Colt MK IV Series 70 9MM

[Tom Fiorino]

I purchased a Colt MK IV Series 70 9MM in the mid 70's and I am curious as to weather a .45 slide assembly would work on the 9MM frame? Are all the frames the same and the only difference is the slide assemblies? If this is so, then I could put together a .45 conversion similar to the .22 conversion kit that is available. Maybe someone out there has already done this!

[Joni Lynn]

The slide would work but you need to change the ejector to a 45 ejector. The 9mm ejector sets a little closer to centerline on the frame. Changing back to the 9mm would require changing the ejector again. Not the easiest change over. The 22 conversion may not work due to that 9mm ejector.

[pa_guns]

I purchased a Colt MK IV Series 70 9MM in the mid 70's and I am curious as to weather a .45 slide assembly would work on the 9MM frame? Are all the frames the same and the only difference is the slide assemblies? If this is so, then I could put together a .45 conversion similar to the .22 conversion kit that is available. Maybe someone out there has already done this!

Hi

The 9mm is a bit "rare". I suspect you could either sell it or swap it for a 45 and come out ahead. It certainly would be a lot easier than the conversion.

Bob

[John]

Don't even dream of altering that pistol. These are not so common as the .45 ACP ones so save it as it is, you will not regret it.

I am interested at seeing the ejector on this gun, can you please post a picture?

[Officer's Match]

My dad's farmer claims to have owned and subsequently sold a 9mm Gold Cup - guess you could put that in the file of "ones that got away". :mad:

[pa_guns]

Hi

We probably should be fairly specific here.

A pistol converted to 9mm at some point is still rare, but not terribly valuable. A pistol that came out of the factory as 9mm is both rare and valuable.

Bob

[Timothy]

Any idea what a 1951 LTW Commander in 9mm might be worth? I can't seem to find much information on it anywhere. The finish is not original but other than that it's in good shape.
Thanks,
Tim

[Officer's Match]

Hi

We probably should be fairly specific here.

A pistol converted to 9mm at some point is still rare, but not terribly valuable. A pistol that came out of the factory as 9mm is both rare and valuable.

Bob

The Gold Cup I was referring to was indeed 9mm from the factory.

[tonyniev]

In January I bought a pre 80 colt combat commander in 9 mm born in 1973 and paid $650 plus tax. This is not a Gold Cup but can give you some ideas on retail pricing for 9 mm.

[Tom Fiorino]

In January I bought a pre 80 colt combat commander in 9 mm born in 1973 and paid $650 plus tax. This is not a Gold Cup but can give you some ideas on retail pricing for 9 mm.
Thanks to everyone for your input. I had no idea the pistol was rare. I thought it just wasn't popular and therefore not worth that much. It is indeed a Colt MK IV series 70 Government Mod. bought new in 1976. I need to have the slide reblued, but other than that, it's just as I bought it.
I'll keep it as is, and just purchase a new .45

[paul45]

Any idea what a 1951 LTW Commander in 9mm might be worth? I can't seem to find much information on it anywhere. The finish is not original but other than that it's in good shape.
Thanks,
TimNon-original finish cuts the collector value hugely. My guess is 500 on the value, without seeing it.

[paul45]

Thanks to everyone for your input. I had no idea the pistol was rare. I thought it just wasn't popular and therefore not worth that much. It is indeed a Colt MK IV series 70 Government Mod. bought new in 1976. I need to have the slide reblued, but other than that, it's just as I bought it.
I'll keep it as is, and just purchase a new .45Bear in mind that a 9mm such as yours will have more value original, with honest wear, as opposed to one with a re-blued slide.

[tonyniev]

I am interested at seeing the ejector on this gun, can you please post a picture?

John Pictures of Ejector of the pre 80 colt combat commander in 9 mm. Much longer than the 45 cal ejector...several views in full image size. I hope this is what you are looking for.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/tonyniev/IMG_2706.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/tonyniev/IMG_2705blurr.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/tonyniev/IMG_2703.jpg

[John]

Thank you Sir!

[cameroni]

tonyniev,

Thanks for the great pics!
c

[larryf1952]

Thanks to everyone for your input. I had no idea the pistol was rare. I thought it just wasn't popular and therefore not worth that much. It is indeed a Colt MK IV series 70 Government Mod. bought new in 1976. I need to have the slide reblued, but other than that, it's just as I bought it.
I'll keep it as is, and just purchase a new .45Tom, I purchased this 9mm Gov't. new in 1977, so I'm assuming that mine is likely a carbon copy of your '76 gun. I saw a 9mm Commander that was a little rough a couple of weeks ago for $825. About a year ago, I saw another 9mm Gov't. at Cabela's in KC with a price tag of $1200 on it. I think that that might be pushing it a bit, but who knows? I was pretty amazed to see that a gun that I bought for $250 had apparently appreciated in value to that extent.

Do you have your original box and papers? Those would certainly increase the value of the gun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/larryf1952/Guns%20and%20Targets/ColtSeries70Govt.jpg

[Tom Fiorino]

My pistol looks exactly the same as yours, except mine has more wear but still in beautiful condition. I wish I had kept the original box it came in along with whatever papers there were. I have a couple of trunks in storage, I'll check them cause it may be there. My son had the pistol for the last 10 years or so, and I got it back within the last year. That's where the wear and tear came from. Oh well what ya gonna do?
I like it, and will keep it the way it is. No sense messing with something that ain't broke! I'm just glad I didn't start messing with it before hearing from everyone.
I sporiterized a military Springfield 30-06 and when I took it in to be reblued the gunsmith like to have a heart attack. The model that I had was a special edition that could be converted from bolt action to semi-auto buy changing out the bolt. He told me it was a rare rifle. This was in 1978. He told me the rifle would have been worth approx. $1000, as it was original. I still have the rifle and the conversion was done beautifully.
That should have been a lesson learned in itself. From now on it's ask questions first.

[Timothy]

Non-original finish cuts the collector value hugely. My guess is 500 on the value, without seeing it.

Thanks for the input. I don't plan on selling it, I'm just curious.