Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brand-new 1911 just to make it 'better'. Know what you're changing out and why.
You may spend a lot of money fixing things that weren't broken to begin with. Shoot at least 500 rounds through it first, then decide what you don't like and want to improve.
Regarding vintage 1911s, pre-1970 pistols are highly collectible in original, unaltered condition and should NEVER be refinished or modified as it completely ruins their monetary value. Just in case you didn't know, '2nd generation' means a current-production repro of the original. I have a Mk IV Series 70 from 1983, which has to be one of the last ones (70B28XXX). I'm not a Colt expert, but I didn't know they had offered the original with a flat housing - the arched, serrated housing was normal. A flat, checkered housing smells like a replacement to me, probably done for or by the original owner. Only the Gold Cup National Match came with a flat housing to my limited knowledge. Assuming you plan to shoot it, I would find a replacement collet bushing to keep in the box with it.
Presumably it also has the correct barrel, marked 'Mk IV Series 70'. The barrel and bushing are best used together. If you wish to change to a solid bushing, you should change to a 'straight' barrel too. They used various grips, but mostly the walnut with Colt medallions. Hammers were always 'white' on the sides but triggers were either all blued or white on the sides. Then you have the stainless and nickel ones. The arched serrated housings are widely available if you want to put it back to original (assuming the flat one is wrong).
Below is a MkIV Series 70 made in 1978 over a new MkIV Series 70 in SS. Now on the 78 which I bought new back in 78 I also had mods made in 78 to the tune of new sights, long trigger, flat MSH, plus I had the barrel throated and the ejection port opened up. I put the original grips back on and have the original trigger and MSH but as for the rest there is no easy going back. I carried that guy for years and after over 40K rounds it is semi retired now. It still has the collet barrel bushing in it.The original MkIV Series 70 was made from about 1970 to 1983 and with the inclusion of the Series 80 mechanical firing pin safety became the MkIV Series 80 in 1983. The collet or finger barrel bushing was introduced in about 1970 and lasted till about 1989.Back in the 70s and early 80s I never saw a Gov or Commander with a flat MSH new in a gun store, but they are cheap and easy to change out.
Gold Cups usually had flat MSHs but at least around 72 could be ordered with arched MSHs as I ordered one that year, although you almost never saw one with an arched MSH and my 72 had a flat one as my hand likes a long trigger and flat MSH. Toshiba thrive update download.
. Government model: 5.03 in (127 mm). Commander model: 4.25 in (108 mm). Officer model: 3.5 in (89 mm)830 ft/s (253 m/s)Feed system7 round standard detachableThe M1911, also known as the 'Government' or 'Colt Government', is a, magazine-fed, chambered for the.
It served as the standard-issue for the from 1911 to 1986. It was widely used in, the, and the. The pistol's formal designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber.45, M1911 for the original model of 1911 or Automatic Pistol, Caliber.45, M1911A1 for the M1911A1, adopted in 1924. The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber.45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam War era.The U.S. Procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols in military contracts during its service life.
The M1911 was replaced by the pistol as the standard U.S. Sidearm in October 1986, but due to its popularity among users, it has not been completely phased out. Modernized derivative variants of the M1911 are still in use by some units of the and the.Designed by, the M1911 is the best-known of his designs to use the principle in its basic design. The pistol was widely copied, and this operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as, and shooting. Compact variants are popular civilian weapons in the U.S.
Because of the design's relatively slim width and the of the.45 ACP cartridge. Contents.History Early history and adaptations The M1911 pistol originated in the late 1890s as the result of a search for a suitable self-loading (or semi-automatic) pistol to replace the variety of revolvers then in service. The United States was adopting new firearms at a phenomenal rate; several new pistols and two all-new service rifles (the and ), as well as a series of revolvers by and for the Army and Navy, were adopted just in that decade.
The next decade would see a similar pace, including the adoption of several more revolvers and an intensive search for a self-loading pistol that would culminate in official adoption of the M1911 after the turn of the decade.had designed a self-loading in the 1880s, but was preoccupied with. Nevertheless, the application of his principle of using cartridge energy to reload led to several self-loading pistols in 1896. The designs caught the attention of various militaries, each of which began programs to find a suitable one for their forces. In the U.S., such a program would lead to a formal test at the turn of the 20th century. M1911 designer,During the end of 1899 and start of 1900, a test of self-loading pistols was conducted, which included entries from (the ), Mannlicher (the ), and Colt (the ).This led to a purchase of 1,000, chambered in, a.
During field trials these ran into some problems, especially with. Other governments had made similar complaints. Consequently, DWM produced an enlarged version of the round, the (known in current military parlance as the 9×19mm NATO), a necked-up version of the 7.65 mm round. Fifty of these were tested as well by the in 1903.American units fighting guerrillas during the using the then-standard revolver, found it to be unsuitable for the rigors of, particularly in terms of, as the Moros had high battle morale and often used drugs to inhibit the sensation of pain.
Army briefly reverted to using the in.45 Colt caliber, which had been standard during the late 19th century; the heavier bullet was found to be more effective against charging tribesmen. The problems prompted the, General, to authorize further testing for a new service pistol.Following the 1904 pistol round effectiveness tests, Colonel stated that the new pistol 'should not be of less than.45 caliber' and would preferably be semi-automatic in operation.
This led to the 1906 trials of pistols from six firearms manufacturing companies (namely, (DWM), Knoble, and White-Merrill).Of the six designs submitted, three were eliminated early on, leaving only the, Colt, and designs chambered in the new (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge. These three still had issues that needed correction, but only Colt and Savage resubmitted their designs. There is some debate over the reasons for DWM's withdrawal—some say they felt there was bias and that the DWM design was being used primarily as a 'whipping boy' for the Savage and Colt pistols, though this does not fit well with the earlier 1900 purchase of the DWM design over the Colt and Steyr entries. In any case, a series of field tests from 1907 to 1911 were held to decide between the Savage and Colt designs. Both designs were improved between each testing over their initial entries, leading up to the final test before adoption.Among the areas of success for the Colt was a test at the end of 1910 attended by its designer, John Browning.
Six thousand rounds were fired from a single pistol over the course of two days. When the gun began to grow hot, it was simply immersed in water to cool it. The Colt gun passed with no reported malfunctions, while the Savage designs had 37. Service history. Adopted by the U.S. Army in the 1970s for issue to Generals.Following its success in trials, the Colt pistol was formally adopted by the Army on March 29, 1911, when it was designated Model of 1911, later changed to Model 1911, in 1917, and then M1911, in the mid-1920s. The began manufacture of M1911 pistols for members of the in August 1912.
Approximately 100 pistols stamped 'N.R.A.' Below the serial number were manufactured at Springfield Armory and by Colt. The M1911 was formally adopted by the and in 1913. The.45 ACP 'Model of 1911 U.S. Army' was utilized by both US Army Cavalry Troops and Infantry Soldiers during the United State's into Mexico against Pancho Villa in 1916.
World War I By the beginning of 1917, a total of 68,533 M1911 pistols had been delivered to U.S. Armed forces by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and the U.S. However, the need to greatly expand U.S. Military forces and the resultant surge in demand for the firearm in saw the expansion of manufacture to other contractors besides Colt and Springfield Armory, including Remington- and Co. Several other manufacturers were awarded contracts to produce the M1911, including the, the Savage Arms Company, the Caron Brothers Manufacturing of Montreal, the, and the, but the signing of the Armistice resulted in the cancellation of the contracts before any pistols had been produced. Interwar changes Battlefield experience in World War I led to some more small external changes, completed in 1924.
The new version received a modified type classification, M1911A1, in 1926 with a stipulation that M1911A1s should have serial numbers higher than 700,000 with lower serial numbers designated M1911. The M1911A1 changes to the original design consisted of a shorter trigger, cutouts in the frame behind the trigger, an arched mainspring housing, a longer grip safety spur (to prevent ), a wider front sight, a shortened hammer spur, and simplified grip checkering (eliminating the 'Double Diamond' reliefs). These changes were subtle and largely intended to make the pistol easier to shoot for those with smaller hands. Many persons unfamiliar with the design are often unable to tell the difference between the two versions at a glance. No significant internal changes were made, and parts remained interchangeable between the M1911 and the M1911A1.Working for the U.S.
Ordnance Office, developed a.22 training version of the M1911 using a floating chamber to give the.22 long rifle rimfire recoil similar to the.45 version. As the, this was available both as a pistol and as a conversion kit for.45 M1911 pistols. Colt 1911 01Before World War II, 500 M1911s were produced under license by the Norwegian arms factory, as Automatisk Pistol Model 1912.
Then, production moved to a modified version designated Pistol Model 1914 and unofficially known as '. The Pistol M/1914 is noted for its unusual extended slide stop which was specified by Norwegian ordnance authorities. 22,000 were produced between 1914 and 1940 but production continued after the German occupation of Norway in 1940 and 10,000 were produced for the German armed forces as Pistole 657 (n).Between 1927 and 1966, 102,000 M1911 pistols were produced as Sistema Colt Modelo 1927 in, first by the. A similar gun, the, was also designed and produced.The M1911 and M1911A1 pistols were also ordered from Colt or produced domestically in modified form by several other nations, including Brazil (M1937 contract pistol), Mexico (M1911 Mexican contract pistol and the ), and Spain (private manufacturers and ).World War II and the years leading up to it created a great demand.
During the war, about 1.9 million units were procured by the U.S. Government for all forces, production being undertaken by several manufacturers, including (900,000 produced), Colt (400,000), (400,000), (50,000), and (500). New M1911A1 pistols were given a parkerized metal finish instead of bluing, and the wood grip panels were replaced with panels made of brown plastic. The M1911A1 was a favored small arm of both US and allied military personnel during the war, in particular, the pistol was prized by some British commando units and Britain's highly covert, as well as South African Commonwealth forces.So many 1911A1 pistols were produced during the war that the government cancelled all postwar contracts for new production, instead choosing to rebuild existing pistols with new parts, which were then refinished and tested for functioning. From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s thousands of 1911s and 1911A1s were refurbished at U.S.
Arsenals and Service depots. These arsenal rebuilds consisted of anything from minor inspections to major overhauls of pistols returned from service use. Pistols that were refurbished at government arsenals will usually be marked on the frame/receiver with the arsenal's initials, such as RIA (Rock Island Armory) or SA (Springfield Armory).Among collectors today, the Singer-produced pistols in particular are highly prized, commanding high prices even in poor condition. General Officer's Model From 1943 to 1945 a fine-grade russet-leather M1916 pistol belt set was issued to some generals in the US Army. It was composed of a leather belt, leather enclosed flap-holster with braided leather tie-down leg strap, leather two-pocket magazine pouch, and a rope neck lanyard.
The metal buckle and fittings were in gilded brass. The buckle had the seal of the U.S.
On the center (or 'male') piece and a laurel wreath on the circular (or 'female') piece. The pistol was a standard-issue M1911A1 that came with a cleaning kit and three magazines.From 1972 to 1981 a modified M1911A1 called the was issued to General Officers in the US Army and US Air Force. From 1982 to 1986 the regular M1911A1 was issued. Both came with a black leather belt, open holster with retaining strap, and a two-pocket magazine pouch. The metal buckle and fittings were similar to the M1916 General Officer's Model except it came in gold metal for the Army and in silver metal for the Air Force. The M15 and M1911A1 were replaced with the M9 pistol in 1986.Replacement for most uses After World War II, the M1911 continued to be a mainstay of the U.S. Armed Forces in the and the.
It was used during in specialized U.S. Army units and, and has seen service in both and, with U.S. Army Special Forces Groups and Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Companies.However, by the late 1970s, the M1911A1 was acknowledged to be showing its age. Under political pressure from Congress to standardize on a single modern pistol design, the ran a to select a new semi-automatic pistol using the -standard 9 mm Parabellum pistol cartridge. After trials, the was chosen. The Army contested this result and subsequently ran its own competition in 1981, the trials, eventually leading to the official adoption of the on January 14, 1985.
