so if you buy one of those it'll have to be from the pre-owned market. The WW1 replicas are still in production.

What your source might be referring to is that Colt's subcontracted the bluing of the WW1 pistols to Doug Turnbull. This was done in order to accurately and correctly reproduce the Carbonia blue finish that was used on the M1911 pistols around 1918. Colt's can do excellent bluing in-house, but not using that process. The fact that they chose to subcontract it for more authenticity is a plus, not a negative.

[Hunter]

I am not sure why someone would say the WWI is not a Colt. That statement does not make sense to me.
Colt made pistols in WWI and WWII and they made the Repos as well.

[daveohno]

I wonder who makes them? They're rollmarked Colt....

There is always some misinformation floating around about Colt.

[lavern23]

It was on another 1911 forum. In the thread they talked about the blueing being subcontracted out but did not mention who.

Thanks for the information. It is always good stuff on here!

[Hunter]

I believe Colt contracts out the carbonia bluing job on the Repos.

[AJD]

http://www.ronsgunshop.com/coltwwrepro.html

Colt contracts Rons Gun Shop to do the blueing for the WWI reproduction. Given the methods used to blue these guns it makes sense to contract it out.

US Firearms for example contracts with Turnbull Restoration to apply the color-case hardening and the carbona blue finishes that they use on their guns.

[Hawkmoon]

http://www.ronsgunshop.com/coltwwrepro.html

Colt contracts Rons Gun Shop to do the blueing for the WWI reproduction. Given the methods used to blue these guns it makes sense to contract it out.

US Firearms for example contracts with Turnbull Restoration to apply the color-case hardening and the carbona blue finishes that they use on their guns.
My apologies. I thought Colt's used Doug Turnbull for the WW1 replicas.

Irrespective of which restoration finishing expert provides the Carbonia blue finish, there's a huge difference betwen subcontracting the finish and saying that the pistols are not made by Colt's. Anyone who would claim that has a long, steep climb before they ascend to moron status.

[AJD]

I honestly hadn't even noticed that you mention Doug Turnbull. Turnbull or Ron's, either way its in good hands.

[paul45]

Anyone who would claim that has a long, steep climb before they ascend to moron status.

As a member who has ascended to "almost" moron status.......I must say that is the funniest comment I've read in months! It's 0527......thanks for starting my day with a good laugh! :D

[Hawkmoon]

Paul, I just get really irritated by the self-styled "experts" who seem to hate the idea that Colt's is still in business and can sell every pistol they make without advertising, so they'll spread any scurrilous lie or rumour they can to scare prospective buyers away from a Colt.

You've heard or read many of them:

"Colt is bankrupt." (Wrong)

"Colt is out of business." (Obviously untrue)

"Colt doesn't sell to civilians." (I'm a civilian and so is the gun shop from which I bought mine. We stole it?)

"We can't get a Colt for you, they won't sell to us." (True - and they won't sell to anybody else, either, because they sell only through the major distributors.)

"Colts are junk and they provide no customer support." (Now there's a joke - Colt's customer support is second to none)

And now -- "The WW1 replicas aren't made by Colt's." (If not, then who DOES make them?)

[Hunter]

Hawk my friend I have heard them all myself. Trust me when I tell you I have made my point to these folks spreading untrue rumors about Colt. A few times I have called Colt customer service in front of a gun store commando who has just told me Colt was out of business, that went over well.
I agree with you there is an amount of jealousy or animosity held against Colt for being who they are and making it happen with out spending millions on advertisement.

[jeff1124]

Many mfgrs use subcontractors to do various parts of the finished product. Do you think your Ford is 100% Ford? Harley Davidson uses Japanese fork and brake parts! My Colt Repro WWI, having been blued by someone else ( a very good end product I might add) does not diminish the fact that it is a Colt product.

[daveohno]

I can see why people might think Colt is out of business, they did file bankruptcy quite a while ago and Colt keeps a very low profile now a days. The only thing I ever see Colt sponsor is Cowboy Action Shooting events. If you get American Rifleman or anything like that, all you see are Kimber and Para ads. But people that sell firearms should know better. The general public, probably doesn't know what Colt is doing. But people in the firearms business really have no excuse to not know that Colt is still out and about. Colt products are almost like Cabbage Patch Dolls were back in the day, try to get a Colt AR, most of them go to the military and the rest are hard to find. They're out there, but you have to look to get one and they are at a premium over say a Bushmaster. Any gun shop that sells 1911 pistols has several of the others and only a couple of Colt's in stock if any. People that buy Colt's know exactly where they are! Bud's Gunshop, AJC Sports, Pro Load and Ozark always have Colt's in stock to buy.

[d90king]

I own several ww1's and a ww2 and all I can say is that they are ALL great COLT'S ;) . The finish on the ww1's is one of my favorite finishes on any Colt.
You got very bad info not to mention the oddest rumor I have heard yet and I thought i had heard them all. :sleep: