Does Colt "Custom Shop" mean anything to you? (vs XSE)

[jlh26oo]

And not customized, per se. No features you can point to and say that's an upgrade, but just the fact that it comes from their custom shop mean anything at all to you?

Basically, I got confused when looking at two Colt Government models for sale at the same price. One is the XSE "enhanced", and the other is the Series 70 reproduction. It has since been explained to me that while the enhanced model has a long list of upgrades (and is series 80 btw) that the series 70 repro does not, the 70 series actually comes from the custom shop.

So my question is, with the XSE getting more bang/buck, vs the 70 series reproduction from the "custom shop"- does the latter mean anything at all? If you vote yes, please explain. Prettier finish? Better fit parts (it is in fact the XSE that is advertised as having "enhanced tolerances")? Just for collectors sake?

 

[45auto]

I voted "yes", but I'm not sure about the series 70 in particular.

The custom shop "models" I've actually seen or held were the Special Combat or one that had "custom Colt" on the slide I believe. These models clearly had "handfit" beavertails, much better than any production 1911, slide/frame fit that were "snug", etc. One had a Heine sight, so they did have options not available on their production models.

 

[Majic]

The 70s series repro is just that, a reproduction. The factory is set up to make series 80s guns. The Custom shop makes a limited number of the older series 70s model. It's not a matter of the bells and whistles on the XSE, but that some people don't want the features of the 80 series so a limited number of the 70 series guns were brought back.

 

[larry starling]

According to Colt's own catalog

The legacy of the Government Model is well known. It is a combat proven weapon that has served our armed Forces in past conflicts. Colt series 70 pistols feature the Series 70 firing system, making it a faithful recreation and throwback to Colt Government Models manufactured during the 1970's. It is a rugged and dependable Colt that features high maintainability and sustains repeatable accuracy."

The story I heard was that the reason The series 70's come in custom shop boxes was that the regular blue plastic boxes scratched the finish. And that it was also an attempt to get around the Lawyers......

 

[jlh26oo]

That's what I've heard as well about this one coming out of the custom shop for peripheral reasons; legal & logistics more than anything else.

Basically I'm torn b/t an XSE and one of these. If I knew that the s70r really had some nicer touches to make up for all the extras you get with the XSE at the SAME PRICE, I'd probably go for it. BUt I've read too many accounts of s70r's getting sent back to Colt because of uneven recoil assembly channels. Some of those pics look BAD. Custom Shop? If it's the same fit&finish as on every other 1991/xse etc, I'm not enough of a purist to skip on a lowered and flared ejection port solely for the sake of authenticity.



(wetidlerjr sent his series 70 back for this)