By the late 1980s production was ramping up despite a controversial XM9 retrial and a separate XM10 reconfirmation that was boycotted by some entrants of the original trials, cracks in the frames of some pre-M9 Beretta-produced pistols, and despite a problem with slide separation using higher-than-specified-pressure rounds that resulted in injuries to some U.S. Navy special operations operatives. Xbox 360 wireless adapter driver windows 7 64 bit. This last issue resulted in an updated model that includes additional protection for the user, the 92FS, and updates to the ammunition used. During the of 1990 to 1991, M1911A1s were deployed with reserve component U.S.
Army units sent to participate in.By the early 1990s, most M1911A1s had been replaced by the, though a limited number remain in use by special units. The (USMC) in particular were noted for continuing the use of M1911 pistols for selected personnel in MEU(SOC) and reconnaissance units (though the USMC also purchased over 50,000 M9 pistols. ) For its part, the (USSOCOM) issued a requirement for a pistol in the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) trials. This resulted in the Heckler & Koch OHWS becoming the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (itself being heavily based on the 1911's basic field strip), beating the, a much modified M1911. Dissatisfaction with the stopping power of the 9 mm Parabellum cartridge used in the Beretta M9 has actually promoted re-adoption of pistols based on the.45 ACP cartridge such as the M1911 design, along with other pistols, among USSOCOM units in recent years, though the M9 remains predominant both within SOCOM and in the U.S.
Military in general. MEU(SOC) pistol. Main article:formerly issued M1911s to units. Hand-selected Colt M1911A1 frames were gutted, deburred, and prepared for additional use by the USMC Precision Weapon Section (PWS) at.
Colt 1911 Government Model Series 70 Serial Numbers Lookup
They were then assembled with after-market grip safeties, ambidextrous thumb safeties, triggers, improved high-visibility sights, accurized barrels, grips, and improved Wilson magazines. These hand-made pistols were tuned to specifications and preferences of end users.In the late 1980s, the Marines laid out a series of specifications and improvements to make Browning's design ready for 21st century combat, many of which have been included in MEU(SOC) pistol designs, but design and supply time was limited. Discovering that the Los Angeles Police Department was pleased with their special Kimber M1911 pistols, a single source request was issued to Kimber for just such a pistol despite the imminent release of their TLE/RLII models. Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). Maintaining the simple recoil assembly, 5-inch barrel (though using a stainless steel match grade barrel), and internal extractor, the ICQB is not much different from Browning's original design.In July 2012, the U.S.
Marines placed a $22.5 million order for 12,000 M1911 pistols for forces. The new 1911 was designated M45A1 or 'Close Quarters Battle Pistol' CQBP. The M45A1 features a dual recoil spring assembly, Picatinny rails and is cerakoted tan in color.In September 2016, it was reported that the U.S.
Marine Corps decided to withdraw the M1911 from use by special operators. Current users in the U.S. Many military and law enforcement organizations in the U.S.
And other countries continue to use (often modified) M1911A1 pistols including and S.I.S., the, FBI regional SWAT teams, and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta. Modern Colt M1911 pistol in stainless steelThe M1911A1 is popular among the general public in the U.S.
For practical and recreational purposes. The pistol is commonly used for thanks in part to a single-stack magazine (which makes for a thinner pistol that is, therefore, easier to conceal), personal defense, target shooting, and competition. Numerous aftermarket accessories allow users to customize the pistol to their liking. There are a growing number of manufacturers of M1911-type pistols and the model continues to be quite popular for its reliability, simplicity, and patriotic appeal. Various tactical, target and compact models are available. Price ranges from a low end of around $400 for basic pistols imported from the Philippines or Turkey (, ) to more than $4,000 for the best competition or tactical versions (, Ed Brown, and ).Due to an increased demand for M1911 pistols among Army Special Operations units, who are known to field a variety of M1911 pistols, the began looking to develop a new generation of M1911s and launched the M1911-A2 project in late 2004.
