Colt Series 70 "Re-issue"... Future value???

[cliff731]

My local gunstore has the stainless version... and also the blued version in stock. Prices on these are about equal, with both hangtags showing about $970 and change.

A bit over a year ago they had a stainless Series 70 "re-issue" that I watched and lusted over for awhile... and waited a tad bit too long to plunk my money down and she sadly slipped away. A couple of months later they had the blued version in the display case... and I didn't hesitate, bringing her home right away...
http://www2.netdoor.com/~cgoodwin/Gun%20Pics/Colt%20Series%2070%20Right%20view.jpg

Now, I am seriously looking at that stainless Series 70 "re-issue" they have on sale... but at the same time I am thinking, "what might be the future collectable value" compared to Colt's 1911 WWI "reproduction" pistol?

Any opinions out there? How "limited" is the production of these Custom Shop issues?

BTW, I view the WWI 1911 as a definite "safe queen"... and still can't bring myself to shoot the blued 1911-A1 shown above... all I've done is add the grip panels to her as seen in the photo. Yeah, I'm gonna catch some flak for that "safe queen" admission, but hey, I've got a SA Mil-Spec that's my shooter.

Note: there is another thread regarding the barrels of these pistols being both stainless and blued... well, mine has a blued barrel and the hammer will not fall from "half-cock".

[cliff731]

Oh yeah, forgot this... "Thanks, John... I truly appreciate your assistance with my avatar request!"

Add this to my questions above... sort of a clarification-

I really cannot afford to buy both a Series 70 "re-issue" 1911-A1 and the WWI "reproduction" 1911 at the same time or even closely together.

Too, my thinking is that the WWI isn't going to be available much longer (may already be "gone") for my dealer to order... and maybe Colt will continue making the Series 70 "reissue" for awhile.

Then there exists the possibility that the Series 70 "reissue" might be a more desirable pistol than the WWI 1911 "reproduction" pistol.

I do NOT buy any pistols as an "investment" which is generally folly to do so, but the future value of any firearm is always something I consider before laying my money down on the sales counter...

[Hawkmoon]

IMHO there is no possibility that the Series 70 reissue will ever be worth more than the WW1 reproduction. The latter is a limited run of about 4,000 pistols (and they had sold about 2/3 of them last I heard, which was a couple of months ago). They are still available new -- I spotted three the last time I peaked at GunsAmerica.

Your dealer sounds a bit high on the Series 70. I heard my dealer quote $870 for a blued version not very long ago. The WW1 list for $999 and seem to sell for around $950.

[cliff731]

Hawkmoon, I appreciate your reply and agree with your assessment completely.

Yes, my local dealer is a "bit" high on those prices... I'm embarrassed to admit what I laid down for my blued Series 70 "reissue"... of course it was as they say "a bird in hand" deal... and I was able to see exactly what I was getting for my money, but IMHO I probably could have saved about a $100 with some careful shopping elsewhere. Too, I tried every "trick" I could think of to haggle the price down... even laying "C" notes out on the counter upto about eight of them and telling 'em that's all I had. They wouldn't budge... true I understand he isn't the same dealer he was a decade ago when he had a smaller operation with less overhead... maybe two people working and now he has "gunstore" staff stepping over each other and many many more new guns in stock for display.

So... back to the WWI "repro" vs. Series 70 "reissue" dilema... I am glad to read what you've written and that's just about what I was guessing. My curiosity was running as I knew the Series 70 "reproductions" were also Custom Shop issues and certainly somewhat limited too in numbers. I might pass on that stainless Series 70 for the present and hold my money for a WWI "reproduction" while they can be ordered from a dealer. BTW, Colt's WWI 1911 has me drooling over my keyboard everytime I see a picture of her... alas, my local dealer hasn't had one in stock, or I would be showing a photo of her too.

[Hawkmoon]

You could PM or e-mail Mark Roberts, the Colt marketing guy whose contact information is listed on our forum index page, but I think he'll just confirm that the WW1 repro is a limited production run. The WW2 was the same thing, and Colt stuck to it -- when they got to 4,000 they stopped. As far as I know, although the Series 70 reissues are supposed to be coming out of the custom shop, it has never been suggested that they are a limited production run or that Colt will soon stop making them.

Given the choice as things stand today, I'd opt for the WW1 while they are still available, because I'm fairly confident that the Series 70 will continue to be in the catalog for a longer time.

