15-09-2021

Colt 1911 Mkiv Series 70 Serial Numbers

The zero is a number not a letter, colt started the 70 series the summer of 1970 with serial#70G01001. 1911 colt series 70 serial number lookup for38 super, colt 1911 series 70 serial numbers, colt 1911 series 70 serial numbers 38 super, colt 38 gov model series70 mark iv 1978, colt 45 1911 1970 first numbers serial numbers 70g71, colt 70. I have a Govt model MK IV/Series 70 Colt 1911 that I bought, second hand, in 1977. I am trying to trace the serial number, but mine does not match anything I have been able to find. It is stamped on the right side of the frame, above, and slightly forward, of the grip. There are no numbers on the slide or the barrel. Colt Commercial Production: Govt. Model: 1912 to 1981. Model 1911 Serial Numbers – Date – Number Made. S/N C1 to C1899 – 1912 – 1899 S/N C1900 to C5399 – 1913 – 3500 S/N C5400 to C16599 – 1914 – 11,200 S/N C16600 to C27599 – 1915 – 11,000 S/N C27600 to C74999 – 1916 – 47,400 S/N C75000 to C98999 – 1917 – 24,000. Orignially '70 series' meant it has a 70 in the serial number, and they were also made during the 1970's. The Mark IV is sort of a production era, I'm not sure what the exact meaning is. But the 70 series term is now used only to indicate no Firing Pin Safety. Anything that says '80' series, or model 1991, the gun has the Firing Pin Safety System. You have a real Series 70. I get it with the 70829xx serial number. The one that I pictured is a 71B95xx. It's obviously a 2011 (the roll mark). Is your pistol a collet bushing? I have two of them. I'll say here on the record that I like the post-collet pistols better.

Colt Series 80 Value
Colt 1911 Mkiv Series 70 Serial Numbers Explained
Colt 1911 Series 70 Price
Colt Series 70 9mm Government

SOLD
LSB#: 171201JT16

Make: Colt

Model: MK IV Series 70 Government (Like 1911-A1)

Serial Number: 70G30868

Year of Manufacture: 1972

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S MK IV/SERIES ’70 / GOVERNMENT MODEL / .45 AUTOMATIC CALIBER” and with a Rampant Colt logo, the right is marked “COLT’S GOVERNMENT MODEL”. The right of the frame is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”, with the serial number. The right of the trigger guard bow is marked “P”, the left is marked “VP” in triangle and “3”. The barrel is marked “COLT .45 AUTO / MK IV SERIES 70”. The magazine floorplate is marked “COLT / 45 AUTO.”.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp blade, fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a flat top-square notched base that is dovetailed onto the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are smooth walnut with silver-colored Colt logo medallions. There is no notable wear or damage to the grips. The grips are in Excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: Matte & Polished Blue

Finish Originality: All Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its metal finish. The slide has thinning on the top-right edge and a small, light mark on the top over the slide serrations on the left side. The frame has a light mark under the slide stop which continues onto the trigger. The barrel and hammer have light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this gun rates in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The mechanics are crisp and the pistol shows little evidence of having been used. We have not fired this handgun.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is one blue factory 7-round magazine, showing a few minor marks and operational rubbing from normal use, in Excellent condition. The spring is strong with un-marred feed lips. A factory two-piece faux-wood cardboard box with serial-matching end lable and owner’s manual is also included. The box has very light wear, mostly at edges and corners in about Fine-plus condition.

Our Assessment: Colt’s Patent Firearms Mfg. Co. is well known as the original and most recognized maker of 1911-type pistols. Ever since the design’s military acceptance in March of 1911, and the beginning of production in January of 1912 Colt has never ceased manufacturing pistols based off the original 1911 design, known in commercial trim as simply the Government Model. However, in its 100-plus years of production the design has seen many slight evolutionary changes in the name of improved (or cheaper) manufacture, product safety, and market trends. From 1911 until 1970 there were virtually no significant changes to the basic design, but the year 1971 saw the first mechanical “improvement” to the 1911-type pistol. Colt redesigned the barrel bushing from a solid cylindrical type to a spring-steel, “finger collet” bushing that gripped the end of the barrel, which had also been slightly redesigned with a slight belled end to accommodate the collet bushing. The new “Accurizor” barrel and bushing was intended to improve the intrinsic accuracy of the new Colt Government Model pistols, which were then designated the MK IV/Series 70 to differentiate them from all prior variations of the Government Model. While not as capable of superb accuracy as a true hand-fit barrel and match bushing, the new setup nonetheless allowed the typical mass-produced Colt shoot better than the older military-spec pistols with their loosely fit solid bushings and straight barrels. The new setup was successful enough that the full-sized Gold Cup National Match pistols also incorporated the finger collet bushings, although the shorter Commander models retained the use of their shorter solid bushings.

