Richard Van D wrote:
> 
> Help,
> I have found a Delta Elite S/N 00369 laser etched 
> w/gold filling. Wood/glass display case I believe 
> it is pre 85 from reading a gun digest valued at 
> $795.00-up.  I gather there were only 500 made 
> from this digest!  what is true and false here.  

There were so many Colts, not only from Colt, but
from several custom shops, and few to none of 
their limited editions were cataloged.

True, the gun exists, but after that, there may
be more false than true. There I admitted it, I'm
no Colt historian, I don't even think Colt has a
historian... gauntlet anyone???

> does this early model have any inherent problems.  

Yes, a few. The plastic guide rods broke, and the
frame cracked at the rails where the slide stop/release
goes through the frame. Check the 10 tech tips
page under the Colt heading. I have a pic of my DE 
there that HAS the cut made so the frame wouldn't 
crack. It LOOKS and SOUNDS funny, removing so much
metal to prevent a crack, but it works.

Lastly Colt SEVERELY underestimated the power of
the 10mm, and didn't put in shok buffs, or recoil
and mainsprings that were up to repeated use of 
full power 10 loads.

This was made worse after the factory springs took
a "set" lower than desired... rather quickly.

Replacing the guide rod, adding shok buffs and springs with 
sufficient power should eliminate the major amount of
problems. 

The frame cracking is up to you how you deal with it. 

You could have it cut away, or use it as is hoping that 
the increased spring load and buffers will eliminate the 
cracking. Personally I'd leave the frame rails intact after
installing proper springs and such.

> its in about 95% condition for $700 with four clips
> and my wife loves it.  do I make the leap?

Your WIFE LOVES IT, and you're asking ME??? I gotta
show this note to MY wife :-)

I would buy it, with or without my wife liking it.

If it was made by Colt as a "Limited Edition" type of 
gun, it could be very nice to have later on. At $700 
it is barely above the price of a nice as new "plain" 
specimen. 

For something like this it sounds like a good enough deal
to use, and not lose money on. Thankfully it's already 
used and you don't REALLY have to bear too much of a 
guilt burden. 

But remember I'm a shooter, I leaving "collecting" to 
people who need to HAVE things more than USE things, 
and using it may hurt its appreciation curve.

If it were me however, within 15 minutes or so of it 
being in MY hands it would definitely be used... To
hell with its appreciation curve. Don't get me wrong, 
I wouldn't go throwing it under the pickup seat, I
take pretty good care of desirable guns than that, 
but with reasonable care and judicial replacement of 
parts (keeping the originals) your investment is FARRRR
better than the one we made on the Diamonds our wives 
wear on their fingers no?

Note to DeBeers: Guns appreciate while we're alive,
Diamonds don't because we can't sell them till the
owner... passes on :-)



   Regards, Gary

More Talk!

Dear Sir,

> Thank you for the quick reply. I am his wife and I was
> gonna get it anyway. And You are right , it will be used
> within 15 or so minutes after it is out of the store. 

Good that! I like to see guns being used.

> Your list of minor problems are duly noted, but that is 
> one of the reasons I married Rick, so he can fix them or
> have them fixed.

Alas, it's confirmed... I suspected as much when recently
at a Sears, a diminutive lass was having problems removing
the fasteners from a ceiling fan and was asking for assistance
loosening the phillips head screws. 

When no help could be offered, she said, looks like I have
to get married to get my screws loose :-) 

After she left, the clerk and I looked at each other and 
chuckled feeling a bit "used"  :-)

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