Intellectual disabilities across the lifespan ninth edition calculus. The goal was to produce a minimum of seven variants with various sights, internal and external extractors, flat and arched mainspring housings, integral and add-on magazine wells, a variety of finishes and other options, with the idea of providing the end-user a selection from which to select the features that best fit their missions. The AMU performed a well-received demonstration of the first group of pistols to the Marine Corps at Quantico and various Special Operations units at Ft. Bragg and other locations. The project provided a feasibility study with insight into future projects. Models were loaned to various Special Operations units, the results of which are classified. An RFP was issued for a Joint Combat Pistol but it was ultimately canceled. Currently units are experimenting with an M1911 pistol in.40 which will incorporate lessons learned from the A2 project.
Ultimately, the M1911A2 project provided a test bed for improving existing M1911s. An improved M1911 variant becoming available in the future is a possibility.The Springfield Custom Professional Model 1911A1 pistol is produced under contract by Springfield Armory for the FBI regional SWAT teams and the Hostage Rescue Team. This pistol is made in batches on a regular basis by the Springfield Custom Shop, and a few examples from most runs are made available for sale to the general public at a selling price of approximately US$2,700 each.International users.
A Colt M1991A1 Compact ORM pistol with slide locked back to expose bull barrel. Colt Commander: In 1949 Colt began production of the Colt Commander, an aluminum framed 1911 with a 4 ¼ inch barrel and a rounded hammer. It was developed in response to an Army requirement issued in 1949, for a lighter replacement for the M1911 pistol, for issue to officers. In 1970, Colt introduced the all-steel 'Colt Combat Commander', with an optional model in satin nickel.
To differentiate between the two models, the aluminum-framed model was renamed the 'Lightweight Commander”. Colt Government Mk. IV Series 70 (1970–1983): Introduced the accurized Split Barrel Bushing (collet bushing). The first 1000 prototypes in the serial number range 35800NM – 37025NM were marked BB on the barrel and the slide. Commander sized pistols retained the solid bushing.
Colt Government Mk. IV Series 80 (1983–present): Introduced an internal firing pin safety and a new half-cock notch on the sear; pulling the trigger on these models while at half-cock will cause the hammer to drop.
Models after 1988 returned to the solid barrel bushing due to concerns about breakages of collet bushings. Colt Gold Cup National Match 1911/Mk. IV Series 70/Mk. IV Series 80 MKIV/Series 70 Gold Cup 75th Anniversary National Match/Camp Perry 1978.
Limited to 200 pistols. (1983–1996) Gold Cup MKIV Series 80 National Match –.45 ACP, Colt-Elliason adjustable rear sight, fully adjustable Bomar-Style rear sight, target post front sight, spur hammer, wide target trigger, lowered and flared ejection port, National Match barrel, beveled top slide, wrap-around rubber stocks with nickel medallion.
Colt 1991 Series (1991–2001 ORM; 2001–present NRM): A hybrid of the M1911A1 military model redesigned to use the slide of the Mk. IV Model 80; these models aimed at providing a more 'mil-spec' pistol to be sold at a lower price than Colt's other 1911 models in order to compete with imported pistols from manufacturers such as Springfield Armory and Norinco. The 1991–2001 model used a large 'M1991A1' rollmark engraved on the slide. The 2001 model introduced a new 'Colt's Government Model' rollmark engraving. The 1991 series incorporates full-sized blued and stainless models in either.45 ACP or.38 Super, as well as blued and stainless Commander models in.45 ACP.Custom models. Tenring Custom ColtSince its inception, the M1911 has lent itself to easy customization.
Replacement sights, grips, and other aftermarket accessories are the most commonly offered parts. Since the 1950s and the rise of competitive pistol shooting, many companies have been offering the M1911 as a base model for major customization. These modifications can range from changing the external finish, checkering the frame, and hand fitting custom hammers, triggers, and sears. Some modifications include installing compensators and the addition of accessories such as and even scopes. A common modification of John Browning's design is to use a full-length guide rod that runs the full length of the recoil spring.
