COLT electroless nickel series 70

[theodessakid]

In the gun shop today looking at a series 70 1911a1 ser # 66173B70. Gun is a custom shop item in electroless nickel. It had a few extras one being the beaver tail grip saftey. Sights seemed improved slightly, gun was tight and had a +- 3lb triger pull. Had brown box with styrofome insert. Price was $1400. Seemed high to me but owner said the gun was a rare custom shop item. Can any one tell me anything about this? :confused:
Thanks
PR

[dakota1911]

Just some thoughts.
-I never saw a beavertail grip safety on any Colt, even from their custom shop, back in the 70s. Of course back then I did live a bit off the beaten track, but it was an area with lots of gun stores.
-What grips, trigger, ejection port, etc. does it have?
-You can call Colt and find out at least when it was made for free. I think there is a sticky at the top of Colt section. Maybe PM Hunter and get tips on trying to get a lot more info on it for free.
-For me the price would be way high. Maybe if it was a Gold Cup Natl. Match and they could prove it left the Colt Custom Shop that way. Of course I am not a serious collector either.
-Having several, on the end of those scummy brown, white styrofoam filled boxes was a gold sticky label on which lots of info on the handgun inside was written. Might look at that.

[paul45]

I believe the price is way out of line.....1400 bucks....I would need the piece lettered by Colt to even consider it.

[larry starling]

$1400 for an unoriginal altered Colt is way out of line in my area. You better call Colt and find out the deal on this one.....

[Ted Smith]

They're not rare. Colt built them with electroless nickle slides and frames with standard hammers, bushings, safeties, and triggers that were blued (or "blacked"). While they were a departure from the standard Government Models, they certainly weren't rare. I still see them on the auctions for a lot less than $1400 (and the one in question isn't even original).

Buy or not buy? Not.

[paul45]

Does it look like this? If so, it is scarce...not rare. Certainly not worth 1400. http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k57/paul10mm/1.jpg

[theodessakid]

Checked the label on the box. Wide grip saftey, ambidextrous thumb saftey.
Electroless nickel custom shop. The gun is very tight so I think some extra care has been taken with the internals.

[Ted Smith]

It may be rarer because of the Custom Shop work. Mine looked exactly like the picture posted by Paul45 and it was not considered a custom gun. No ambi, or beaver. But even at that, $1,400 is still a lot of money. Good luck.

[paul45]

Certainly is intriguing! This is a good example of why I love Colts. I can only guess now it is one of those runs commissioned by a distributor. Now the big question....is it worth 1400?? Theodessakid...now I gotta have pics...got a camera phone?? Good Luck!

[theodessakid]

Checked the label on the box. Wide grip saftey, ambidextrous thumb saftey.
Electroless nickel custom shop. The gun is very tight so I think some extra care has been taken with the internals.

The one I saw has checkered walnut grips with a gold medalion and the entire gun is nickel.