What to do with my Govt Model

[johngalt]

I have a Colt Government Model, serial # 301xxx-C, which I think puts its manufacture date around 1965 or 1966.

From the pictures, you can see that there is considerable wear on the grip - the blueing is almost gone. I replaced the trigger with a long match trigger, but I still have the original. I also replaced the ejector with an extended ejector to solve eject problems. I'm not sure I still have the ejector. The only other problem I had was the thumb safety plunger came loose, and the gunsmith didn't do a very neat job re-staking it, which you can see in the picture.

I'm thinking of sending it to Clark to have him work his magic and turn it into something really nice, but I've had people tell me that this pistol has some collector value and I should leave it alone. It tends to not get shot much anymore because it is inaccurate, and won't hit to POA (shoots at least 12" high at 25 yards). I don't like keeping guns in the safe unused, I like to shoot them.

It would be an excellent base for a custom gun, but I'm hesitant to ruin it if it has collector value.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/johngalt_photos/IMG_0385.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/johngalt_photos/IMG_0386.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/johngalt_photos/IMG_0389.jpg

[Jim Watson]

Has anyone who told you it had "collector value" offered you a substantial sum of money, like enough to buy a new gun with?

If so, let him have it.
If not, send it to Clark and get it like you want it.
If you value the retro style, I bet they could improve the accuracy and zero it without changing the appearance.

[Hunter]

If it was mine I would keep it bone stock. That Colt does have collector value.
Before I changed much that could not be put back I would chose another pistol but that is just my opinion.

[DENDEN]

I agree with Hunter and I am kind of in the same boat as you are. I have its older brother 296980-C and it is nice but not anything special. Shoots pretty good but rarely gets used. But only because I have others that I would rather shoot now.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff16/dddenden/S6000645-1.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff16/dddenden/S6000644-1.jpg

[dakota1911]

Tough call. I could go both ways on this. If it was me I would probably leave it alone, but since it is well used I question its collector value, so I could see sending it off to a well known gunsmith, and keeping the documentation of the work done.

[44 Man]

If it was pristene, I would put it away but as was said, it is worn from shooting and being loved. To me that is a good thing. I would make it the way you wish it to be and enjoy that gun. The first thing you need to do is make it accurate so you are pleased with it. Otherwise it is of no value to you and you might just as well sell it. Get it a good trigger job and fitted with a good barrel bushing by someone who knows what they are doing. It may possibly need a new barrel also if it is not fitted properly. Then get it shooting to POA, before you decide to go further. Then you can decide if you want to do any permanent modifications. Of course I am a shooter and not a collector. 44 Man

[johngalt]

I'm not sure how many rounds have been fired through it. My Dad originally bought it new in the late 60's or possibly 1970 and gave it to me about 20 years ago. It was my first pistol, so it has sentimental value.

I would guess that I've put at most 5000 rounds through it, and I don't think my Dad shot it much at all. I spent a lot more time practicing dry-firing it than shooting it, which is the source of most of its wear.

On the plus side, functionally it is in excellent shape. There is absolutely no rust anywhere on it, and it is a pretty tight. Once I solved the eject problem, I has been very reliable. I tried shooting some 200 gr jacketed SWC, which wouldn't feed (and don't feed well in any 1911 I've tried). Other than the SWC, I've had zero malfunctions.

I'm not sure I should concern myself with collector value - I have never sold a gun, and will never sell this one.

[wetidlerjr]

I disagree about any so-called "collector value". It seems that many here are "collectors" when it comes to someone else's pistol. Its YOURS so do what YOU want. I would have it restored to near stock appearance (upgrade the sights) with an internals upgrade but that is just my opinion which, by the way, is NEVER humble and worth just what you paid for it ! ;)

[DuckRyder]

I like it the way it is, if it were mine I would probably send it to Colt for a Royal Blue and perhaps some larger "Hardballer" sights.

Since it is yours I think you should do what ever you like with it.

It probably does have some collector / historical value but since you have no intention of ever selling it thats kind of a non-issue.

[Joni Lynn]

I think I'd have one of the shops replace the damaged plunger tube, do something to improve the accuracy, a trigger job and a good set of retro style sights.

[johngalt]

One of the reasons I was thinking of sending it to a custom shop is it's configured the way 1911's are supposed to be - JMB's original design, no firing pin safety. In my opinion anyway, that makes it a better base for a custom gun than the new ones with Series 80 or Swartz safeties. Far as I know, the Colt series 70 re-issue is the only factory (non custom) gun that is still original.

I had my eye on a Clark .45 Heavy Slide. It would make a nice companion to my Clark .38 special Heavy Slide (which was built on another Colt from close to the same serial number).

[coltaholic]

I have a hard chrome Special Combat Government Model that i was going to keep new in the box for collector (resale) purposes. A friend of mine told me " when you're dead, someone is going to shoot that gun" Guess what----i shoot it all the time and I can't believe I let it sit in the box all that time.

[d90king]

Far as I know, the Colt series 70 re-issue is the only factory (non custom) gun that is still original.
.

The WWI repro is also "correct" and both come from the "custom shop" and they are both great shooters.

