Officer SS-7

[SuperCub]

I just joined you form. I have an Officer model that I have had a little while. I have had to replace front bushing it cracked. The gun was a gift from my father in law. He loves to go to gun shows. I have been carrying the gun on and off. I searched this side for the model Officer SS-7 and found nothing. I just got off the phone with Colt. They were surprised but not as much as me. I was told it was made in 1997 and it was a limited edition with only 120 being made.


I think that I might stop carrying the gun. Does any one have a blue book? I don't want to sell the gun, but I wonder what you think this gun is worth? Again I am not trying to sell the gun.
Thanks John

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/Trader001/P1010420.jpg

[Sarge45]

Good luck. A Google search didn't turn up a thing on that pup.

[daveohno]

Welcome to the forum! Nice little pistol and one of only 120!

[elijdub]

Welcome to the forum John! I have a BLUE BOOK, but it has nothing about this model. That is a very nice Colt and probably worth a few bucks because of it's low numbers. I'd keep shooting it lightly since it's already been carried. Just continue to care for it well and it will retain most of it's "value".
If i had to make an educated guess on the value of this gun, i'd say it's in the $800 range (depending on whether or not you have box/papers and assuming it's in the good shape it appears to be in the pic). The replaced bushing (which appears to be aftermarket) will slightly reduce "collector" value, in my opinion, only because it's technically not "original". What "make" bushing did you use? I wonder if this model uses the standard OfficerACP recoil assembly. Do you have any close-up pics of the barrel, guide rod, recoil spring(s), or plug? I'd be interested to see them.

[dakota1911]

Colt seemed to make a bunch of "limited runs" in that time period. Another I remember was the "Night Officer" with night sites. Depending on the part of the country I would also guess in the $600-$800 range depending on boxes. papers, etc.

[SuperCub]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I like to shoot my guns. I am sure I will keep using it. I just wanted to make sure I was not making a big mistake. Elijdub the bushing is a Clark and the parts seem to be standard officer. Clark Guns is not far down the road. Here is the pic.
John
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/Trader001/P1010426.jpg

[Landman]

SuperCub, that's a great looking pistol. Congratulations.

Before joining this site I never realized how many different limited run pistols Colt has made over the years.

This pistol looks like it has a similar font on the rollmark as the Night Officer that Dakota mentioned. The beavertail, trigger and obviously the bushing all look aftermarket to me. They look great though. Whoever fitted that beavertail looks like they knew what they were doing.

My guess is "SS-7" represents "Stainless Steel 7 rounds". However, it looks blue in the photograph. Is the slide or frame stainless?

[elijdub]

Thanks for the pics John. I'm very happy with my Clark parts. I use a Clark plug instead of the standard OACP recoil plug. It looks like your Colt does use the same OACP recoil assembly (with "slotted" plug). You may be interested in this thread about the recoil assembly of the OACP:
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=37432&highlight=OACP

I was thinking the same thing, Landman...that the rollmarks look similar to the Night Officer (not to be confused with the Lew Horton/Colt Night Officer...two different animals). Here's one on GB...the pic is kinda' cloudy, but you can still make out the rollmarks: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=93984288
Are you sure about that trigger? It kinda' reminds me of the Defender triggers (i think the early Defender triggers were "three holes"). As a matter of fact, the gun being built in '97, and with those stocks, kinda' seems like a "predecessor" to the Defender. Just thinkin' out loud here...;).
I was wondering the same thing about the name: "SS-7". It does appear blue in the pics. I wonder if the "SS" stands for something else.

[SuperCub]

I asked Colt if they had any info on the short run. They told me no. I wanted a spec sheet or something. I have had work do to my other 1911's. You can tell they have been hit with aftermarket parts. This looks to me like it has not; the frame finish looks good around the beavertail. The trigger looks like some Colts. It is not stainless. I have no clue what the SS-7 stands for. For it to be a Limited run they must have done something different. With out the Beavertail and the trigger it would be like the other Colts. It also has 3 white dot sites. I try to send e-mail to Colt. It has not been that long someone should know. It is the mystery thing that has me now. You all are right the Officer roll marks do look the same.
John

[Ric4509]

Your Officers is no different than other Officers except for the rollmark. The trigger is not original because Colt just started using those kind of triggers recently, correct me if I'm wrong (Colt experts). The beavertail looks like a S&A that Colt uses on some of their limited run pistols. I'd say the gun is worth $450.

