A variant of the legendary 1911 pistol design, specifically conceived for practical shooting, the Colt Competition Pistol is also well apt to a whole array of uses, ranging from most types of sport and leisure shooting to personal and property defense, from duty to tactical applications.

The Colt Competition Pistol is currently available in a blued or stainless versions. What you see in the pictures is the .45 ACP version using classic 1911-style single-stack 8-rounds magazines. A 9mm variant is also being marketed in the United States, feeding through single-stack 10-rounds magazines conceived for shooting disciplines such as IDPA ESP ("Enhanced Service Pistol") division or USPSA Limited 10 and Single Stack divisions.

At the 2017 SHOT Show, a .38 Super Auto variant of the Colt Competition Pistol was launched – currently available only in a brushed stainless version.

The Colt Competition Pistols are, at least technically, standard 1911-type pistols... although they have very little of "standard", and we will see that in a minute.

Their most immediately recognizable signature feature is the set of custom blue G10 grip panels manufactured by VZ Grips: these grips feature a well-gripping checkered surface, a molded Colt logo, and a relief on the left side to allow easier access to the magazine release button – a standard single-side button instead of the enhanced or "tactical" release buttons found on most modern 1911s.

Both the frame and slide of the Colt Competition Pistols are machined out of carbon or stainless steel, featuring either a blued or brushed stainless finish. The slide features rear serrations only.

The Colt Competition Pistol comes with a rear Novak sights adjustable in height and a fixed high visibility fiber-optic front sight.

Other features of the Colt Competition Pistols include a skeletonized enhanced aluminum hammer and a three-holed lightened aluminum single-action trigger: the trigger weight ranges around 2 to 2,7 kilograms (4.5 to 6 pounds), with a clean travel and a crisp break.

The standard manual safety features an extended design and is positioned only on the left side of the frame. The grip safety instead features an upswept beavertail, a significant departure from Colt's traditional downswept beavertail.

The Colt Competition Pistol is approximately 21 centimetres (8.5") long, and weighs just a little bit over a kilogram, or 36 ounces for short. The barrel is a 5"-long, National Match cold-hammer forged out of stainless steel, with a bright shiny polish and six left-handed grooves and a 1-in-16" pitch.

The Colt Competition Pistol features the same Dual Spring Recoil System used on the Colt M45A1 model developed for the U.S. Marine Corps; what it does, specifically, is to reduce felt recoil and muzzle climb for quicker return to target and faster follow-up shots. The Colt Dual Spring Recoil System also lasts longer than a classic single spring system – potentially up to ten thousand rounds before replacement.

The Dual Spring Recoil System also features a short recoil plug that makes the slide much lighter and easier to rack, with less effort.

The Colt Competition Pistol is a well performing factory-grade 1911, and at least in north America, it is offered at an enticing price – a factor that may vary from Country to Country. As usual, price must be checked locally with authorized distributors and retailers.

Is it worth to choose such a standard, yet selected Colt 1911 for any sport shooting purpose, given the huge offer of very good 1911 pistols of the current market? But after all, the point is: Colt offers these kinds of products because people willing to own a 1911 Colt… just want a Colt.