This adds weight to the front of the pistol, but does not increase accuracy, and does make the pistol slightly more difficult to disassemble. Custom guns can cost over $5,000 and are built from scratch or on existing base models.
The main companies offering custom M1911s are:, Ed Brown,. IPSC models are offered by both and STI International.Design. ATI M1911A1 Government, Series 70 GI reproduction. Manufactured 2017.Browning's basic M1911 design has seen very little change throughout its production life. The basic principle of the pistol is recoil operation. As the expanding combustion gases force the bullet down the barrel, they give reverse momentum to the slide and barrel which are locked together during this portion of the firing cycle.
After the bullet has left the barrel, the slide and barrel continue rearward a short distance.At this point, a link pivots the rear of the barrel down, out of locking recesses in the slide, and the barrel is stopped by making contact with the lower barrel lugs against the frame's vertical impact surface. As the slide continues rearward, a claw extractor pulls the spent casing from the firing chamber and an ejector strikes the rear of the case, pivoting it out and away from the pistol through the ejection port. The slide stops and is then propelled forward by a spring to strip a fresh cartridge from the magazine and feed it into the firing chamber. At the forward end of its travel, the slide locks into the barrel and is ready to fire again. Colt M1911. Cartridge:.
Other commercial and military derivatives: Other versions offered include, and others. The most popular alternative versions are 9×19mm Parabellum,.38 Super and 10mm Auto. Barrel: 5 in (127 mm) Government, 4.25 in (108 mm) Commander, and the 3.5 in (89 mm) Officer's ACP. Some modern 'carry' guns have significantly shorter barrels and frames, while others use standard frames and extended slides with 6 in (152 mm) barrels.
Rate of twist: 16 in (406 mm) per turn, or 1:35.5 calibers (.45 ACP). Operation:, closed breech, single action,.
Weight (unloaded): 2 lb 7 oz (1.1 kg) (government model). Height: 5.25 in (133 mm). Length: 8.25 in (210 mm). Capacity: 7+1 rounds (7 in standard-capacity magazine +1 in firing chamber); 8+1 in aftermarket standard-size magazine; 10+1 in extended and high capacity magazines. Guns chambered in.38 Super and 9 mm have a 9+1 capacity. Some manufacturers, such as, and, offer 1911-style pistols using double-stacked magazines with significantly larger capacities (typically 14 rounds).
Colt makes their own 8 round magazines which they include with their Series 80 XSE models. Safeties: A grip safety, disconnect, slide stop, a half cock position, and manual safety (located on the left rear of the frame) are on all standard M1911A1s. Several companies have developed a firing pin block. Colt's 80 series uses a trigger operated one and several other manufacturers (such as Smith & Wesson) use one operated by the grip safety.State firearm On March 18, 2011, the U.S.
State of —as a way of honoring M1911 designer, who was born and raised in the state—adopted the Browning M1911 as the ' of Utah'. Similar pistols.See also.
(SNL B-6).References.
I just noticed that the Series 70 serial numbers look like they flipped from 71Bxxxx to 72Bxxxx at the very end of 2012 production, the anniversary markings were dropped, and the right side of the slide now has no rollmarks.The highest 71B number I have seen with anniversary markings is.The lowest 71B number I have seen with no markings on the right side of the slide is.The change took place somewhere in that 158-number range.There appear to be very few 71B guns with no RH slide rollmarks; none of the 72B guns appear to have RH slide rollmarks. Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brand-new 1911 just to make it 'better'. Know what you're changing out and why. You may spend a lot of money fixing things that weren't broken to begin with. Shoot at least 500 rounds through it first, then decide what you don't like and want to improve.
Regarding vintage 1911s, pre-1970 pistols are highly collectible in original, unaltered condition and should NEVER be refinished or modified as it completely ruins their monetary value. Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brand-new 1911 just to make it 'better'. Know what you're changing out and why. You may spend a lot of money fixing things that weren't broken to begin with.
