Seems All New Colts

[LAHOT]

Seems all new colts are having the same problem in the same area of the gun on the right side, the slide is scratching the barrel.

I went to a gun show today in Houston, Tx and found that almost all of the new Colts I picked up and inspected regardless of model had the same scratch on the right side of the gun mentioned above.

These were new guns that were being displayed and at sometime maybe back at the dealer they had their slide go up and down the gun, I guess just manually.

Guys, it is not just the Combat Elites or XSE Combat Commander, it is all of the new ones.

What does this mean. Bad slides or what.

I am going to call Colt tomorrow to see what they say about my new gun.

Sorry, this was not a Combat Elite question and I did not know weather to start a new thread or put it under the Combat elite.

[larry starling]

Seems all new colts are having the same problem in the same area of the gun on the right side, the slide is scratching the barrel.

I went to a gun show today in Houston, Tx and found that almost all of the new Colts I picked up and inspected regardless of model had the same scratch on the right side of the gun mentioned above.

These were new guns that were being displayed and at sometime maybe back at the dealer they had their slide go up and down the gun, I guess just manually.

Guys, it is not just the Combat Elites or XSE Combat Commander, it is all of the new ones.

What does this mean. Bad slides or what.

I am going to call Colt tomorrow to see what they say about my new gun.

Sorry, this was not a Combat Elite question and I did not know weather to start a new thread or put it under the Combat elite.
Yes I agree! I went to a new store in town and they had 4 New Colts available! A New Night Defender,A XSe Combat Elite, Blue S70 Repro, And a Blue Gold Cup. All and I inspected everyone of them had the slide rub issues! And while I must admit I would have bought the night Defender. But not with the finish wearing off on the slide all ready! :scared:

FWIW the asking price for the Night Defender was $949.

So who would be responsible for the warranty work Colt or Talo for the ND? :confused:

[MC350]

I picked up a NIB Colt Commander 1911/1991 & shot 150 rounds thru it, I don't see any of the rubbing or wear marks that have been mentioned yet....

[larry starling]

I picked up a NIB Colt Commander 1911/1991 & shot 150 rounds thru it, I don't see any of the rubbing or wear marks that have been mentioned yet....
Consider yourself one of the lucky ones! Many people are posting issues with theirs. Luckily none of mine have issues either!

[LAHOT]

Larry,

You are right on the effected guns, they have rub spots on the right side even on new guns that have been shown with the slide checked many times.

Does not have to be fired for this rub to start.

[larry starling]

Larry,

You are right on the effected guns, they have rub spots on the right side even on new guns that have been shown with the slide checked many times.

Does not have to be fired for this rub to start.
The finish on the night defenders slide was pretty thin in the effected area. It's sad that Colt is shipping what I consider defective pistols to dealers. I hope they get the problems fixed soon! It did cost them my business today.
I refuse to buy a pistol that would require me to return it to the factory for it to be right! Especially when it would cost $1000 with tax and everything out the door!

[Bacon]

Seems all new colts are having the same problem in the same area of the gun on the right side, the slide is scratching the barrel.


Wait a minute, in the other threads the problem is the slide getting scratched by the frame. Is the barrel getting scratched by the slide also?

[Texasguy]

I purchased a government XSE two weeks ago from a gun show and after 600+ rounds there are no wear marks on it anywhere, and I've checked closely after reading about it here. My pistol could have been new-old-stock before this problem came up, but I do feel very fortunate. Is there a way to check the serial number and find when mine was made?

EDIT:
I called Colt and mine was manufactured July of 2008 and does NOT have the slide scratch problem, hopefully this information is useful to somebody looking to find what manufacture dates are affected by this.

[paul45]

I bet that was before the CNC machines were being used.

[JMB Masterpiece]

Fellows,

As I perused my reference materials depicting old Colts the dustcover rubs on the slides were a pretty common attribute; I'm beginning to think they come with the territory.

Mark

[Pac757]

Fellows,

As I perused my reference materials depicting old Colts the dustcover rubs on the slides were a pretty common attribute; I'm beginning to think they come with the territory.

Mark

Maybe this is true, a co-worker of mine just picked up his Night Defender last Friday, went to the range on sunday, 50 rounds, of WWB round nose, and the right side of the slide has the Infamous "Colt" rub mark. I am picking up my Combat Elite this friday, I assume it will look the same after the weekend. It is a shame that this is now becoming more of a standard "manufacturing process" and not being looked at like a manufacturing "problem"

[paul45]

Maybe this is true, a co-worker of mine just picked up his Night Defender last Friday, went to the range on sunday, 50 rounds, of WWB round nose, and the right side of the slide has the Infamous "Colt" rub mark. I am picking up my Combat Elite this friday, I assume it will look the same after the weekend. It is a shame that this is now becoming more of a standard "manufacturing process" and not being looked at like a manufacturing "problem"My shooting partner, Larry, saw a Night Defender with the same problem. It is a problem, not a manufacturing process.

