New Series 70 "project"

[papashah41]

Just picked up one of Colt's "new" Series 70's......been a long time since I've seen such a nice "factory" gun come out of Conn. :p
But here's the rub......I've got to do some mods to make it truely "fit" my hand, like adding an extended trigger (the factory one is just too damn short for my liking). I'd also like to add a "drop in" beavertail safety w/matching hammer of some sorts. But I NO NOT want to screw up the beautiful finish on this gun.....hence the "drop in" part of the above grip safety.
So.......who's got the best "drop in" parts with a nice, blued finish to match my blued finish? :confused:

Thanks y'all......

[Cameron]

I used a Wilson of both my Commander and Government.

Government
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/cameronpersonal/Colt/GovtBT.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/cameronpersonal/Colt/GovtBT2.jpg

Commander
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/cameronpersonal/Colt/sDSC01895.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/cameronpersonal/Colt/sDSC01898.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/cameronpersonal/Colt/sDSC01909.jpg

[John]

Hey, the drop-in beavertails have come a long way, since I've last seen one. It fits quite nicely, given that you hadn't file the frame at all!

Nice!

[cav_scout1]

I thought about putting a beavertail on my colt but then I had to ask myself why? the stock hammer does nto even come close to the webbing of my hand and the gun shoots more accurate than I can so I decided on leaveing it stock. I guess the advantage is if you like the way the beaver tail looks?

[papashah41]

I thought about putting a beavertail on my colt but then I had to ask myself why? the stock hammer does nto even come close to the webbing of my hand and the gun shoots more accurate than I can so I decided on leaveing it stock. I guess the advantage is if you like the way the beaver tail looks?

My problem is I actually need one. My rather large hands hold & control an M-1911 quite well.....at the expense of the web of my hand! :eek: Also, I shoot with a "high thumb", so I want a grip safety that will accomodate that.
That Wilson looks quite nice (like John said.....they've come a long way since I've last seen 'em!).
Tell me somthing......does anyone make a "commander" style hammer with a blued/blackened serrated surface, but with polished (in the white) sides? The standard "spur" hammer on my current '70 series is finished in that way....and looks quite nice.

Thanks........

[wichaka]

Wilson has definately got it right with their drop in BT. Its the only drop-in I've seen that fits that well.

[clare44man]

Wow, Colt should take a lesson from Wilson on that one. That fits and looks great! Certainly better than the ugly, poorly fitting beavertail drop-in that they put on at the factory! Now I know what to do with the next one that comes home from lay-away at Jays. 44 Man

[papashah41]

Wow, Colt should take a lesson from Wilson on that one. That fits and looks great! Certainly better than the ugly, poorly fitting beavertail drop-in that they put on at the factory! Now I know what to do with the next one that comes home from lay-away at Jays. 44 Man

D@mn skippy! That grip safety will be one of my first purchases for the new toy. Still need to decide on a hammer, though........(seriously, anyone know of one with a matte-blued serrated top and highly polished sides??? :confused: )

[mitchjoe]

papashah41:

Chip McCormick makes a hammer like you describe, as does Wilson Combat. They're both the elongated type (oval not round) but they have a matte blue top finish and the sides are "in the white".

CDNN sells the McCormick part for a square deal, or you can pick-up both the hammer and grip safety at Brownell's.

BTW: King's makes a few drop-in grip safety's for Cmdr's and Govt. models that are worth a look.

mitchjoe

[papashah41]

papashah41:

Chip McCormick makes a hammer like you describe, as does Wilson Combat. They're both the elongated type (oval not round) but they have a matte blue top finish and the sides are "in the white".
mitchjoe

Yeap.....seen both of those, but I'm hoping to locate a "standard" commander style hammer. (hell...just might buy a blued one and hand-polish the sides myself! :p ).

[John]

Yeap.....seen both of those, but I'm hoping to locate a "standard" commander style hammer. (hell...just might buy a blued one and hand-polish the sides myself! :p ).
Yes, but then the sides will not be rust-protected, so you'd better keep that hammer well lubed.

[mitchjoe]

papashah41:

Hey, I almost forgot, John Masen Co. makes those. I ordered one last year or the year before. Their website is mismarked, so here's the direct link:

http://www.johnmasen.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=J&Product_Code=4554A

mitchjoe

[papashah41]

Update.....
Installed Wilson's "drop in" beavertail......fit like a glove! A touch (and I *do* mean just a touch) of polishing with some emery cloth on the engagement surface and it was working 100%!
For the hammer, I located an original Colt "commander" hammer that was still in it's 70's vintage package. Added a new hammer strut and pin from Wilson.
For a trigger, I found a "vintage" Videki, and installed it this morning. (for the record....all of my "left over" pieces-parts are being saved...should I ever decide to return her back to original).
About the only other change I see myself making is possably adding a Yost "retro" rear sight.
I'll need to take a few pics this weekend.

[S.B]

Don't mean to hi jack this thread but, will the sights off the new series 70's work on the old series 70 guns? Can they be installed without modifying the slide?

[papashah41]

Don't mean to hi jack this thread but, will the sights off the new series 70's work on the old series 70 guns? Can they be installed without modifying the slide?

I believe both the "old" and "new" 70 Series share the same rear sight dovetail. The rear sights should be interchangeable. (watch your front sight height though to maintain your sight geometry).

[S.B]

papashah41, the dovetail isn't the part that bothers me, the front sight tang is. I believe that they used two different sizes of these? Will this fit?