Shoot at least 500 rounds through it first, then decide what you don't like and want to improve. Regarding vintage 1911s, pre-1970 pistols are highly collectible in original, unaltered condition and should NEVER be refinished or modified as it completely ruins their monetary value.
The folks here are a bit off on price. That looks to be either Electroless Nickel or just a dim picture of a Nickel gun in need of a good polish.It's hard to tell condition just from this pic, but I'd say you're closer to $800-$1,200 at least, and more depending on overall condition. It's not stainless, the new stainless versions don't have polished rollmarks and Series 70 guns were not made in stainless until their re-introduction several years ago.The skip checkered grips aren't original, but that's not a big deal, original grips can still be found. Does it have the original collet bushing? If so, check online for dis-assembly instructions to minimize wear on the bushing.Does the serial number start with a '70G,' or end with 'G70,' or end with 'B70?' Serial numbers beginning with '70G' were made from 1970-1976.Serial numbers ending with 'G70' were made from 1976-1979.Serial numbers ending with 'B70' were made from 1979-1981.Some guns ending with 'B70' had fit and finish issues compared to earlier versions, mostly inner machine chatter marks as well as poorly cut barrel lug recesses in the slide.
By the end of the original Series 70 run a lot of Colt's machinery-some dating to the early 1900s-were just plain worn out and some of the later Series 70 guns had noticeable, sometimes deep chatter marks inside the slide and frame. These guns also had a smaller 'billboard' on the side-just as yours does, so I'd guess your serial number ends with 'B70,' but Colt always has some overlap between parts changes. If yours is shooting accurately and reliably, it's very unlikely you have any issues with barrel lug recesses in the slide.Some Flitz polish, a lot of patience and a lot of clean rags to wipe away all the black tarnish that will be stripped will leave you with an almost new looking gun-just be careful not to polish the matte parts of the gun.Edit: I've been shooting my original Nickel Series 70 for 25 years. I've put well over 20,000 reloads through it and it still looks like new. Still has the original collet bushing as well and it's a very accurate gun. You should have no problem shooting the gun all you want, just keep it clean and away from moisture. Man, thanks for your time on those details!
I'm learning so much about this thing. You're right, it's a B70 serial number.
If it is in fact nickel, I'm not sure if I want to polish the crap out of it, I kind of like the flatter look. When the hammer is down there is absolutely no play in the gun, but when the hammer is cocked there's very very slight play in the slide. It seems pretty dang accurate, minus my trigger pull pushing to the right!
The small GI sights are not my favorite. The only reliability issue has been one failure to feed, it peeled back some of the brass casing. Also, almost every ejected shell has a bend in it at the lip, not sure what that's about.It has the original collet bushing, but I've never taken it off. I just clean around it. Is that OK?. Hey, hey!It's fine to remove the bushing, just like any other 1911, just make sure the slide is off the gun and the barrel's muzzle is sticking a half inch or more in front of the bushing before removing the bushing (releases tension on the collet fingers).The brass is being dinged because of a standard ejector and non-lowered ejection port, perfectly normal, just like a military colt, much like the Series 70 is.
A little play-some wiggle, not looseness-is normal and part of the design. The gun will have a bit less play with the hammer down and a bit less play when cold and oiled, perfectly normal.Enjoy your Colt!
If you have any other questions, just ask. That's very nice.
Satin nickel 1911s aren't super-common. You could probably get over a grand for it. Don't clean it with Hoppes. It'll eat the copper undercoating, and cause the nickel to crack.
(MPro7 is what I use for my satin nickel guns.) Other than that, it's an extremely durable finish, so go ahead and shoot & carry it. If I were to carry that gun, I'd install black, higher profile sights on it, with a gold bead in the front.
