Colt Mk IV Series 70

[pacecars]

What can y’all tell me about these? The first 1911 I ever bought when I turned 21 was a Colt Delta Elite 10mm and while I have owned a lot of .45 1911s I have never owned another Colt. I am thinking about remedying that. I can pick this one up for $750 but I haven’t had a chance to handle it yet but the seller is a good friend and takes care of his stuff. He is the second owner but says it is in good shape. I do like the 70 series better than the 80s safety crap.

[AxeHandle]

I like them myself. Own a few Colts and quite a few others built on the series 70 pattern. Don't care for Colt's electroless nickel finish.

[pacecars]

If I do buy it I am thinking I would have it bobtailed and the front strapped checkered, and better sights along with a refinish. For some reason I can’t keep myself from pouring more money into a new to me gun.

[bigbrowndog]

I had a twin to that in Commander guise, shot great and killed lots of stuff with it, deer, pigs, squirrels, etc. accurate little gun. No issues whatsoever, wish I still had it.

Trapr

[potatojudge]

I have that exact gun inherited from my grandfather. Satin nickel with blue parts and those are the factory grips I believe.

He shot combat with it and then with his Gold Cup. I have his left handed Chapman holster, but have added a right handed version to the kit for myself.

It's a great example of a 1911. Reliable and has good manners when throwing brass.

Mine feeds everything, including the pointy little 155 LSWC loaded pretty light.

He had a MMC rear sight added in the back but said he wished he'd kept it stock.

On the open market, that gun is worth quite a bit more than the asking price.

I would suggest limiting your customization to reversible upgrades.

Here it wears Ahrends grips

[crazyhorse]

That is a steal in my opinion. Get while you can. I have one exactly like that. It was my first center fire pistol purchase in about 1982.

[bigmuddy]

I like it! At that price I would own that one. For me I would change to an arched MSH and probably would change grips, then shoot the thunder out of it. Possibly a bushing change to a solid one, eliminating the “4 fingered” bushing in the 70 Series guns.

I used to like tricked out 1911’s, but these days basic is better. 😉

Dan

[nicholst55]

Agreed; a very good price for that gun. I'm not wild about electroless nickel, but I could live with it.

[pacecars]

I am definitely buying it. I like the flat mainspring housing and will need an extended thumb safety. I will still probably switch out the sights and add a beaver tail grip safety. I can live with the nickel but the grips have to go for something a little more traditional. I will shoot it some to see if I get any hammer bite with my big mitts. This should be fun.

[pacecars]

I missed out on the Marlin 39 so I ain’t letting this one slip through my fingers

[bradshaw]

Colt 1911 Series 70 came with collet bushing. According to some, collet fingers were apt to break. Such was never experienced on mine, although most of the rounds fired through it were with an Irv Stone (Bar-Sto) barrel. The Bar-Sto has a collet bushing, also. The Series 70 slide has the high ejection port, which may be perfectly reliable, yet may dent case mouths on ejection.

Browning configured his 1911 to feed Ball ammunition, and Colt followed that specification long after handloaders and ammo companies loaded other nose profiles. I’ve seen feed ramps hogged out, while the gorilla with the grinder paid no attention to the BARREL LINK, which affects feed ramp position in the frame and lockup timing. Auto pistols must be understood with depth, same as one must comprehend a revolver----before any work is done.

Colt hardeware----metal & heat treatment----is excellent. Colt barrels can be great. Pachmayr would test a factory barrel before installing a custom. If it possessed match accuracy, the customer would be advised that replacement was unnecessary. Some top makers, Bar-Sto and Kart included, drove the equation higher. Unless a class mechanic has had his paws on a pistol, I consider any aftermarket work suspect.
David Bradshaw

[James]

Must first handgun was a blue Colt series 70 in 45acp (read plenty of Jeff Copper) and sold it to a cop friend for $150... next was a series 70 Gold Cup that I still own.... My brother can shoot that gun "lights out".... Both had collect bushing and both shot good...I put the tag on the trigger guard for this photo...

[squawberryman]

It's junk, what's the phone number?

[45MAN]

Aug 19, 2024 13:48:06 GMT -5 pacecars said:

 For some reason I can’t keep myself from pouring more money into a new to me gun.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

[boolitdesigner]

Back in the day, when I was a lot younger, I bought several of these in 45 ACP and 38 Super……….. for $192.00 retail gun shop price. The real old guy across the counter (about 50ish) would see me come in and had a new in the box one setting on the counter for me to look at (and buy) when I got to him. I want to go back and live there again.