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colt double eagle info

prism133prism133 Member Posts: 87 ✭✭
edited June 2003 in Ask the Experts
I just bought a "COLT DOUBLE EAGLE MK II /SERIES 90" with a 3.5 in. barrel .45 acp. it's awesome ,but was wondering if anyone has or had any experience with one of these pistols
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Comments

  • ranger37ranger37 Member Posts: 182 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    well from what i had heard and read the design was not a good one, production was cut short cause it was not a desirable hand gun and didn`t sell to good, most people wanted the 1911 style, I had one in my shop that sat for over 4 years, finaly sold it for about $275.00 just to get rid of it. But it is personal prefrence if you are happy with it then you`ll be happy.

    DO RIGHT GUNSMITH, INC.
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  • madmarc0madmarc0 Member Posts: 862 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I also heard they got a bad rap from the gun magazines but on another 1911 forum they are folks there who own them and love them.
    It seems to be a nice double action Commander looking gun.
    Like Ranger said, if you like it, it great!

    Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun has!
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  • hondohondo Member Posts: 181 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Double Eagle with the 5" barrel that I bought from a guy at work who decided to give up shooting 13 years ago. Paid 300 for it. The workmanship is excellet. Colt developed it to get into the competition for the military replacement for the 1911. It did very poorly in the competition. After the civilian version was out for a while they were recalled because of malfunctions. The rework corrected the malfunction. The bad publicity hurt sales to the point that Colt stopped manufacturing them. This was the start of Colts slide in popularity along with severe union unrest. I have never been able to shoot my Double Eagle very accuratly, 4 to 6 inch groups at 25 yards but some of my friends can get 2.5 to 3.5 inches with it. It just doesn't seem to fit my hand the way a 1911 does. The only caution that I have is don't let dirt or crud get into the openings at the top of the right grip panel. It caused trigger problems on mine. Be VERY careful if you remove this grip panel or you will have parts flying in all directions and they are difficult to reassemble if you can find them. If you can shoot your Double Eagle accuratly it should last many years.......................Hondo
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  • BlokeyBlokey Member Posts: 284 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have two Double Eagles, a 5" .45ACP and a 5" 9mm. I like both pistols but I find the DA pull to be kinda heavy; I find it hard to transition to anything else after shooting a 1911A1 because of the crisp SA trigger. Accuracy is so-so, but I think it's the shooter not the gun.

    Yeah, don't attempt to take the grips off if you don't know what you're doing; some of the lockwork is held together by the grips. I sent my 9mm to back Colt for smithing just to be safe. As a freebie they polished out the scratches on the slide, the gun looks 100% better. Overall, I'm pleased with my DEs.
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  • mpolansmpolans Member Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A lot of people are down on the Double Eagle because the moving parts (clockwork as described above) is held on by the grip panels. Because of this, it is more susceptible to getting crud in there and causing malfunctions. Also, because of the cobbled-together nature of the gun, the inner workings are not as sturdy as a traditional 1911.

    Personally, I think they're junk, but if it works for you, whatever makes you happy...
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  • j2k22j2k22 Member Posts: 329 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought the Commander size DE in 45 ACP. There were a lot of sharp edges ( the bottom of the triggerguard was really sharp!) and places where the frame and grips rubbed against the bone at the base of my thumb. I spent an entire morning with files and a high speed Foredom grinder contouring and relieving these deficiencies. Also checkered the frontstrap. Spent another morning on all the internal parts, trying to acheive a decent trigger pull. Better, but not great.
    The DA pull is long, and will never equal some of the other DA systems on the market. The SA letoff is good enough, and can be improved if you spend the time. The pistol points well, now that it fits my hand. The MK2 versions will not spew parts if you remove the grip panels, but there are some real mickey-mouse springs that power the decocking lever and drawbar.
    The accuracy in SA mode is on a par with the 1911 models, and the upper half of the pistol shares identical parts with 80-series Colts.
    Holsters for the Smith 4506 fit the DE.
    In terms of personal preference, I like my Smith 4566 and H&K USP better, and the DE sits in the safe most of the time. It is a shame that Colt didn't refine this model to be a first-rate service pistol. It does have the potential.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Double Eagles were introduced to give Colt double action pistols to compete in the market, which at the time was totally dominated by double action designs. I strongly disagree with hondo that they were Colt's entry in the trials to replace the M1911 design. That service pistol competition was for a double action 9x19 double stack, not a .45ACP single stack, and Colt's entry was the beautiful SSP (Stainless Steel Pistol). The SSP actually did quite well in the tests (see Soldier of Fortune June 1982), but not as well as the Beretta M92 design, or even the Smith & Wesson M459 design, which finished just behind the Beretta in early tests. (Those who say Smiths are not reliable or durable like to ignore this fact.) The Beretta was the eventual winner.

    In my opinion, the Double Eagles were not well received in the market largely because of their ungainly appearance (I hesitate to say ugly), and their single stack magazines at a time when high capacity 9x19 pistols were all the rage. The mechanism being exposed with the stocks off, and the fact that parts were then loose, was also a big factor in my opinion. Otherwise, they are just a Government Model with a double action mechanism, and share all the virtues and vices of that design. If the Double Eagle appeals to a shooter, it is as good as most designs in non-severe service.

    Why Colt did not just put the beautiful SSP into commercial production as a high capacity 9x19 and .40 S&W was just another poor Colt marketing decision.
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Judge -
    It sounds like your quite taken with the SSP, I don't believe I've ever seen one ...

    ... got any pic's of this little beauty? [}:)]

    ===========================
    Chance favors the prepared mind
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    kk, I have a manual somewhere, but cannot locate it right now. I will have to try to find a picture of the SSP and e-mail it to you.

    The pistol looks a lot like a Star 28/30/31, and includes the removeable sear/hammer module design feature used in the Star. Being a full-size service pistol, it is not so "little!"
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  • prism133prism133 Member Posts: 87 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    hey thanx for the replies both positive and not so.
    i like the gun alot although the mechanics do seem a little
    barberic compared to other double action pistols.
    but it is great
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