I...used to own....an AutoOrdnance

[CWG]

And then this came into the shop.
It would be boasting to say what I paid for it, but less than I sold the AO for.
And as the good Sgt says:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e245/CWOS/colt.jpg
I really cant tell anything about it yet, 4 digit serial, there was bushing and trigger in the box, both those and what on the pistola look factory, haven't taken it apart yet.
Fantastic trigger, whew- either an ubertyro, or pro did it. Nice beefy grips.
I shot it four times today...feels sooooo much better than the AO, and only paid...oh..sorry. Rude-

ok, then cant wait to shoot it, off to wallyworld and score a box of whatever is cheapest just to get over the wheee of a new gun.

regards

[Hunter]

She looks like a nice one then again ain't all them Colts? I imagine she will treat you well, it is hard to beat a Colt. Nice 1911 you have.

[scooter]

I was just getting saved up 'nuf to buy a govt. model and the cooling unit went out on my RV fridge,Found out HOW MUCH a new RV fridge costs the hard way .Ouch...no new 1911's for a looong time nowhttp://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon9.gif

[CWG]

Thanks and it does feel much nicer than that rattle trap I had

ok, scooter... this wont help.
The guy owed me 125.00 for work previously done.
Let me back up a bit, this guy is customer turned friend. Been coming in the shop for 10 years.
He is one of two I know who could go to a bingo game, make friends with some old person there and come home with a collection of firearms...or answer an add in the paper for "old shotgun" and come home with a Parker
Told him I didnt like the AO, wanted a better .45. He shows up with a brown paper bag- says he has a 45..
I walk out to his car, he opens the trunk and grabs this wadded up paper bag.
I ask how much, and he says
"well, I did ok, and I have to get...."

Well, not so fast, first his story-
He bought 6 recently. Colts.
His father is 70ish, and his dads friends are leaving widows...who dont like guns...(lesson here fella's)
He bought 2 70's, 4 80's last week..Paid an even 1800.00

for all six....six guns!
seems this kindly old lady was told they..the guns, were worth "oh, about 100, maybe 150.. each" when the recently parted husband would bring home the new guns over the last several years.
So, my friend said they were worth WAY more than that- and wanted to show her in the bluebook what she could get for them- I mean he wanted a deal, but he didnt want to steal them...and yet.... she insisted on getting twice what her husband paid- poo'poo'd the book- she's not poor, and wants these dam guns out of her house- has hated them for 50 years-

so, I got the ratty one. For...325.00, and subtract the 125.00...makes it one of the cheapest handguns I've ever bought. I wont say its unfired, but theres no brass mark in the throat, no fouling of any kind from what I can see down the muzzle, no mark on top of the magazine..I understand the others one had nicer boxes...
As this is the only deal I've gotten in my life, I may print out this and save it. :lh:

[Hawkmoon]

THAT's the RATTY one? :scared:

[Elmo C]

As EL-COMMANDANTE say's "I hate you" The only thing I find is penny's no one else wants. How do you guy's do it?

[Jeffrey]

THAT's the RATTY one? :scared:

What Hawkmoon said! :scared:

[OD*]

Very nice CWG!

Does the 4 digit serial have a SS 00 prefix?
I wouldn't be surprised if you don't find the barrel bushing in the pistol is a collet type.

[res1b3uq]

That very definitley does not look like an AO. Congratulations on your good fortune. :)

[John]

Remove that silly sight from the rear and put in a standard Colt one, and then I'll hate you! Good Lord, I need to find a way to imigrate soon, or else I'll get psycho with what I see here.

[OD*]

John,

Immigrate to Mexico or Canada, then just walk across. ;)

[CWG]

Very nice CWG!

Does the 4 digit serial have a SS 00 prefix?
I wouldn't be surprised if you don't find the barrel bushing in the pistol is a collet type.

LOL, thanks guys.

serial SSO****
What does that signify?

edit: The bushing looks like a four fingered affair instead of the solid one I'm used to-

[OD*]

What does that signify?
I was just wondering. I have one from 1984 with the serial SS00571X and was curious if yours may read SS00XX.
I was going to ask you a favor and call Kathy at Colt to see what year yours was made. I have read Colt started producing the stainless guns in 1985, I think they actually started in 1983, I know mine is from '84.

The solid bushing and long trigger are after market, your pistol came with the collet (fingered) and short trigger.
I believe the hammer and grip safety have been replaced, I have never seen early Gov't set-up like that.

Again, nice Colt and at great price!

[Hawkmoon]

The solid bushing and long trigger are after market, your pistol came with the collet (fingered) and short trigger.
I believe the hammer and grip safety have been replaced, I have never an early Gov't set-up like that.
Yes, that's a Commander hammer, not a Government model. And the rear sight is a Millet. I took one off a Commander. It's functional, but about the ugliest excuse for a sight I ever saw. If it were my pistol, I would do as John suggests and replace it with a standard Colt high-profile white dot sight. IMHO that pistol is just too nice not to be put back to original configuration (except that I would probably install a standard barrel bushing and keep the collet bushing in the box).

[OD*]

Commander hammer, not a Government model.
Hawk,

Correct you are sir, the reason I wrote it that way was, Colt in the late 1980s, before they dropped the round top pistols for the Enhanced models only, released some Governments with some "odd" features. No question on the rear sight, I didn't even think to mention it.

The collet bushings were used as late as 1987 on the Series 80, I have one of those too.

[CWG]

I'll call Monday and find out, I'm curious as anyone when they get a new firearm.
ok, the sights are ugly, I'll find something, anything else?
You say the hammer/grip safety is incorrect? It almost looks like they were polished I'm sure I can find out more as time passes.
Fun gun. Took it apart, no struggling with parts in or out, bushings tight, but NP. The one in the slide is solid, the old trigger and collet type, as noted, are in the bag.
Sights are ugly, but easy to see- I'm 48 and my eyes just aint what they used to be. I searched and seems high profile OEM are the way to go.
This is to be my bedside gun after testing.
I always thought shiny got someones attention faster in low light. I've got two fifty pound terriers, I came in late after lodge a few weeks back and NONE of the buggers woke up! I got all the way upstairs before I heard one flop off the couch!
So much for my first line of defense.

serial is SSO4***
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/HawgDog/colt.jpg

[OD*]

Ooo, nice picture!

The small parts look like they may have come off of a bright stainless Commander or Officers ACP. For sights, the standard Colt blade sight they use currently would be correct for era. If you have mature eyes (don't ya just hate that euphemism?), you might want to look in to the Yost-Bonitz retro rear (you can use the front that is on your pistol). I have several sets and find the .140 opening to be quite helpful and I think they look good too.
http://www.yost-bonitz.com/products/retrosight/

If you want the same style stocks that came on the Colt, you can find them here;
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/1911.html


I would bet your pistol was made in '84 too.

[jaybo292]

Very nice Colt. What a deal. :(

[OD*]

CWG,

Here's a pic of my 1987 with the Yost rear sight;

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1987sts.jpg

[CWG]

Oooo, the visual.
yes, much cleaner. I'll have to get one this week.
That and mine shoots to the right 10" and this site is already shoved over too much for my liking. A narrower site wouldn't show that as much.
I'm going to get some ebony grips I believe- checker them myself-
That post about the 38 super is killing me, wanted one of those since the 70's

[OD*]

Ebony stocks would look great on your pistol. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif