Colt Series 70 Reproduction: A Custom Shop Pistol?!

[Geno]

I learned something about my Colt today when I spoke with Cindy at Colt. I had no idea that Colt's Series 70 Reproduction is a Custom Shop 1911.

Did anyone else know that these are Custom Pistols?! I carry mine for CCW nearly every day. Wonder if I should have left it as a Safe Queen. Naw...it was made to be carried and fired.

I was shocked...wow...I have 2 Custom Colt 1911s! And I had no idea.

Doc2005

 

[rellascout]

They are and they aren't. They do not come off the same line as the standard pistols. They go through the custom shop but they are not custom shop pistols in that they do not have custom features.

Enjoy the pistol but they are not really custom shop pieces.

 

[Geno]

Close enough for me.

 

[Hunter0924]

Well Doc my friend in all honesty all Colts are hand built. The Series 70 Repo is finished in the Custom Shop so yes it is a Custom Shop pistol.
I watched the WW1 Repos stock screw bushings being staked by a machine one at the time not far from the Custom Shop. Does the fact the machine that stakes the stock screw bushings is not located in the Custom Shop but just outside make the WW1 Repo not a Custom Shop piece? I reckon it is perspective.
All Colt firearms all hand built and fitted by craftsmen and craftswomen so the location of where they are fitted is not as important as how they are fitted.

 

[Old Fuff]

At this point in time, Colt for all practical purposes is a large custom shop rather then a manufacturer. The number of guns they turn out is minuscule compared to Smith & Wesson, Sturm-Ruger, and even Springfield Armory. In general they make a good product, but they don’t make much of it. Put bluntly, Colt is letting their handgun division starve to death for lack of financial resources. :banghead:

 

[Geno]

Hunter!

How are you doing? Anymore reviews written lately? Send some on anytime. I thought that was what Cindy meant about them being Custom Shop. They may not be custom in the sense of one-of-a-kind, but then for $900.00 how much custom can a person expect?

Thanks for the clarification.

Geno

 

[Hunter0924]

Doc if I were any better I would have to sit on my hands to keep from clapping! Yes I have a Kimber Pro Covert II review I have just finished correcting the rough draft and hope to have it posted this week. I will send you the regular email.
As far as how many pistols Colt produces I am fine with the numbers. I would rather see fewer made by Colt craftsmen than an assemble line churning out an endless supply that may or may not be fitted correctly. I am not saying Colt is perfect but I like the way they do things and believe they have an edge not getting caught up in production numbers so much as quality.
Believe me when I tell you Colt employees are proud to work at Colt (at least the dozen or so I talked to.)
How goes the flawed receiver? I hope Cindy took care of you.

 

[Geno]

Hunter:

Yes, Cindy is a true-blue professional. She won't let them slack on that receiver. Colt is waiting for it to arrive. Seems that Double Action send it USPS instead of UPS. Now, Colt said ship via UPS, insured and they would reimburse. Guess Double Action folks don't listen well. That isn't Colt's fault.

Looking forward to the read.

Doc2005

 

[Old Fuff]

As far as how many pistols Colt produces I am fine with the numbers. I would rather see fewer made by Colt craftsmen than an assemble line churning out an endless supply that may or may not be fitted correctly. I am not saying Colt is perfect but I like the way they do things and believe they have an edge not getting caught up in production numbers so much as quality.

I think you missed my point...

In general they make a good product, but they don’t make much of it. Put bluntly, Colt is letting their handgun division starve to death for lack of financial resources.

Colt's production is equal to the cash flow they generate. To generate more they either have to produce more guns, or keep raising the price on the ones they do, and that makes them less competitive.

What I said was true. Colt’s is no longer a true manufacturer, but rather a large custom shop – with custom shop pricing. What they make is good by today’s rather relaxed standards, and their pre-1965 guns were always made to the highest ones.

I have owned commercial Colt products since about 1947, and USGI guns before that. I have the highest regard for the company and it’s history, and I think I know more about that history then the people that work there.

However I do not for one minute look at the situation they are in, and see it as I wish it was, rather then it really is.

 

[Geno]

Does anyone know what "...machining changes were made in 2005 that allowed for lower costs to be passed onto customers"?

Specifically I am speaking of the Colt Special Combat Government. They actually dropped in price that year by $201.00, so again, what changes occurred? Is this when Colt started using MIM parts?

I have the chance to buy a new-in-the-box 2004 SCG for $1,225.00; these were $1,640.00 pistols. Worth the purchase?

Doc2005

 

[Old Fuff]

Doc.

If I was going to spend $1,225.00 on a 1911 style pistol I'd start by buying a commercial Colt Government Model in solid to new condition made between 1946 to 1965 (serial number C 221,001 to C 300,299) when there were no compromises in materials, heat treating or workmanship. There would be no question about the quality of the internals, and no reason to replace any of them unless you wanted to.

Then I’d do what X-Breath suggested on another thread.

I would recommend an accuracy package from Clark Custom. The key to repeatable accuracy is having the slide and barrel return to exactly the same place in relationship to each other after each shot. The key to reliability is enough wiggle room for the components. Jimmy Clark and crew understand this. Take a look at his Slide Guide.

There are those who disagree with this idea and that is fine. Clark Custom's accuracy guarantee is a 10 shot group measuring 2.5" or less @ 50 yards with match grade ammunition. Groups are measured center to center of the two outermost shots and include flyers. The gun will run reliably when you receive it. Period. Reliability and accuracy can exist in the same pistol...........

Then you could install whatever sights, accessories and finish you might prefer.

The only way Colt’s could have knocked down the price of the pistol in question would be to install new machinery that would reduce the human labor factor, not the actual machining. This might, or might not have resulted in a better part and/or gun.