The 20 Best Colt Handguns Still Worth Buying

Photo credit: Wyoming Gun Project/Youtube

Colt is one of those names that gets tossed around like it automatically means “perfect.” It doesn’t. Some Colts are picky, some are overpriced for what you get, and some are more about rollmarks than real-world use. But there are still a bunch of Colt handguns that make sense for normal shooters who actually carry, actually train, and actually care whether parts and mags can be found without begging on the internet.

This isn’t a museum list. It’s a “would I still spend my own money on it” list, with a heavy bias toward guns that run, guns that shoot where you point them, and guns that won’t leave you stranded when you need a spring or a magazine.

1. Colt Government Model 1911 (Series 70)

If you want a classic full-size 1911 that doesn’t feel like it was designed by a committee, the Series 70 Government Model is hard to hate. The trigger is usually what you hoped a 1911 trigger would be, and the gun tends to point naturally for a lot of shooters. It’s heavy, yes, but that weight makes .45 ACP feel calm instead of snappy.

It’s not the cheapest way into a 1911, and it’s not the most feature-packed either. Still, the bones are right, the aftermarket is endless, and a plain Government Model with good magazines is a lifetime pistol if you don’t abuse it.

2. Colt Commander (Lightweight Commander)

The Lightweight Commander is one of those carry guns you appreciate more the older you get. It’s slim, it rides flatter than most double-stacks, and it doesn’t drag your belt down like a full steel gun. In a good holster it disappears under a normal jacket and doesn’t beat you up on long drives.

Downside? Alloy frames and high round counts can be a complicated relationship if you never maintain anything. Keep it sprung properly, don’t run junk mags, and it’ll do what a Commander is supposed to do: carry easy and shoot like a real pistol.

3. Colt Combat Commander (steel frame)

This is the Commander for folks who like the format but want a little more forgiveness and a little less snap. The all-steel version soaks up recoil, runs fast, and generally feels steadier when you’re trying to shoot well instead of just loud.

It’s not as comfortable to pack all day as the lightweight, but it is a sweetheart on the range. If you’re the type who actually practices, the steel gun usually ends up being the one you reach for.

4. Colt Gold Cup National Match

The Gold Cup is the 1911 that makes you slow down and shoot groups instead of spraying a target. The sights tend to be better than basic models, and the whole thing is geared toward accuracy. If you grew up around bullseye talk or you just want a 1911 that can flat-out shoot, this is one to look for.

It’s not a “roll around in the UTV floorboard” pistol. Treat it like a nice gun, feed it decent ammo, and it’ll remind you why people obsess over 1911 triggers in the first place.

5. Colt Python (modern production)

The new-production Python is expensive, but it scratches a particular itch: a smooth .357 that looks right and feels solid. For a lot of shooters, it’s the revolver they always wanted but never found at a price that didn’t make them sick. The weight helps, and with .38s it’s about as pleasant as a revolver gets.

Is it necessary? No. But if you want a premium double-action revolver and you’ll actually shoot it, the modern Python is a real gun, not just a safe queen.

6. Colt Python (older production)

The older Pythons have that “they don’t make them like this anymore” feel in the action when you find a good one. The finish, the fit, and the smoothness are the whole point. They also tend to make you baby them, because you know what they cost and you know how people treat them.

If you’re buying an older one to shoot, be honest about it. Get it checked out, keep it clean, and don’t treat it like a rental. If you’re buying it as a collectible, that’s a different deal entirely.

7. Colt King Cobra (3-inch)

A 3-inch .357 revolver is about as “woods practical” as it gets, and the King Cobra hits a sweet spot. It’s compact enough to carry on a belt when you’re checking fence lines or walking a creek, but still big enough to shoot well. With .38 +P it’s controllable; with .357 it’s there when you want it.

Revolvers aren’t trendy, and that’s fine. This one is for the guy who wants simple and durable, not the guy who wants 17 rounds and a red dot.

8. Colt Cobra (2-inch, .38 Special)

The Colt Cobra is a “go do chores” revolver. It’s not glamorous and it’s not a range toy, but it’s easy to live with. Drop it in a pocket holster for a quick trip to town, or wear it while you’re working around the property and don’t want something big digging into you.

Small revolvers take practice, and the sights aren’t doing you favors. But for a simple defensive option that doesn’t rely on magazines or slide cycling, it still has a place.

9. Colt Detective Special

If you’ve ever handled a Detective Special that’s been carried smooth for decades, you get it. These guns have a feel that newer snubs often don’t. They’re compact, they’re straightforward, and they’re a classic for a reason.

They’re also old enough that condition matters. If you find one that hasn’t been abused, it’s a great “old-school carry” revolver and a piece of history you can still shoot.

10. Colt Diamondback

The Diamondback is like the sporty little brother in the Colt revolver lineup. They tend to balance well, look sharp, and shoot accurately enough to make you grin. It’s the kind of revolver that makes you want to slow down and ring steel.