Still classy/classic, but much easier to get a good sight picture than small & silver sights. But since it is an heirloom for you, you might just want to keep it as-is for a range gun to shoot on special occasions, and perhaps get another, new production Series '70 to carry. Yours is a pretty plain-jane version (not passing judgement, btw). The more deluxe Series 70 models had nicer sights and a lowered, flared ejection port which makes those worth a bit more. Still, your probably tops out at $700 in value, especially since Colt is going to start making Series 70s again, apparently.I have a deluxe model that I shoot the hell out of and have used in matches so much that the finish has gone to shit, but I don't care.
Shoot this baby if you like shooting it; its not as if you are shooting some priceless antique or anything. Rather, it is an excellent gun that I put above most Springfields and Rugers in terms of feel and fit. I had no idea. I thought that all Colts still came with the stupid series 80 firing pin block. But the point remains that his does not have the features many Series 70 owners want. In the stock 1911 competitions I've been in, everyone likes the ones with lowered, flared ejection ports which this one doesn't have.
Those are the ones that break the $800 dollar mark used, at least in my area. Now that I know his is not stainless, however, I'd say you are right and it is worth a bit more than what I estimated.
But I really can't see it going for over $800. I shoot a Series 70 as my bullseye gun, and I am pretty militant about not shooting things that have any significant collector / historical value.They are very nice guns, and while I'd advise not totally fucking it up with a DIY Dremel-tool mod, or throwing away the box if you still have it, but if it's been fired already there's no reason why you can't continue to shoot it. You are unlikely to wear it out unless you have a real love for +P+ loads or something.Someday I suspect almost all of the 'Hartford Colts' are going to be moderately desirable, particularly pre-UAW-strike ones, but it'll be a few years before that's the case.EDIT: Apparently the nickel finish ones are more desirable than a plain old blued 70, so you might have a kilobuck pistol on your hands.
I still think it's OK to shoot if it's already been de-virginized, but for the love of god keep the Hoppes away from the nickel, it'll eat the hell out of it. (One reason why I think nickel finishes aren't popular anymore.).
The most widely produced, copied, used, talked about, written about and debated handgun in the world. The Colt Government Model 1911 is referred to by many as 'the world's greatest handgun'. Colt introduced this model in 1970 as a newer version of the Model 1911A1. The major changes were a slightly heavier slide and a slotted collet barrel bushing. From 1970 to 1976 the serial numbers had a prefix of '70G', from 1976 to 1980 they had a suffix of 'G70' which changed to a prefix of '70B' from 1980 until 1983 when production ceased.
In 1983 the Series 80 Models were introduced with an additional passive firing pin safety lock and the half-cock notch was also redesigned. The MKIV Series 70 Government Model Colts were available in blue or nickel plate and were chambered in.45,.38 Super, 9mm and 9mm Steyr (foreign export only).
There's nothing I can say about these guns that hasn't already been said a thousand times, by a thousand others. The 1911 Colt is without a doubt, 'the most copied and most modified gun in the world'.The two guns pictured on this page are both MKIV Series 70 Government Model Colts in.45 caliber.
I like them all, but the Series 70s are my favorites.In 1992 Colt introduced the Enhanced Government Models which included new features such as a flattop slide, angled rear slide serrations, scalloped ejection port, combat style hammer, beaver tail grip safety, relief cut under trigger guard and long trigger. In 1999 Colt released the XSE Series Model O Pistols. Features of these guns included front slide serrations, adjustable McCormick trigger, three dot dove tail rear sights, ambidextrous safety, enhanced tolerances, aluminum frame and stainless steel slide.All of these modifications to the John Browning designed and Colt produced Model 1911 remind me of a couple of things. I have a really good friend in Memphis that once told me, 'those folks in Nashville have been looking for somebody that can sing better than old George Jones for years, and they ain't found them yet'. People have been trying to make a better 1911 Colt for years and with all of the modifications they've come up with, I think the old original holds its own very well indeed.It also reminds me of something my younger brother once said concerning Mexican food.
I'm a pretty big fan of Mexican food, but my brother on the other hand, can only tolerate it. He said, 'you don't need a menu, you might as well just order this food in dollar amounts, $5 worth, $10 worth, etc.
Depending on how hungry you are, because it's all the same stuff, just arranged differently'.
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