[SuperCub]

elijdub
thanks for the link to the recoil assembly. The bad thing is I had Jim Clark helping me at Clark's when I dropped the gun off for there bushing fit. I asked what else do I need? He said it all looked good. Must have been a off day. I have a gun I will drop off there in the near future. I will pick up a plug then thanks.
John

[fire_hunter988]

very nice gun. could it be that colt had parts left over so they make a very low number run to use them. just a thought

[elijdub]

elijdub
thanks for the link to the recoil assembly. The bad thing is I had Jim Clark helping me at Clark's when I dropped the gun off for there bushing fit. I asked what else do I need? He said it all looked good. Must have been a off day. I have a gun I will drop off there in the near future. I will pick up a plug then thanks.
John
John, No problem. That must be nice having Jim Clark within driving distance. On the other hand, i'd probably spend a lot more money ;). Yes sir, the Clark plug seems like the best approach to the "issue" of the OACP recoil assembly...though if you noticed at the end of that thread, the jury is still out as to whether or not the Para "retro-fit" assembly would be a better answer. The Clark plug is working great for me now.

[Grainfed]

Looks like the Commando I had awhile back and that they might have been separated at birth.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/ColtCommando002.jpg

Albert

[Hill]

very nice gun. could it be that colt had parts left over so they make a very low number run to use them. just a thought


I'd doubt that.

Instead it seems as though Colt was trying to attract buyers by offering models that varied little except for the rollmarking in limited runs of catchy names. It's the sort of thing you'd see in a company when a new manager of marketing is hired.

[SuperCub]

Well it just got a fresh cleaning tonight for spring. I plan on getting it dirty this weekend. With some 230gr hard ball, 200 gr JHP, 200 gr SWC lead and some 230 lead. I will break out some it's big brothers as well.
John

[elijdub]

Please post a range report after the "family reunion" ;).

[SuperCub]

I went out Friday after work. I work at home and live in the country. So that means the range is in my front yard. The Officer does not like a short 185 SWC. The 200 JHP,230 Lead and HB worked fine, 200 SWC work great also. I did not hang targets. I use a knotty piece of plywood. The knots are great aim points. I was taking a conceal carry class the next morning. I was out to check equipment. I did OK for the short gun. I also was not working on slow fire. Draw, fire and reload, Close draw and fire.
I need to get out to Clarks and get a new recoil spring plug and spring. I am going to try this week. I will also work on slow fire and try to post photos if not too embarrassing.
John

[Cofaler]

I had one of the SS-7 guns a few years ago. A gunshop owner happened to see it later and said he used to sell them new in the '80s for a chain of sports stores in the south called Sports South. Mine had a mag well when I got it and it came with a bunch of 7 rd WC mags. Hence the name SS-7. I had the original Colt box, and can't remember if it had any special markings on the label or not. I sold it and the last I heard a local detective was carrying it. I think it had an ambi safety and Novak Lowmounts, which from looking at your wasn't stock. Hope this helps.

[SuperCub]

Heck Sports South is here in our town. I know some people who work there. I might drop them a call. I did put in a Wolf spring and a Clark drop in plug. I also bought some Wilson mags for it. While at Clarks I asked them if the BT looked factory. They said could not tell I was a real nice fit. While there I drop a colt off for a full boat melt.
I take a photo of the plug fit. The SS-7 now has a Clark bushing and plug. It should work just fine now. I would like to go from the 6 lb pull to a 4 lb pull. I did not want to wait 3 months for Clark to do it at this time.
John

[wetidlerjr]

Your Officers is no different than other Officers except for the rollmark. The trigger is not original because Colt just started using those kind of triggers recently, correct me if I'm wrong (Colt experts). The beavertail looks like a S&A that Colt uses on some of their limited run pistols. I'd say the gun is worth $450.

And that estimate is based on what criteria ? :)

[Cofaler]

Mine also had the same trigger yours does, and the beaver tail looks the same too.