Back in the 80s, the shooting world was changing, dramatically. Revolvers and single-action pistols had ruled for years. However, shooters were getting into DA/SA pistols. This impacted Colt’s business, which focused heavily on the old favorites at the time. So, the company introduced a DA/SA pistol in 1989, called the Colt Double Eagle.
Called the Series 90, Colt’s first DA/SA pistol was basically a more complicated 1911. This gave it the same ergonomics as the famed gun, but it had complications. First, it had no safety, not even the grip safety. Colt relied on the heavy double-action trigger to keep from going off unintended. This means it also had to have a decocker, which Colt added to the frame, just above the magazine release. Another issue was that a spring could fly off when removing the grip panels. That part just wasn’t a good design.
Now, the original featured a 5-inch barrel, just like the 1911. Unfortunately, the extra features added a few ounces to the weight. Of course, just like the 1911, Colt created both Commander and Officer versions, all of which could be found in .45 ACP, 10mm, 9mm, .40 S&W and .38 Super. Most guns came in .45 ACP and 10mm. One nice feature, however, was that standard 1911 magazines worked in the gun. Of course, this also meant that it was limited to seven or eight rounds during a time when most shooters preferred more capacity.
Some shooters really like the Colt Double Eagle, others did not. It also had quite a bit of competition out long before it came to market. For whatever reason, the Double Eagle didn’t do very well in the marketplace, with Colt ending production in 1997. Because of this, these guns aren’t the easiest to find, especially special editions, of which there weren’t many. Colt did, however, run 38 of these guns through its custom shop to get a factory bright stainless finish.
“Colt was trying to modernize the 1911 in the early 90s in an effort to refresh the then-80-year-old design,” said Logan Metesh of High Caliber History. “Many of the gun’s parts are interchangeable with 1911s, but what made the Series 90 unique was that it had a decocking lever — something never found on an actual 1911.”
Colt Custom Double Eagle, Factory Bright Stainless
Colt didn’t make the Double Eagle for very long, only about eight years. As such, there aren’t that many of these guns available, since not that many were made. This, however, did not stop the Colt Custom Shop from creating some special edition Double Eagles. In fact, the Custom Shop produced 38 Double Eagle pistols, featuring a polished stainless finish. And one is available on Collector’s Elite Auctions.
“The Double Eagle is collectible in its own right as a snapshot in time when steel guns were starting to fade out of fashion in favor of guns like GLOCK,” said Metesh. “The one in the sale is additionally collectible as it was a specially produced gun from the Colt Custom Shop, which is known for making special guns.”
This Colt Double Eagle comes chambered in .45 ACP and features a 5-inch barrel and factory-bright, stainless-steel finish. This new-in-box gun even comes with a factory custom shop walnut display case, the original paperwork and a Colt Archive Letter.
“With only 38 made in this deluxe package, it’s truly a limited-edition gun,” said Metesh. “For someone looking for a ready-to-display, unique collectible piece, this one is the whole package.”
The Double Eagle might not have been the most popular Colt pistol. However, it is still a piece of Colt history, and it is the only DA/SA pistol the company designed off its iconic pistol, the 1911.