I'm beginning to think they come with the territory.I disagree. It is a problem that Colt needs to address.

[larry starling]

Fellows,

As I perused my reference materials depicting old Colts the dustcover rubs on the slides were a pretty common attribute; I'm beginning to think they come with the territory.

Mark
Funny thing none of my older colts have the rubbing defect! And if that is something that one has to deal with when they buy Colts then that will be some territory I will no longer visit! At least until they fix the production defect!

[Joni Lynn]

Based on the number of people complaining of this issue I'd say it's a problem that Colt needs to address.

[Peacemonger]

It might be I can't tell my right from my left so I need a bit of clarification.

My Colt (now on its second trip to the factory) had a rub on the LEFT lower slide spring tunnel - that is the left side when held in a firing position or the side opposite the ejection port.

Two others I've seen in local shops were rubbing in this spot too.

Do I understand that guns are showing up with rubs on the ejection port side of the slide too ?

The problems I've seem - and they are absolutely a PROBLEM - is that the spring tunnel is drilled crooked on the slide.

I have several older Colts, one dating to 1948, that have no evidence of this rub. I have see many 1911's without this problem. It is shoddy manufacturing exacerbated with poor quality control.

Only two of the four dealers in my area still stock Colts. One of them flatly told me to order one elsewhere as he was tired of sending them back.

[Joni Lynn]

Production problems and their resolution is what has cost Colt dearly in the past. I hope they get things cleared up soon before they lose the part of the market place they currently have. I'm a huge Colt fan (don't go there) and would prefer not to have to look elsewhere for my 1911 fix.

[kenhwind]

My two old well used MKIVs do not have this anomaly. I could understand some contact or rubbing after shooting because the slide is forced that way when fired.
But not on a new pistol.
My Defender does have a slight wear mark, but it is used by now and been shot. The Defender slide may have high spots but is sand blasted and I cannot be sure.
If I spent a $1000 for a new Colt I would be irritated for sure.

Ken

[tnhawk]

I had planned to purchase a colt or two this year, however the current problems with them will force me to get springfield or kimber. :butthead:

[larry starling]

I had planned to purchase a colt or two this year, however the current problems with them will force me to get springfield or kimber. :butthead:
Unfortunately your not the only one who feels this way!

[vashooter]

Fellows,

As I perused my reference materials depicting old Colts the dustcover rubs on the slides were a pretty common attribute; I'm beginning to think they come with the territory.

Mark
I, for one would like to see the reference material that you are looking at. If you could post it maybe we could all see this slide rubbing problem on the older Colts. Mine for the matter of interest is rubbing on the right side (Combat Elite) Also I am with the others in that they should not rub if manufactured correctly. :) Floyd

[javichin1991]

Regarding the slide rubbing, maybe the cosmetic problem has been corrected, let me to explain in detail:

A friend of mine has just bought a few weeks ago, a current production NIB Colt SCG Carry Model in unfired condition. The pistol is now at the Colt Custom Shop for some custom work (install a single side tactical thumb safety and front strap serrations on frame alike the old style Gold Cups)Taking advantage of it, he requested the slide was checkered looking from rubbing marks, before leaving the Custom Shop, and the good guys at Colt, have confirmed that there is no rubbing on the slide.

Regards,

[Peacemonger]

Your friend will probably be pleased with Colt's custom work. I had them checker my frame at 25 LPI, change the trigger, hammer, and install a tool steel sear - complete with a 3.75 lb trigger job.

The work was perfect, just gorgeous.

They failed to fix the slide rub.

Back it went.

I hope they're right about the slide rub. I'd suggest your friend trust - but verify.

:)

[TattooPaul]

FWIW, I think this issue may be related to the introduction on new CNC machinery and processes and perhaps missing some steps that will need to be done despite the precision of CNC's. Even after the CNC there's gonna be some measuring and fitting to be done and perhaps the amount of TLC after CNC (sorry 'bout that one) wasn't expected, but with professionals of their caliber (sorry, again) I am very surprized to read about all this. Just a theory, but also, if I'm not mistaken, this does seem to be occurring even with Custom Shop models which seems odd. Hope this gets sorted out. None of my Ponies, which are 2 yrs. old or more, shorw this rub or off centering.

