The Colt Defender is a compact 1911-pattern pistol chambered in .45 ACP with a 3-inch barrel, built for concealed carry. It has Novak-pattern sights and an upswept beavertail grip safety, with a Flat Dark Earth finish on this blemished-frame example. Capacity runs 7 rounds in the magazine, consistent with the shortened 1911 frame. The shorter barrel and grip trade some sight radius for a smaller carry footprint compared to a full-size 1911. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Brand: Colt 
• Model: Defender 
• Caliber: .45 ACP 
• Capacity: 7 rounds 
• Barrel Length: 3 in 
• Finish: Flat Dark Earth 
   

Detailed Features 

• Compact 3-inch barrel on a 1911-pattern frame sized for concealed carry. 
• Novak sights for a fast, consistent sight picture. 
• Upswept beavertail grip safety for improved hand control. 
• 7-round magazine capacity in the shortened 1911 configuration. 
• Flat Dark Earth finish, sold as a blemished-frame unit for daily carry use.

Owners of compact 1911s like the Defender generally like the smaller footprint for daily carry, since the shorter grip and 3-inch barrel print less under a cover garment than a full-size 1911 while keeping the same single-stack feel in the hand.

The trade-off most people mention is recoil: a lighter, shorter 1911 in .45 ACP tends to feel snappier than a full-size gun, though the upswept beavertail grip safety helps keep the hand positioned consistently and reduces slide bite that some shooters get on other compact 1911s. Novak sights are usually well regarded for a fast sight picture in a carry gun.

On value, buyers weigh the Colt name and Flat Dark Earth finish against other compact 1911 options, and a blemished-frame unit like this one appeals to shooters looking for the same shooting experience at a lower price point. Aftermarket holsters and grips built for compact 1911 dimensions are widely available.