The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site

BPL

10th May 2008, 17:04

After browsing the forum for awhile and viewing all the various colt 1911s posted, I have become interested in the WWI Repro models. I'm curious about the finish - what is the difference between black oxide and carbonia blue? Is Carbonia blue still available? What is the difference between the 1911 Repro and the 01918 Repro, or is there one?

Thanks!

BPL

clughog

10th May 2008, 17:15

BPL, the only difference between the O1911 and the O1918 is the finish and the serial numbers. The Carbonia Blue O1911 production stopped after 5,000 units and the O1918 Black Oxide took it's place (currently slated for a 4,000 unit run per the 2008 Colt product catalog). If you do a search on the O1918 here on the Forum you'll find a good thread with lots of information as well. I personally like the Black Oxide better, but that's strictly personal opinion.

cliff731

10th May 2008, 17:18

Welcome to the forum!!!

I believe the only real difference between the 1911 repro and 1918 repro is this...

The 1911 was a limited run... not made anymore. The 1918 repro will remain in production indefinitely. Otherwise, the finish on each differs. Carbonia blue vs. black oxide... well, method and technique of application.

Some of the better edjukated (and 1911 & 1918 owners) will be along shortly!!!

Cliff

cliff731

10th May 2008, 17:21

...I personally like the Black Oxide better, but that's strictly personal opinion.

Thanks, Creighton... I'm glad someone came in on this who knows more than I... but I will say, like you, the black oxide finish is more appealing to me... and yes, I do want one badly. Again, my lusting for a stainless Series 70 Custom Replica just might have to to unfulfilled for awhile.

clughog

10th May 2008, 17:43

Well, you can't go wrong with either pistol! Really just depends on which you prefer to get first, and whether you like the 1911 or 1911A1 style better, I guess. Of course, the Series 70 is just a tad less expensive, but on the other hand, the WWI Black Oxide Repro is supposed to be limited production (who knows what they'll replace it with). Tough decisions!

daveohno

10th May 2008, 17:51

If the O1918 is as well put together as the WW1 Repro. it will be a very nicely done pistol. As far as I know, the only difference is like others have already said, serial number and black oxide. I have all the Colt's I really need already but this O1918 is something I might have to buy. The WW1 Repro I have is really one of my favorites.

elijdub

10th May 2008, 18:52

The 01911 i had was one of the best built pistols i've ever handled. From what i hear the 01918's are built to the same standards. I don't think you could go wrong with either one! I'd make a decision based on which finish i prefered (in my case, the 01918) :).
Again, my lusting for a stainless Series 70 Custom Replica just might have to to unfulfilled for awhile.
Cliff, you never ended up picking up that one in your LGS a few weeks ago? I was certain that one went home with ya' ;). I know what you mean about the 01918 though....very nice pistol!

cliff731

10th May 2008, 19:37

...Cliff, you never ended up picking up that one in your LGS a few weeks ago? I was certain that one went home with ya' ;). I know what you mean about the 01918 though....very nice pistol!

I must confess... no... it's still there. :o

Worse, the Colt Super Elite is gone... :mad:

The gunstore guys are tempting me with yet another S&W revolver... this time a very nice Model 60 J-frame snubbie... :butthead:

But to their credit, they've taken to keeping a roll of paper towels out on the display case where that Colt Series 70 stainless Custom Replica is languishes... ;)

elijdub

10th May 2008, 19:57

Well, at least they've got the paper towl "thing" covered :). That revolver sounds tempting indeed! Is it like this one? http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=99393955

More to the topic, despite how nice both of the WWI Repro finishes are, with regards to the OP...
I'm curious about the finish - what is the difference between black oxide and carbonia blue?
...i believe Colt never actually used the Carbonia on any pistols, therefore the black oxide would be more "period correct" to it's pistol. Just some food for thought... Don't get me wrong though...the Carbonia really is a beautiful finish!!!!!!....and is a pistol i'd love to own! One of each :D.

cliff731

11th May 2008, 03:05

rondawg

11th May 2008, 03:58

I got the chance to pick up an 01911 in blue, only slightly used with 50 rounds through it, for $899. I'm really glad I bought it, it's a beautiful pistol of outstanding quality! I'm really proud of it, and it's a great shooter to boot. A face-to-face purchase from a guy in the office building across the street from mine, a deal that was meant to be, IMO.

elijdub

11th May 2008, 09:16

That's the one, Eli... a Model 60 just like your GB link (w/o the jeweled hammer and jeweled target trigger though)
Nice Cliff! I don't think i could turn it down for a reasonable price.

BPL

11th May 2008, 09:52

Are the ones with the Carbonia blue finish still available new? Anyone have good pics of the Carbonia blue and/or the Black Oxide to compare?

BPL

d90king

11th May 2008, 09:58

1saxman

11th May 2008, 10:19

'it is one of the nicest finish they have done in my opinion.'

Of course you realize Colt didn't do that finish - they contracted with Ron's Gun Shop which claims to be the only available source for a carbona-type finish.

elijdub

11th May 2008, 10:21

Are the ones with the Carbonia blue finish still available new?
Not from Colt. They finished the 5000 count run a few months ago. But they can be found on the auction sites like gunbroker... If you want a NIB Carbonia, now'd be the time to do it, IMHO, as they will only rise in price ;).
Here's a nice one. Interestingly a very good price, IMO, given their "out of production" status.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=99511841
Anyone have good pics of the Carbonia blue and/or the Black Oxide to compare?

