[22lrfan]

I had another one of these follow me home Friday and I've got a couple of questions for you 1911 experts. It is a MK IV Series 70 with a B70 suffix in the serial number. From what I have found this would mean it was made from '79 to '81. It doesn't have the collet bushing. The bushing has a N and a M stamped on it. The trigger has an overtravel screw. Would this bushing and trigger be factory original? Also it has Pachmayr grips. What style of wood grips and mainspring housing would have been on it from the factory? I would like to put it back in the original configuration. Thanks in advance.

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[sidroski]

I'll leave the 1911 question for the expert but will say that's a beautiful pistol for a 30 y.o. gun. Except for the grips, looks like it came out of the box.

 

[jbpmidas]

NM on a Colt usually means National Match. Don't know if it's original or not. How's it shoot?

 

[22lrfan]

Just got it Friday and didn't get a chance to shoot it today.

 

[tnob]

sharp gun

 

[miker84]

i can't tell from the photos. You should probably give it to me to study for a few years. :machinegun:

 

[rdj94a]

Really interested in how it shoots, as stated NM usually means nation match-- looks like a real keeper.

 

[ftsibley]

i think its had the collet bushing replaced with a national match series 80 style bushing. And possibly the trigger replaced as well. Very nice gun. Let us know how it shoots.

 

[crossedcannons45]

Its garbage! You had better give it to me so I can properly dispose of it.

 

[BearsBoy]

I see one thing wrong with it. It isn't MINE!

:awesome:

 

[captain-03]

Come on guys -- quit drooling and help him with his question!!

 

[Joe S.]

i dont know... just thinking out loud... could that be a special edition type pistol since it has those "mods" done to it? that maybe original to that gun?

 

[22lrfan]

Its garbage! You had better give it to me so I can properly dispose of it.

Crossedcannons45 was right. I thought I had found a near mint Series 70. This thing is no where near original. I've found out that the front sight, barrel bushing, trigger and grip safety have been replaced and it has also been parkerized. :NO: Who in there right mind would do such a thing? :tears:

So much for original. If I would have paid more that a few hundred dollars for it I would really be pissed. :yell:

This is what happens when you make an impulse purchase and don't check it out first. I plan to use it as a trot line weight so no one else will get ripped off. :lol4:

From now on I'm sticking with Glocks! :2tup:

 

[DBChaffin]

No expert here, but I like 1911's. Sorry it didn't turn out to be what you thought it was...

I didn't catch the front sight or grip safety, but I would have said that the bushing, trigger, mainspring housing, and of course grips are not original, and as you meantioned, it should have been blued or nickel, not parkerized.

As far as I can tell, it should have originally come with the collet bushing, which was introduced sometime around 1970 and phased out in the Series 80 guns in the late 80's. I don't believe the original Series 70 triggers from that era had overtravel adjustment, like this one. The mainspring housing should be arched and serrated like the M1911A1. I believe the original grips were fully checkered walnut grips (i.e. not double diamond) with the Colt medallion inset in them, like these:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=203873927 (unfortunately this particular auction has ended)
and

From the serial number, I agree you are in the right range and believe it would have been one of 29,008 made in 1979:

__Serial Number Range____Year_Number Made
S/N 01000B70 to 30008B70 1979 29,008
S/N 30009B70 to 72989B70 1980 42,981
S/N 72990B70 to 99999B70 1981 27,009

Most of the above and some other good info available at these links:
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/s70_colts.htm
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=15201

and a review of the Series 70 that was reissued about 8 or 9 years ago with some comparisons to the originals:
http://www.m1911.org/prodte26.htm

 

[22lrfan]

Thanks for the info and the links.