[elijdub]

With regards to the OP, i personally would keep it stock (or atleast be able to easily return it to that condition if i so choose). I'd probably put on a rear site that used the same "cut" (to help improve accuracy), and as someone else said maybe have it re-blued and restored to it's original condition (if anything, because i don't mind "honest wear at all).
Personally i think it does have "value" being a stock Colt....but it's yours and you should absolutely do what makes you happy (especially if you're not planning on selling it). I like the idea of keeping older Colt's stock for future generations of people to enjoy, whether they own them or not. That said, i'm sending an out-of-production Commander to Heirloom Precision later this year :o....but it's in pretty bad shape ;). I think everyone should get to own one customized Colt...just because they are so dang cool :cool:..and keep the rest "stock" :D. Of course, all this is just my personal opinion.

[dsk]

Tough call. Were it my pistol I'd get the plunger tube replaced and a factory trigger reinstalled, then send it off to a competent refinisher to have it restored as close as possible to factory finish. There are bazillions of custom .45's out there, and once the work is done it no longer matters what the base pistol was, because it's no longer a Colt/Springer/Norinco but instead is a Wilson/Novak/Yost.

I used to have a Series 70 that looked similar. It was in excellent condition overall except for all the bluing gone on the front strap and mainspring housing. Evidently some folks have very sweaty, acidic palms that dissolve bluing quickly.

[daveohno]

You have a tough decision to make. Stock or custom. I might start with Colt like others have and get some of the parts replaced and then you have to decide if the pistol needs a new bushing only or a barrel and bushing. If it were me, I'd get all the items fixed that I could and then get back to shooting this pistol and wear some more of the finish off and maybe, get it refinished at a later date.

[johngalt]

I think I'd have one of the shops replace the damaged plunger tube, do something to improve the accuracy, a trigger job and a good set of retro style sights.

What do you consider to be "retro" sights?

I've been considering fixed vs adjustable, and if I was going to put some nice sights on it, I figured I might as well go all the way and do adjustable.

The reason I prefer adjustable is I have never had a fixed sight pistol or revolver that would shoot any where close to POA. I had pretty much concluded that fixed sights severely limits the capabilities of a full-size gun, and were only useful on a compact carry piece. I'm primarily a bullseye shooter, not a combat shooter, which makes me biased.

How can you adjust POI/POA without adjustable sights? When fitting a barrel & bushing, it seems like POI is going to turn out to be where ever it works out, then you need to adjust the sights.

[DuckRyder]

What do you consider to be "retro" sights?

Kings "hardball" and Heirloom Precision (FKA Yost-Bonitz) Retro are two examples.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/productdetail.aspx?p=21448

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=22485&title=1911%20AUTO%20FIXED%20HARDBALL%20SIGHT

How can you adjust POI/POA without adjustable sights? When fitting a barrel & bushing, it seems like POI is going to turn out to be where ever it works out, then you need to adjust the sights.

Elevation is by height of the front blade.

Windage is by drifting the rear in the dovetail.

[Hill]

I went through some of this a while back over my 'birthday gun' a 1948 Colt. Although it has a grip safety and MSH slowly changing color and a couple of small spots in the blue of the slide and is not the pristine pistol that's sought after by serious collectors I could still sell it as it is for some $1500. or more, enough to pay the major part of whatever customized pistol I might want, if I leave it be. But if I modify or refinish it the value would freeze at a lower level than now. If I don't mess with it it'll continue to gain in value as time goes on, but it will not do that if I hang a bunch of style gizmos on it.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/guns/birthdaygunjpg.jpg

And yes, I take it out and shoot it now and then. It's so fun with it's old recoil and it's old trigger, and old groups on a target. Nothing else is like it. Makes me feel so old! :D

[elijdub]

Nice "OLD" Colt, Hill ;) (same year my Dad was born). I really like the post-WWII, pre-1970's models!
I like your plan of keeping it stock....

[Hill]

Nice "OLD" Colt, Hill ;) (same year my Dad was born). I really like the post-WWII, pre-1970's models!
I like your plan of keeping it stock....

your Dad, huh? I guess that means you'll marry my daughter?.....Wait, got money?...Job?.....Record? :D

[Joni Lynn]

I saw a retro sight that might have been from Yost or EGW, I don't remember which. I liked the look of it.

[elijdub]

your Dad, huh? I guess that means you'll marry my daughter?.....Wait, got money?...Job?.....Record? :D
Coincidently, i did just part ways with my former fiancee :D....and spent much of my early 20's in the PNW (Portland, Eugene, Eureka, etc.) ;).

I saw a retro sight that might have been from Yost or EGW, I don't remember which. I liked the look of it.
As Robert posted on the previous page (i think), YoBo makes a great retro sight (!).
EBK's recently returned custom Commander has a "YoBo retro rear" that looks great: http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=45014

Here's a great pic from Heirloom's site!!!....work by Jason Burton:
http://www.heirloomprecision.com/bigphoto/photos/Jason_Burton/Retro_Colt_Pair_2007/RCP_2007_7.jpg/medium