Colt MK 4 Series 70 value.

[Old Dog]

I picked up what I believe to be original Colt factory grips for a reasonable price.

Did you find them locally, or get them on-line?

I can't find an on-line source that has any of the OEM grips in stock, and I've decided to dress up another old Colt.

 

[castile]

I did a search on GB and they are running 100 bucks give or take. I saw a new listing that came up on eBay for 44 bucks plus 4 shipping. I grabbed them. As far as I can tell that is cheap for original Colt grips. These looked in very good used condition which is what I wanted not a new set or a beat up set. What you can do is do a search for the grips you want on eBay and then save the search. You will get notification when new items that are titled similar to your search come up.

 

[Reloadron]

Around my neck of the woods A good clean original Colt Series 70 runs about $1,000 with the Gold Cup versions about $1,500. Here are a few of mine.



The above are all .45 ACP. The .38 Super and 9mm versions normally command a higher price. They were manufactured between 1970 and I believe 1983. The serial number will yield when yours was manufactured. You got a great deal so enjoy it.

Ron

 

[Reloadron]

This is the Colt serial number lookup which should get you the year of manufacture.

Ron

 

[Old Dog]

I'm always reassured to see that there are still a lot of Colt Series 70 fans out there.

And thankful this isn't like another popular forum where someone would inevitably chime in with "Just buy a brand new Tisas and save your money!"

 

[Reloadron]

I'm always reassured to see that there are still a lot of Colt Series 70 fans out there.

Oh yeah, I have a collection of them.

Ron

 

[AlexanderA]

"Series 70" has become a loose term meaning anything that is not a Series 80. It's been applied to GI guns, and to non-Colts.

Actual Colt Series 70 guns are a small subset of the "Series 70" universe. To qualify, the gun must have left the factory with a collet bushing. That was the distinguishing characteristic, at the time.

 

[Reloadron]

"Series 70" has become a loose term meaning anything that is not a Series 80. It's been applied to GI guns, and to non-Colts.

Actual Colt Series 70 guns are a small subset of the "Series 70" universe. To qualify, the gun must have left the factory with a collet bushing. That was the distinguishing characteristic, at the time.

Yep and I change the collet bushing, saving them, on all my Series 70 Colt guns.



They were made between 1970 and 1983. Then several years ago Colt introduced their "New Series 70" guns. I have a few of the stainless versions of those. Within the serialization Colt changed the way they were done. 1970 to around 1976 the serial numbers started with a 70 prefix and around maybe 76 the 70 became a suffix. The Gold Cup National Match guns, the early versions, had a serial number prefix of 70NM verse the 70G prefix.

Ron

 

[cfullgraf]

The OP’s gun looks nice.

My first 1911 is Mk IV Series 70. It is a great pistol. I have no cost expectation except that high end Colt 1911’s will be less than the premium 1911’s. Also, a used Colt Mark IV, Series 70 will shoot better than the economy class 1911’s.

I prefer Pachmyr grips so that is what I use on my 1911’s.

I liked the collet bushing but it’s life was limited. One of mine broke a finger off the bushing which jammed the gun. Get rid of a collet bushing and fit a solid bushing.

I ultimately installed a 38/45 Clerke barrel in the gun. It shoots well in its new service.

The barrel from the Mk IV, Series 70 barrel eventually got installed in an Auto-Ordinance 1911 and the accuracy greatly improved. The Colt barrel had about 3000 rounds through it.

The frame of the Mk IV, Series 70 sufferd a crack in the frame where the dust shield meets the frame. I’ve installed a 22RF slide on the frame and it works well without putting heavy stress on the frame.

Anyway, I’m an 1911 junky. I have 1911’s chambered in 45 ACP, 40 S&W, 357 SIG, 38 Super, 38 Special, 38/45!Clerke, 9x19 and 22 RF

 

[cfullgraf]

"Series 70" has become a loose term meaning anything that is not a Series 80. It's been applied to GI guns, and to non-Colts.

Actual Colt Series 70 guns are a small subset of the "Series 70" universe. To qualify, the gun must have left the factory with a collet bushing. That was the distinguishing characteristic, at the time.

Yes, the Colt Series 70 has the collet barrel bushing and no firing pin block mechanism as the Series 80 guns have.

But, in the early days of the introduction of the Series 80 firing pin block, it was disliked by most shooters that the distinction between “firing pin block” and “no firing pin block” are indicated by Series 70 and Series 80.

The collet bushing has become a foot note of the Series 70 guns.

I liked the collet bushing but did have some failure issues with it. See my previous post. All my 1911’s have solid barrel bushings these days.

I have a couple Series 80 style guns with the firing pin block. They function and shoot just fine.

But, if I’m looking for a competition, a Series 70 system is the best to go. Better and easier trigger adjustment than the Series 80 system.

As a side note, there are two or three 1911 firing block systems out there. There are advantages and disadvantages to each.

 

[Old Dog]

"Series 70" has become a loose term meaning anything that is not a Series 80. It's been applied to GI guns, and to non-Colts.

I'm just gonna have to say, no, the true 1911 cognoscenti know better. Real 1911 guys understand the difference between the Series 80 firing pin block safety and the Kimber style Swartz safety,