My shop just got in one of the WW1 replicas last week. What a beautiful pistol. He has to keep it under glass to protect it from all the drooling when people look at it.

[Dustoff '68]

OK....OK....I want one of those Series 70 re-issues in blue...who has them? Called 9 stores in the state of Virginia, and ALL stated there are none to be had, and one said good riddance...I have $800.00 burning a huge hole in my pocket...give one up somebody...anybody... ;) :geek:

[OD*]

well, mine has a blued barrel and the hammer will not fall from "half-cock".

There seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to how the 70 reissues leave the factory. I have a first year production which came with the blued barrel, Series 80 hammer, 10mm cut-out frame rail and a flat MSH. I have to agree with Hawk, I don't believe they will be as popular with collectors as the M1911 might be, the 70 reissue isn't as close a copy to the original 70s as the 1911 reproduction is to a real 1918. My Series 70 reissue is really nothing more than a Series 80 without the additional safety parts.

[Weg Ban]

To get my two-bits worth in (maybe overstating the value); I cannot see owning a current model firearm (and anything manufactured in the last ten years by a company still in business is current) that you can't or won't shoot. That's what they're for. Careful use — absolutely. No use? It's like buyin' a horse that's too valuable to ride (probably wouldn't want to eat it either), so what's it for?

[Rio Vista Slim]

There seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to how the 70 reissues leave the factory.
From what I've read here in the Forum, OD is speaking the plain and honest truth.
I have a Series 70 re-issue in blue and one in stainless. Other than the difference in the steel used in each model, essentially they are identical. A magnet will stick to everything on both guns, except the wooden grips and the aluminum triggers. Both have half-cock notches on the hammers, and both are excellent shooters. I was able to get mine (the blue one in March and the stainless in May) for $850 each, but I buy a lot of guns from my local gun shop owner.
Although both are shooters, I try to take care of them. I doubt that I would be able to see a profit from them in whatever lifetime I have left. No worries! I don't plan on selling them anyway.

AND..........Although I would love to have a World War I reproduction, I shoot my guns........so, I'm currently looking for a NRM Combat Commander.

[dakota1911]

For value reasons I would vote the WWI repro has a lead over the 70 Series reissue.

[cliff731]

I really hate to pass on another Series 70 "reissue" stainless pistol...
but I believe the prudent first choice is the WWI 1911 "reproduction" pistol- while it is still available!!!

Hawkmoon, that's good info you provided... Thanks!

[OD*]

OK....OK....I want one of those Series 70 re-issues in blue...who has them? Called 9 stores in the state of Virginia, and ALL stated there are none to be had, and one said good riddance...I have $800.00 burning a huge hole in my pocket...give one up somebody...anybody... ;) :geek:
You should have tried Bud's, $766.39 for a blued model.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_141/products_id/36102

[191145]

I think maybe the WWI repro is the only one that MAY go up in value. The others (WWII, Series 70) should hold some value, particularly the custom shop guns (are they all custom shop?), but I don't see any of them as serious collector's pieces. I mean, who wants to proudly display a reproduction of anything? Will you see any of them in museums? I could see having one to play with and shoot, but that's about it.

[clughog]

Well, I never considered the Series 70 Reproduction a collector item! For me, that's why I bought it--to shoot! But then again, I'd probably shoot the WWI reproduction, too! As was said, a reproduction is a reproduction. Come to think of it, I'd probably shoot an original WWI as as well. I guess to each his own.

[Dustoff '68]

You should have tried Bud's, $766.39 for a blued model.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_141/products_id/36102
$63.00 more for the stainless version...I think I did OK.

[OD*]

I think you did too.

[Colt45]

That Pony will rust away from the "drool factor" alone.

Buy it to shoot or put it into a hermetically sealed time capsule in some firearms museum.

The real fun is in the gun.

Enjoy it!

Colt45

[ADP3]

Dustoff ,68
PM sent to help in your search.
Best Regards,
ADP3

[BLUE IS BEST]

As my first posting on the board here, I say hello to you all.

Now, regarding the Colt WWI's- I worked for a major distributor (RSR) for about a year and a half. In all that time, I can remember getting in just a few for the whole company, and only being allocated maybe 2-3 to sell to my dealers. They are VERY few and VERY far between. Will this fact make them more valuable in the future? Who knows, but as was said earlier, they will never EVER be as valuable to anyone as the real McCoy.

[Dustoff '68]

I think you did too.
Congrats, MOD ;)

[OD*]

BLUE IS BEST,

They show having two, currently.

