New Series 1970 vs. Original series 1970

[Teufelhunden82]

Greetings, gents! My name is Will and this is my first post about my soon to be first 1911. I've narrowed it down to a current production or original series 70. The raised sights on the newer version don't appeal to my purist side and I may carry this weapon, making the original style sights sound even better. The original solid barrel bushing sounds pretty good as well. As for the original series, I'm a little concerned about the collet bushing. How often do these things break??? Would it be worth it to buy an original 70 and replace the bushing with a solid barrel type? Also, how quickly does the bluing wear off from holstering? A local shop has an original 70 for $900. I can probably beat that price somewhere else with a little more searching but I'm not even sure how much the new 70's are going for although I hear it's from approx. $800-$1200. How available are these new guns? Sorry this is so long but if I can get even a few of these questions answered I'm sure I'll be well on my way to my very first Colt! :o Thanks in advance.
-TH82

[wichaka]

Welcome to the forum!

The original sights on the Series 70 are very small, and hard to pick up with any speed.

If you're going to use the gun for defense etc., I'd change it out for a solid type bushing and better sights. The original collet type bushing broke because of the lack of quality control. They were made a bit off, crooked.........so after awhile it would bend and eventually break, or jam some of the fingers of the collet, which would lock the slide up pretty tight. But generally this would happen within a few hundred rounds or so.........

Blueing will wear in a holster, there's no way around it. Just depends on the holster and the fit. Leather will be a bit easier on the finish than plastic type holsters.

Just sold my Series 70 for 700. It was 98% in its original box. Original Series 70's aren't really fetching a premium price, as some think. The new 70's have the better bushing, sights, and funneled mag well............for the price, I'd get a new one. I've seen them from 800-900. Check out coltclearinghouse.com There's one on there now for around 800.

Good luck to ya.............

[wichaka]

Just checked the clearing house site, the Blue one is gone, but there's a SS on there for about 900..............

[Teufelhunden82]

Wow, that response was quick and thorough! Thanks for the reply. :D No wonder I hear good things about this forum! I'm still not 100% sure what I'll do but it sounds like the new version is the way to go. (either way my heart's set on a blued model) Thanks again and I'll let you know how it works out.
-TH82