BPL
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/IMG_0533.jpg
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/IMG_0517.jpg
(photo's i took of Noah Zark's pistol)

d90king

11th May 2008, 10:26

Willis68

13th May 2008, 20:34

I prefer the Carbonia blue myself, it is one of the nicest finish they have done in my opinion. Take a look.....

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/d90king/DSCN0410.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/d90king/DSCN0400.jpg

is one of those the pistol John Harrison is working on for you??
Im going to have him do an enhanced retro of my NIB series 70 government model stainless steel,
I thought you had mentioned that he was doing a repro WW1 for you. that will be awesome,

Nice Colts man,

Joni Lynn

13th May 2008, 20:47

Colt did an amazing job of putting the 1911 repro guns together. Mine is better fit than the other recent Colt's I've adopted.

d90king

13th May 2008, 20:48

is one of those the pistol John Harrison is working on for you??
Im going to have him do an enhanced retro of my NIB series 70 government model stainless steel,
I thought you had mentioned that he was doing a repro WW1 for you. that will be awesome,

Nice Colts man,

Yup he does have one of them doing a retro build as we speak. He is having Turnbull redo the Carbonia blue. It will look very different than it does now. It will still be a couple months or more till it is finished but I am really looking forward to it's return.

Willis68

13th May 2008, 20:51

That will be a nice gun, I was wondering about how the bluing would be handled, I cant wait to see it, :p

Joni Lynn

13th May 2008, 20:52

Doug Turnbull does some really really spendid work. The finish on the revolver I gave my father is truly drool worthy.

d90king

13th May 2008, 20:52

' they contracted with Ron's Gun Shop which claims to be the only available source for a carbona-type finish.

That is incorrect, Doug Turnbull also does it.

d90king

13th May 2008, 20:56

That will be a nice gun, I was wondering about how the bluing would be handled, I cant wait to see it, :p

Picture it with a 1200 polish on it very different than what is on it now. The way Colt had it done was trying to mirror the way it was done in that period, kinda looks brushed on and very thin bluing if that makes sense. Turnbull's work is as good as it gets and I was thrilled with John's choice to use them.

d90king

13th May 2008, 20:57

Doug Turnbull does some really really spendid work. The finish on the revolver I gave my father is truly drool worthy.

I saw a shotgun that he brought back recently and his work was jaw dropping......

d90king

13th May 2008, 21:05

If I were to get one in Black oxide, could Turnballs refinish it? if so what other differences are there on the pistol they are still selling and the discontinued one? I am thinking of getting one of these for Mr' Harrison to work on as well.

Whoaaaaa nelly...... :mad: John will not replicate my pistol for anyone and if he did I would be less than thrilled to say the least. That is why I chose that pistol as I had never seen one and he had never done one. I would hope you respect that. Now to have him do something different is welcomed but please don't try and clone my build. Turnbull can change any finish that you like. I will be getting rid of one of my Carbonia's when John is done with the one he has. Maybe you could do a "modern" take on the WWI, now that would be nice. ;)

Willis68

13th May 2008, 21:07

Picture it with a 1200 polish on it very different than what is on it now. The way Colt had it done was trying to mirror the way it was done in that period, kinda looks brushed on and very thin bluing if that makes sense. Turnbull's work is as good as it gets and I was thrilled with John's choice to use them.

That will be nice, are you keeping it retro, the look anyway? Harrison does amazing work, when I saw the 70 series retro's he did, that kept me from wanting all of the modern things on mine that all of my other 1911's have,

Willis68

13th May 2008, 21:11

Whoaaaaa nelly...... :mad: John will not replicate my pistol for anyone and if he did I would be less than thrilled to say the least. That is why I chose that pistol as I had never seen one and he had never done one. I would hope you respect that. Now to have him do something different is welcomed but please don't try and clone my build. Turnbull can change any finish that you like. I will be getting rid of one of my Carbonia's when John is done with the one he has. Maybe you could do a "modern" take on the WWI, now that would be nice. ;)

Don't worry,

I would never do such a thing, my 70 series will stay retro, but if I do buy a ww1, i was thinking of modernizing it, as I havent seen any of those ;)

d90king

13th May 2008, 21:13

That will be nice, are you keeping it retro, the look anyway? Harrison does amazing work, when I saw the 70 series retro's he did, that kept me from wanting all of the modern things on mine that all of my other 1911's have,

It will be very "retro" see above post though please.

d90king

13th May 2008, 21:14

Don't worry,

I would never do such a thing, my 70 series will stay retro, but if I do buy a ww1, i was thinking of modernizing it, as I havent seen any of those ;)

Thank you I am sure you understand.........

Hill

14th May 2008, 13:27

I'd have gone to 2000 grit polish at least, possibly 4000 depending on the result at 2k. Colt made them look like mirrors prior to the need to hurry things along for the extant war which resulted in the black oxide attempt.

So Ed brown fan, your answer is to have a proper 'mirror' finish done through John Harrison if he's your choice, and it would be both finer and more correct than D90's, thereby avoiding stepping on his poor widdle toesies.

But...any thought to "modernize' a reproduction of a fine old pistol is at best irony, and at worst ridiculous to conceive.

JMHO of all the fretting over a copy. I wonder if Aldo Uberti lost any sleep over such concerns.