Lew Horton Colt

[hydro4570]

While at a local gun show over the weekend. I found a twenty year old Colt 1911 Night Defender in really good condition. It is an officers model, all black, Lew Horton model. Can any of you Colt guys tell me anything about this pistol. I have looked on the net and at the 1911 forum and can't find much info on this gun. I haven't bought the gun yet, but something is telling me that I shoud.

[wxl]

Defenders are great pistols. If price was right, I would jump on it. HOWEVER, I know a TALO Night Defender came out 3 or 4 years ago and was 2 tone (black slide). There may be connection between Talo and Lew Horton. ALSO not sure the Defender models are even 20 years old but I could be wrong.

[4damascus]

Lew Horton is a distributor on the East Coast. They buy limited production sets from Manufacturers.
I am showing 3 models called the Night Officer, not Night Defender in the Blue Book. Production was 350 on the Night Officer -1993 and 200 on the night officer II - 1995 and 500 on the night officer III - 1995.
They also show a Defender custom 3" w/4 ports 1998 production of 100. Prices are what the buyer will pay.

[hydro4570]

This pistol is an officer model, with Night Defender stamped on the slide. Asking price is 700.00

[4damascus]

If it is the 4 " it rules out the Night Officer II, since that was chrome and obviously the Defender custom, since it is 3".
At the production counts, you won't find them and if you go to resell, it should be a quick sale. The original retail was $680 for the Night officer and $810 for the night officer III, actually made in 1996 and only 200 of them. That averages out to 4 per state. The Night Officer III shows to be a matte finish

Lew Horton still around, you can give them a call/email
http://www.lewhorton.com/
If you like Colt 1911's, it is definitely a rare piece and at a fair price.

[4damascus]

Colt Night Defender .45

Lightweight, powerful .45 with special features: Tritium night front sight Two-tone look, carbon slide, carbon slide stop, carbon safety Night Defender factory roll mark Special serial number range beginning NFD-001 Uniquely checkered hardwood grips with Serpentine Colt logo Custom Shop Box (The first 400 were issued in a Custom Shop box, then Colt factory box for the following 400) Shipped May-July 2009 800 units made through 11/2009. We had a factory price increase between the first & second editions A few more are planned as well as a Midnight Defender variation. We did not limit the production (yet) Last suggested retail was aprox. $1100. Part # O7000NDF Good article in Feb 2009 Combat Handguns by Charlie Cutshaw http://www.taloinc.com/colt.htm