RSR Item # Description
CT1911 COLT SERIES 70 WWI REPLICA 45ACP 5"
CT1911FC COLT SERIES 70 WWI REPLICA 45ACP5"FC

[OD*]

Congrats, MOD ;)
Thanks Al. ;)

[sako95]

I have a WWI and 70 repro. Both are great quality but the WWI is too pretty to shoot (so is the 70 for that matter). If you are going to use it, carry it or possibly modify it I would go with the series 70. Mine was very well put together.

[Valhalla SS]

The future value of yours will be more than mine! I bought my blued series 70 repop to carry. Every day, winter, summer, all the time. My gun is a tool, a tool I trust my life to. I try to keep it wiped down and oiled, but it rides right against the side of my big, fat, sweaty, 300 pound flank, and to me it's value to me lies in the knowledge that God forbid I ever need to pull it out to defend myself or family, it WILL go bang, not click, and the threat will be nuetralized. I have yet to have a single malfunction with mine, and I trust it 100%. After a few years it will look like ****, but I bought it to USE not collect. I suggest you do the same. These are great guns!!!!!!!!!!

[jeep]

It will not make or break you . Use it for thats its job. A safe queen won,ta save your life. A new colt is to be used or worn old 1911. If you have a collector grade gun keep and don,ta abuse it. But a 1911 is made to do its job not pampered,but cleaned and oiled for use and not abused. It will last a few life times. So there we have it a user and a saver. And A new 70 series does not fall into the same class as a pristine 1916 made Colt 1911 in %90 cond. I don,t collect no more just keep shooters. When I die I don,t want a bunch of collector grade guns sold for pennys on the dollar. We don,t live forever and most other family members don,t give a hoot about collector guns. Sad but true. I do have two sons that like shooting and hunting and have gave them guns allready,but the rest don,t give a hoot! Just $$$$ is what they want to spend fast and waste. So lets not fret life is short so enjoy now.

[cliff731]

BLUE IS BEST,

They show having two, currently.

RSR Item # Description
CT1911 COLT SERIES 70 WWI REPLICA 45ACP 5"
CT1911FC COLT SERIES 70 WWI REPLICA 45ACP5"FC

Is there a difference in these two pistols?

Both are Series 70 based WWI Replica models...

but one is CT1911 and the other is CT1911FC.

[OD*]

Good question sir, I wondered that when I posted it.
Colt only makes the one version that I know of, the O1911. RSR has two locations, east and west, possibly that is the distinction. I'll have to check the computer at work, I don't have the password for RSR's wholesale listings here at home.

[OD*]

Cliff,
I need to make a correction, I told you the wrong info. RSR has many more distribution centers than 2, I was thinking of AcuSport. My apologies sir.

Now, as to the difference between CT1911 and CT1911FC.
The FC suffix signifies it comes with a Fired Case.

[BLUE IS BEST]

OD* and Cliff,

RSR had 5 sales offices when I left (Oct. '05) but had moved all of the inventory to a monstrous new warehouse/office they bought in Texas. As such, they only carry/stock all inventory at the one location.
The reasoning for the FC/non-FC deal: Certain states, mainly along the eastern seaboard have state laws mandating a fired case be included with the gun which is sent to the state police upon sale for purposes of "ballistic fingerprinting". We all know this is a crock of s***, but that is the reason.
I'll throw in my "insider" info about RSR when and where I can. Sorry I was late on this one...

[cliff731]

Guys, I do appreciate that information... and now that I read it, I should have caught that "FC" to imply a "fired case included" pistol. It is so obvious now, but last night it just didn't hit me... LMAO at myself now. Thanks again for clearing up the mystery!

[Hawkmoon]

I've bought a few pistols (and revolvers) over the years that came with a fired case. I guess my state doesn't need them, because they were in the box when I opened it, and the FFL sent the case home with me. Don't even remember if I tossed 'em or left them in the box as part of the original documentation.

Silly rule. It wouldn't take much more than a light touch with some emery cloth to render the case useless for ballistic fingerprinting ... which doesn't work anyway.

[cliff731]

Same here... some I've bought have included a "fired case"- and I believe all Rugers do. My State of residence doesn't use ballistic fingerprinting, so the casing is just an artifact, so to speak. I haven't thrown one away, however, as should I ever sell the pistol I am trying to retain everything that came with it- even the original sales receipt.