You’re paying for style and scarcity as much as function, so don’t pretend otherwise. Still, if you want a smaller-framed Colt revolver with real charm, the Diamondback is hard to replace once you let it go.

11. Colt Trooper Mk III

The Trooper Mk III is one of the most “use it without guilt” Colts out there. It’s sturdy, usually more affordable than the fancy names, and it’ll handle real shooting. If you want a .357 Colt to actually train with, this is one of the smarter places to land.

It may not have the collector glow, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. You can buy it, shoot it, and not feel like every cylinder of ammo is damaging your retirement plan.

12. Colt Trooper Mk V

The Mk V is a little sleeker and tends to have a nicer feel than the Mk III, at least in the examples I’ve spent time with. It’s still a working revolver, not a fragile showpiece, and it fits that “ranch revolver” role well.

If you see one in good shape at a fair price, don’t overthink it. Colt double-actions like this don’t get cheaper, and they’re a whole lot more interesting than another polymer pistol you won’t remember in five years.

13. Colt Official Police

This is a big, honest revolver from the era when “service sidearm” meant steel and a real double-action trigger. The Official Police isn’t small, but it carries on a belt just fine if you’re wearing actual pants and an actual belt. It’s a great trail and property-check gun, especially if you like .38 Special.

They’re old guns, so you inspect timing and lockup like you should. But for a piece of Americana that can still do useful work, it belongs on the shortlist.

14. Colt New Service

The New Service is a bruiser, and it feels like one. Big frame, big presence, and it’s a reminder that Colt used to build revolvers for hard use in hard times. It’s not for everybody, especially if you want something light.

Where it shines is as a historical shooter and a serious chunk of steel for the collector who likes guns that were meant to be used. If you find one that’s mechanically sound, it’s hard not to respect it.

15. Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker)

There’s nothing practical about a Single Action Army if your only goal is modern defensive efficiency. Still, it’s one of the most shootable, packable, enjoyable handguns ever made for the outdoors. One on the hip while you’re camping or knocking around the farm just feels right.

The key is to treat it like what it is: a single-action revolver with old-school handling. Follow safe loading practices, don’t get sloppy, and it’ll put a grin on your face every time the hammer clicks back.

16. Colt 1878 “Frontier” Double Action

Old double-actions can be an acquired taste, and the 1878 is exactly that. The trigger pull isn’t modern-smooth, the ergonomics aren’t modern-easy, and it’s not a gun you buy because you need it. You buy it because you like history and you like the feel of early Colt wheelguns.

For the right owner, it’s absolutely still worth buying. Just be realistic: this is a careful shooter and collector gun, not something you toss in the tackle bag.

17. Colt Woodsman (Target/Match Target)

The Woodsman is one of those .22 pistols that makes you wonder why so many modern .22s feel like toys. The grip angle, the balance, the way it points—these things can be downright addictive. It’s a great small-game and plinking pistol if you can find one in good shape.

Mags and parts aren’t as effortless as buying for a current-production rimfire, so plan ahead. But if you want a classic .22 that feels like it was built by grownups, the Woodsman still earns its keep.

18. Colt Ace (including the Service Model Ace)

The Colt Ace is a clever idea done the Colt way: a .22 that feels like a 1911, because it basically is. If you like 1911s but don’t like paying for centerfire ammo all the time, this is the kind of rimfire that keeps you practicing. Same grip, similar trigger feel, and a familiar manual of arms.

Some examples can be ammo picky, because .22s are like that. Find what it likes, keep it reasonably clean, and you’ve got a trainer that’s more than a gimmick.

19. Colt Mustang Pocketlite

The Mustang Pocketlite is one of those little Colts that carries like a dream. It’s small, light, and actually has usable sights compared to a lot of tiny pistols. If you’ve ever tried to pocket-carry a gun that’s just a little too big, you’ll appreciate what the Mustang gets right.

.380 isn’t magic, but it’s a whole lot better than being unarmed. The big thing with these is getting good magazines and confirming reliability with your carry ammo, because small autos can be sensitive when they’re dirty or under-sprung.

20. Colt 1991A1 (Government/Commander models)

The 1991A1 line has been the “working man’s Colt 1911” in a lot of safes for a long time. They’re not flashy, and they don’t come with every modern part bolted on from the factory. There is nothing fancy about it, and that is kind of the point.

If you want a Colt 1911 you can actually use, customize as needed, and not feel precious about, the 1991A1 is a smart buy. Good mags, good springs, and a little trigger time will take you farther than any fancy marketing ever will.

There are plenty of Colt handguns that are cool to look at and annoying to own, and there are others that quietly do their job for decades. The trick is being honest about what you need: a carry gun, a range gun, a woods gun, or a collectible. Buy the one that matches your life, then put in the work—because even a “good” Colt won’t fix bad habits.