what's with my on-again/off-again relationship with 1911's

[CZ Aficionado]

Okay....so why can't I feel the love for these venerable firearms.  I've had many, liked pretty much all of them most were DW's some Colt's even S&W's, but for some reason they are the first to get traded or sold to fund other guns.  Are they just too common.....seems like there is a Ba-zillion (yea, I'm word-smithing) out there, everyone makes them......could that be the issue?  Opinions, anyone with similar experiences?.......

[AZ_CZ]

Sounds like they are just tools for you. Nothing wrong with that. I keep guns the are special to me in some way. Nothing stays too long in my safe if it doesn't fill a niche. I'm down to just 3 1911s and 1 is a  "just for fun" gun, could go any day. The other 2 are tried and true, trusted friends; I stick with my friends. I treat the CZs the same.

[M1A4ME]

I have all my Colt 1911's.  I don't shoot them anymore, but I'm not getting rid of them either.  Just like my CZ's, they fit my hand like the were made for it.  They are reliable and accurate.  I've got holsters, magazines and ammo that won't go bad either.

[Stojanovich]

I alluded to having the same problem in the 'Dan Wesson Specialist Commander .45' thread.  It's mostly sentimental in my case.  A 1911 was the first pistol I ever learned to shoot, disassemble, maintain and qualify with annually.  It was the first pistol I learned to shoot well.  My first issue-gun in the Army was a rough, Korean War-era Colt 1911A1 that became my daily companion.  It was a beast, in terms of appearance, but boy could it shoot.  I've been hooked on 1911's ever since.  It seems like I always have at least one or two in my safe.       

[M1A4ME]

I guess part of "my problem" is I could never replace mine for what I have in them (old guy here).

My first 1911 is a 1911.  A Colt made in 1917.  I paid a whopping $195 for it in 1978 or 79.  It's only been to the range once in the last 35 years.  I need to take it again this year as it is now 100 years old.

My second 1911 is a Pre 70's series Colt Combat Commander.  I (again) paid $195 for it in 1982.  It was my duty pistol for a couple years and carried everywhere else with me during that time period.

My third is a Colt Series 80 Government Model in stainless steel.  I walked into a sports store one day and saw two of them.  A blued one for $490 and a stainless steel one for $495.  $495???  When do you ever see a stainless steel model for $5 more than a blued model??  I asked if it was used and the clerk got indignant and let me know "we don't see used guns, sir."  I filled out the paperwork and put it on layaway.  I went to the credit union the next day and got the money out to pay for it.  I carried that one for years before I started wasting money on Glock, XDM and M&P pistols.

[CZ Aficionado]

Funny thing is I was at my LGS and got talking to the owner who I do some Smithing for on occasion on his personal guns, and it seemed like every gun in the cases were "black" the only ones that had much character were the 1911's. Probably why I end up picking one up on occasion keeping it for a few years and then trade/sell it when I don't shoot it much and want something different......maybe intensive therapy will help 

[CZ Aficionado]

I alluded to having the same problem in the 'Dan Wesson Specialist Commander .45' thread. 

I went and looked.....yes, you did say just about the same thing.....too funny