MarkIV Story/Question

[BaltimoreBoy]

Let's start with a story.

Some time ago, I came into possession of a Mark IV Series 70. This gun had suffered a mishap when a second round was fired on top of a squib that caused a rupture of the barrel. I managed, with some difficulty, to take the gun down (barrel was bent slightly). Except for the barrel everything seemed sound. My father in law knew an old gunsmith who put a barrel into it and made it a decent shooter at a phenomenally low price. However the barrel was just an old GI barrel with some pitting.

So the gun is a shooter and quite smart looking with its Colt '70s blueing – as long as you don't check out the barrel.

Is it worth fitting a new barrel to improve the looks of the gun?

If you think so, what kind would you fit?

Are there any decent after-market barrels that can be 'dropped in' to this gun without a gunsmith's attentions?

 

[SilentScream]

There's plenty of descent shooter barrels that are drop in. First place to start would be Brownell's, Midway USA, etc. A quick search will net you literally dozens of barrels.

 

[Jim Watson]

The one case like that I know of locally, a Colt barrel dropped right in. But that was during the production run of Mk IV S70 and the shooter could buy a direct replacement.
I don't know if a current Colt barrel would fit as well.

There are a lot of barrels advertised as drop-in that will require attention.
I have had two Wilson drop-ins that required fitting in the same places as a "gunsmith" barrel, just not as much metal to be taken off. But they were then extremely accurate.

 

[philobeddoe]

You have plenty of options, and you do not need a gunsmith.

Barrel should be easy for you to replace, do a quick field strip and see for yourself.

Here's a link or three;

http://www.m1911.org/stripin1.htm

http://how-i-did-it.org/detail-1911/field_strip.html

http://coolgunsite.com/disassembly/disassembly.htm

Swapping out the barrel should be a cinch.

 

[krupparms]

New Barrels are around that you should be able to put in yourself . If you are handy with working on things, It's a do it your self project. If you aren't take it to gunsmith. It should be simple & cheap. Good luck.