[lashlaruhe]

My new Colt SS Govt. Model had a very slight rub on the dust cover. I discovered that the frame had some slight burs that I could feel at
the edge of the channel. I Took a round hard Ark stone and lightly smothed out the feather edges and that cured the problem. Back in the late 60's I had a blue Govt. that really did rub the dust cover and just lived with it.

[Peacemonger]

I was told that the new CNC equipment is being used to produce frames, not slides. This made sense to me because the slide is simpler. It makes sense that they would give the computer the more complex job of milling frame forgings. Still, I could be wrong.

My frame was fine, slide was junk.

[TattooPaul]

Where the rubbing comes in, if I've read the posts properly, seems to be uneven or inadequate wall clearance on the front of the frame and that is what rubs the slide.

Out of curiosity, what was the issue with your slide?

[OD*]

FWIW, I think this issue may be related to the introduction on new CNC...
I don't think so, you will find older Colts with this same abnormality.

[TattooPaul]

Just thinking out loud…

[texagun]

I don't think so, you will find older Colts with this same abnormality.

OD* is right of course. If you will look at older Colts, the abnormality shows up more frequently than you might think. I have seen many WWI guns produced 90 years ago with the dust cover rubbing on the recoil spring tunnel. I do think, with modern technology, this should not occur on guns being produced today. My WWI repro went back to Colt for the dustcover rubbing on the recoil spring tunnel. They initially told me they would "repair" it, but later said it couldn't be repaired so they replaced the slide and did an excellent job fitting it to the frame. With CNC machinery that is properly adjusted and set up, this problem should not even occur. My S&W 1911's are perfect in this regard and I've never seen a Kimber with this issue, although I don't own any Kimbers. The problem occurs much too frequently on newly produced Colts.


My 1918 Colt (90 years old):

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/w5lx/1918dustcover.jpg

[sweet45]

The finish on the night defenders slide was pretty thin in the effected area. It's sad that Colt is shipping what I consider defective pistols to dealers. I hope they get the problems fixed soon! It did cost them my business today.
I refuse to buy a pistol that would require me to return it to the factory for it to be right! Especially when it would cost $1000 with tax and everything out the door!
The sad thing is, I don't think that problem can be fixed without replacing the slide or frame. At least not fixed right.

[OD*]

Just thinking out loud…
No problem, Paul. I haven't had any as old as Texgun's with this condition, but I have had them from the mid 40s, late '70s and several from the mid-Series 80s runs.

[usnavydoc]

My 90's vintage MKIV Enhanced has about 1100 rounds fired through it and no rub marks yet.

Bought a Special Combat Carry about 2 weeks ago and after 300 rounds or so rub marks started to show on the right side of the slide tunnel.

I looked at the gun from the muzzle's end and it seemed that left and right side gaps between the slide and frame are uneven. The gap on the left side is wider than the right side. I can wiggle the slide and move it to the left so the gaps are even, but when I let the slide go it goes back towards the right side. It is not very noticeable since the gaps are so narrow but if I inspect closely it is obvious. I wonder if those who are having problems with frame rub have that discrepancy.

The gaps on the MKIV are even.

I sent the gun to Wilson Combat to fix and make some mods. Hopefully they fix this.

I am a Colt fan, but will not buy any of their new 1911s until they fix this issue with their new guns. In such a highly competitive market such as 1911s, lack of attention to detail or taking shortcuts doesn't cut it. Look at Sig with their 1911 for example - it has great parts and is a good product, but when it debuted, it had problems that needed fixing. Though Sig fixed the issues, the first impression of the gun had been made, and they had to go into damage control mode. Ever since most people I talk to remember them as problem guns - even though the problems have been fixed. I bought one of their post fix models, a stainless GSR rail, and 2300 rounds later, no problems to report.

Colt has a long and rich history - their 1911s served with distinction in several wars, and IMHO, unlike the Sig with their 1911, their legendary history and heritage with 1911s should make it easier for them to get over any bad quality product reputation...a brand name can only go so far, and I think that if they don't address quality control issues soon, people, especially the newer generation of shooters, will associate poor QC with Colt.

In today's day and age, where people have the internet at their fingertips, a company's reputation, whether good or bad, can travel very far and fast. Just my 2 cents. :dead_hors

[texagun]

I am a Colt fan, but will not buy any of their new 1911s until they fix this issue with their new guns. In such a highly competitive market such as 1911s, lack of attention to detail or taking shortcuts doesn't cut it.......a brand name can only go so far, and I think that if they don't address quality control issues soon, people, especially the newer generation of shooters, will associate poor QC with Colt......

I have to agree with those statements............100%.