Colt launched the world to the .45 ACP cartridge, because of the legendary M1911 single-action semi-automatic service pistol.
The M1911 was the standard-issue sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces for 75 years, and it’s nonetheless thought of by many to be the very best fight handgun ever designed.
When it got here to producing a double-action auto-pistol in that enduringly in style caliber, nevertheless, Colt was gradual on the draw. SIG Sauer acquired there first in 1975 with the P220, adopted by Smith & Wesson with the Mannequin 645 and 4506 in 1985 and 1988.
It wasn’t till 1989 that Colt lastly joined the market with the Double Eagle.
Colt Double Eagle Historical past and Specs
The Double Eagle was marketed as a part of Colt’s so-called Sequence 90 line. It was Colt’s first double-action auto-pistol in any caliber, not solely the .45 ACP. As famous by gun author Matt E. for The Firearm Weblog:
“After they first began the challenge Colt’s predominant purpose with the Double Eagle was to carry the 1911 into the twenty first century and past. It was an bold challenge, altering the body and controls whereas protecting the traditional 1911 look. Colt actually did attempt to revolutionize the 1911 platform with the Double Eagle, protecting the traditional slide and making a body that works equally to a SIG Sauer P220 or P226.”
The usual-sized Double Eagle had a 5-inch barrel and total size of 8.5 inches, identical to the M1911. At 42.51 ounces, it was 3.5 ounces heavier than its single-action ancestor. Additionally akin to the M1911, Colt produced compact Commander (4.25” bbl.) and subcompact Officers (3.25” bbl.) fashions, in addition to chamberings in 9x19mm, 10mm, .38 Tremendous, and some uncommon .40 S&Ws. Normal journal capability was 8 rounds.
The gun was discontinued in 1997 after a mere eight years.
Okay, So What Went Fallacious?
I do know some individuals who completely cherished the Double Eagle, together with the early-Nineteen Nineties employees of Capturing Instances, and my late pal and mentor Officer Dave Weiner of the Pasadena Police Division’s Firearms Workforce. Dave specifically instructed me, “The Double Eagle completely kicks butt!” As well as, famed gun author Dean A. Grennell praised the pistol in his 1989 “Gun Digest E book of the .45.” The Double Eagle even graced the e-book’s cowl.
Different specialists weren’t so complimentary. Most prominently, Massad F. Ayoob of the Deadly Pressure Institute wrote a decidedly unflattering evaluation of the gun in American Handgunner.
Travis Pike sums up fairly bluntly what went improper with the Double Eagle in an October 2022 article for Pew Pew Tactical:
“While you eliminated the grip panels, you uncovered tiny elements that might simply fall out. One spring can leap out of the decocker while you take away the left aspect grip…Additionally, in case your plastic grips broke, your gun might be disabled till you’ll be able to restore them…Weapons just like the Beretta 92FS held virtually double the capability of Colt’s single-stack design…As well as, weapons just like the Smith and Wesson 4506 have been similar to the Double Eagle. The 4506 was cheaper and was arguably a greater gun. This stiff competitors made promoting the Double Eagle troublesome, and in 1997, manufacturing halted. Every little thing else was higher and cheaper. What did Colt count on?”
Private Capturing Impressions
I acquired to attempt a rental Double Eagle on the sadly defunct Santa Anita Firing Vary in Monrovia, California, again in April 1991, after I was 15 years outdated. My impressions on the time have been that I appreciated the pistol’s ergonomics and its look — in contrast to some old-school shooters who’re partial towards blued finishes, I’m very keen on chrome steel for handguns.
Beretta M9A1.
Reliability was flawless within the 50 rounds of range-reloaded full steel jacket rounds I fired by the piece. So far as the set off pull and the accuracy, the gun was, effectively, satisfactory. Not unhealthy, however it didn’t give me the sort of enjoyable issue that will’ve made me say, “Oh boy, I gotta get me considered one of these,” as was the case with, say, the Beretta M9 or the CZ-75.
In regards to the Creator:
Christian D. Orr has 33 years of capturing expertise, beginning on the tender age of 14. His marksmanship accomplishments embody: the Air Pressure Small Arms Ribbon w/one machine (for M16A2 rifle and M9 pistol); Pistol Skilled Scores from U.S. Customs & Border Safety (CBP), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Regulation Enforcement Coaching Heart (FLETC) Prison Investigator Coaching Program (CITP); a number of medals and trophies by way of the Glock Sport Capturing Basis (GSSF) and the Nevada Police & Fires Video games (NPAF). Chris has been an NRA Licensed Primary Pistol Teacher since 2011. In his spare time, he enjoys (in addition to capturing, clearly) eating out, cigars, Irish and British pubs, journey, USC Trojans school soccer, and Washington DC skilled sports activities.
