Price check on a 1974 Colt Series 70 1911?

[Erik Jensen]

the range I go to has really nice looking 1974 series 70 Colt 1911 in used. looks to be lightly cusomized, mainly a reliability job (flared and lowered ejection port, throated feed ramp, etc...), a BoMar barrel, and adjustable sights. in essence, just the way i want it (ie: no beavertail, regular spur hammer, no front cocking serrations, non-ambi safety). it's got a very deep, shiny blue job, with very little apparent wear.

the price on it is $745.00 is this waaaayyy out of line? not bad? run away? what do you guys think? keep in mind that gun prices around the Detroit area tend to be a bit high compared to some of ya'll, but lower than, say, the PRK.

this would be my first 1911. and it would be used for carry and range shooting. I don't know of any IPSC or IDPA events around here, so it probably won't be used for that. and I'm planning on hard chroming it, just because. (insert "pimp gun" crack here )

 

[echo3mike]

The current crop of Series 70's on gunbroker / Gunsamerica is pretty much in-line with the ~$750 price tag...runs from $350 for the beaters to the mid $1K for the custom / historically significant items.

That being said, I've also seen NIB series 70's ( the latest offering from the custom shop) at about the same price ($750). Some are a bit more. Don't know about your local laws but it might be worth the trouble for a NIB 70 off the Internet. Still, your first consideration sounds decent too.

Overall, if you've read the threads here about "what to look for when buying a used handgun", and the gun passes, buy it.

Scott

 

[1911Tuner]

Series 70

If the gun is nice, that would be at about the top-end of the price
range. A word to the wise...If it still has the collet bushing, toss it and
get a solid bushing for it. When those collet bushings were within spec, they worked pretty well. If things are a few thousandths out of whack,
the fingers can break and tie the gun up solid, and possibly damage
something expensive. I had one come across my bench that was so
locked up, that I had to drill the slide stop off to get the gun apart.
Luckily, the damage to the slide and barrel was repairable.

Here's hopin' it's a keeper.

Tuner

 

[Sean Smith]

It depends on who did the custom work and how well it was done. If the seller can't prove somebody of known competence did it, the work adds zero value (and probably lowers it). There are alot of morons doing superficially decent work out there that is no good.

Assuming somebody good did the work, the price is about right.

 

[dsk]

1911Tuner, how many drill bits did you have to go through? Those Colt slide stops are hard. Over on the 1911 Forum guys are always saying how the collet bushing is no big deal, that they've got a gun with XXXX rounds with no problems, etc.. They've never seen what can happen when one of those bushings actually does break.

 

[Erik Jensen]

Sean... it said on the tag who did the work, but a: I can't remember what the name was, and b: being a Beretta guy first and foremost, the only 'smith I know (aside from the "legends") is Ernie Langton.

I'll check to see what it said tomorrow, and ask you guys if the name is familiar.

 

[1911Tuner]

Hard Stops

dsk, I used boron carbide bits, and drilled a pilot hole first, plus
lotsa Cool Tool as I went...and you're right...They're hard, but if it
can be filed, it can be drilled. I used a magnetic chuck on a milling table,
and drilled it with a milling head.


If they could see what one of those collet fingers can do when they
let go, they'd never let one close to a pistol.

Cheers!
Tuner