What did a new Colt Gov't Model .45 in electroless (bright) nickel cost in 1975?

[Mr. Doughnut]

Anyone know the circa 1975 MSRP of a Colt Gov't .45 in electroless nickel?

Thanks,
Mr. Doughnut

 

[bannockburn]

Mr. Doughnut

Pretty sure Colt did not offer an electroless nickel finish in 1975; instead they would have had bright nickel plating on the Government models. The retail price of a blued model back then was $175.50 while the nickel model went for $192.00. The Colt Combat Commander was also available in a satin nickel finish.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I paid about $200 for a blued Govt Model in 1976, and Colt did make satin nickel Commanders then. Not sure when they ran some Government models in satin nickel, but they did make some at sometime.

 

[Mr. Doughnut]

Thanks, guys. I must be getting my nickel finishes mixed up... The Colt GM I bought in '75 was definitely bright nickel. I was an E-5 in the army at the time, and recall that the cost of the pistol was a good chunk of my pay for the month.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I misunderstood. The bright nickel models were made then, but that is a regular polished nickel, not electroless. That finish came along later, and was usually a satin. Still, something around $200 was still a good chunk of change back then. A Python in late 1971 cost me about $240 retail, if I remember right.

 

[bannockburn]

I think Colt went to the electroless nickel finish in the late '70s/early '80s to fill the gap before they started producing M1911s in stainless steel. Probably also was less expensive in terms of production versus the polishing and finishing required for both the blued finish and bright nickel plating.

I also remember seeing some Government models in both a satin nickel finish, with certain parts like the slide stop, thumb safety, and barrel bushing in a blued finish; as well as a few done in electroless nickel as a limited production run.