This is a beautiful Series 70 with about 97% of its blue finish remaining. Sporting a strong bore and crisp mechanics. Included is a factory magazine, box and owner’s manual. If you are a Colt collector, chances are you have a Series 70 in the safe already, but in this condition, one would be more than happy to add this one and maybe take the other one out shooting! Please see our pictures and good luck.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This handgun CANNOT be transferred as a dealer sale in CA but can be sold as a PPT at our shop in Simi Valley. This does not apply to out of state residents.

by Nicholas

Even those who aren’t familiar with guns should at least have heard of the 1911 before. It’s one of the most popular and classic handguns of all time, and while there are many variations of the 1911 produced, perhaps the most iconic one of all is the G.I-style of M1911A1 that was used by American soldiers in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The G.I style of M1911A1 is notable for its short trigger, arched mainspring housing, small sights, short thumb safety, and small grip safety. This is exactly what the Colt Mark VI Series 70 is: an almost identical replica of the original M1911A1 inside and out. It’s not the most modern looking 1911 by any means, but it is easily the most classic.

Note the use of the term ‘almost identical’ replica instead of ‘identical.’ There are a few minor differences between the original M1911A1 and the Series 70. To understand what these differences are, we need to go over the history of the two firearms.

HISTORY OF THE SERIES 70

Colt had been producing the M1911A1 for the military for many years when they decided to release it to civilians under the name the Colt Government Model. To improve accuracy on the Government Model, Colt eventually modified the barrel bushing, and the new pistol was deemed the Colt Government Model Mark IV Series 70.

The Series 70 is also available in blued or stainless steel, in contrast to the M1911A1 that was produced in a dull gray parkerized finish. The thumb safety is also slightly longer on the Series 70 as well, whereas it is distinctively shorter on the M1911A1. The markings between the two pistols are also obviously different, although they both sport the Colt name and logo.

SERIES 70 VS. SERIES 80

The Series 70 is also different from the Series 80 1911, which are far more popular today, as well. The Series 80 is simply a 1911 that’s has been installed with an internal firing pin block system. It’s possible for a Series 70 to fire on its when dropped or thrown against a solid surface, but the firing pin block on the Series 80 prevents this.

One may wonder why you should buy a Series 70 if the 80 is the safer gun; the answer is that the firing pin increases the weight of the trigger pull on the Series 80. One of the biggest appeals about the 1911 in general is its light and crisp trigger, and while the trigger on the Series 80 is by no means bad, it is definitely more pleasurable to shoot on the Series 70. Furthermore, with more parts in the gun, there is also a slightly greater possibility for the Series 80 to have a breakage than the Series 70. In this regard, the Series 70 is regarded by some fans of the 1911 as the ‘original’ 1911 firing system, and is why it is still in production.

The outside features of the Series 70 and Series 80s have no difference whatsoever. Even though Series 70s ship with an arched mainspring and short trigger, and Series 80 with a flat mainspring and long trigger like the original M1911, the two can be customized vice versa. The only difference, therefore, is in the design of the internal safety system.

AESTHETICS

As mentioned above, the Mark IV Series 70 is available in either a blued or stainless steel finish. While blued may look like a more classic finish, there’s no denying that stainless steel is the more rust and corrosion resistant finish. If you’re going to be using your Series 70 as a range gun and will simply keep it in your safe, go with what you prefer, but if you plan on using your pistol as a duty, hunting, or SHTF sidearm, you should strongly consider the stainless over the bluing.

One interesting thing of note on the Series 70 is how while the finish is polished on the side of the gun, it is a duller matte finish on the top of the slide and on the bottom side of the frame. This holds true for both the blued and the stainless steeled variations of the gun.

The Series 70 ships with beautiful rosewood grips, for both the blued and stainless versions, but these can be easily swapped out for any grips of your choosing. The grips on this particular Series 70 have been swapped out for ones with the nickel Colt logo in the middle.

SIGHTS

One of the letdowns on the Series 70, however, is the sights. They’re simply small black sights without white dots, and as a result, can be difficult to line up naturally. If you’re planning on doing some extensive shooting with your Series 70, you may be wise to consider having the sights swapped out with ones that are larger or more visible.

Colt Series 80 Value

SHOOTING

As with any 1911, shooting the Series 70 is a blast. 1911s are heavy, all-steel pistols, and this helps to dramatically soften the recoil of the powerful .45 ACP round. As a result, new shooters should not fear firing the Series 70.

The Series 70 is also very well balanced and thanks to the design of the grip, it points very naturally in the hand. This pistol is equally as fun to simply weigh in your hand as it is to fire it on the range.

Accuracy on the Series 70 is excellent for a variety of reasons: the natural point of aim, fine balance, soft recoil, light trigger pull, and the fixed barrel design (in contrast to the tilting barrel of more modern pistols).

Reliability on the Series 70 is also excellent. Most 1911s need a break-in period in order to begin functioning reliably; in the 250 round break-in period of this particular Series 70, only one malfunction was encountered. Afterwards, the pistol has functioned absolutely flawlessly.

Last but not least, the Series 70 is also a very smooth weapon. Everything about it from racking the slide to pulling the trigger can be done without any grit encountered whatsoever.

CONCLUSION

All in all, the Series 70 is a very faithful reproduction of the original M1911A1 while also delivering on build quality, durability, reliability, and accuracy. Not only will it be a fun range gun, but it’s also suitable for home defense or as a sidearm in a survival situation.