So what IS a Series 70 REPRO????

[Mhanis]

I now have a full understanding about what a “real” Series 70 gun is thanks to an earlier thread. Like other newbies I took Series 70 to mean anything with a lack of the drop safety but that is not it at all, and since my Series 70 repro doesn’t have the two unique parts that made up a "Series 70" what technically is it?
So I am asking “What exactly IS it?”
When Colt decided to make a Series 70, what gun did they start with? Was it an A1 with 2 new parts or was it something else? Assuming that is the case, are the 70 repros more accurately described as “Late Model A1’s”?
Or how about this, are they more accurately described as technically being Series 80 minus the additional safety?
I realize this is splitting hairs, but that appears to be very common around here! ;)

Besides, I have been accused of being a touch anal myself a time or two. :D

[clughog]

Wow! Never really thought about analyzing it before. All I know is what Colt says on their web site:
Colt’s Series 70 pistol features the Series 70 firing system, making it a faithful reproduction and throwback to Colt Government Models manufactured during the 1970’s. Try this for light reading: http://www.m1911.org/prodte26.htm

[Mhanis]

Hello Creighton!
I decided to come out of "LURK MODE" on this one; I never thought about it at all either until a couple of recent threads.
Wasn't the original series 70 firing system the same as all previous 1911 and A1 models?
If that is true, then the 70 repro and its "faithful reproduction of the original series 70 firing system" could just as easily say "faithful reproduction of the ONLY firing system made prior to the introduction of the series 80"?
Like I said, I know this is probably over analyzing, but it is kind of fun.

[RickB]

Series 70 is not a firing system, as in trigger/sear/disconnector, even though that's become common usage. Series 70 was an attempt to improve accuracy of the Government Model and Gold Cup by using a special bushing that biased the barrel with spring tension. Guns with these "Accurizor" bushing and matching barrel were Series 70s. In 1983, Colt introduced the Series 80 firing pin block, so everyone started calling any gun without a firing pin block "Series 70", when, of course, they should have called it "pre-Series 80". There are no guns other than Colts that are truly Series 70. To make it more confusing, the new Series 70 Colts do not have the Accurizor bushing and barrel. So, a Colt Series 70 pistol that was made between 1973-1983 is an "original", with the Accurizor barrel and bushing, while the ones made today, and for the last four or five years, are usually referred to as "reproductions" or "replicas", and while the don't use the Accurizor system, neither do they have the Series 80 firing pin block.

[gfavaron]

The folks at Colt must take a fiendish pleasure at our trying to figure out this stuff. :-)

[kcshooter]

The Colt "Series 70 Repos" should really be called Colt "Pre-Series 70 Repros". But that just doesn't have a good ring to it, plus it would be even more confusing.

[RickB]

And I would have certainly preferred a pre-Series 70 rollmark!

[Mhanis]

So to kind of get back to wat I am asking, is a "Pre-Series 70" simply a "Late Model A1"? Or was there a difference between an A1 and the gun that BECAME a series 70?

I know I'm :dead_hors

But I am rather curious what the experts on the site think.

[Mhanis]

And I would have certainly preferred a pre-Series 70 rollmark!

Rick, I am kinda new to the wole Colt world.......What did a pre-series 70 rollmark look like?

[cbuswell]

I am a bit confused, but willing to go along with you guys and I will stop calling my "Combat Commander" a "Series 70." It was natural to "assume" that it was a "Series 70" given that the serial number begins with 70 and, (from research), found that it was made in 1972. It clearly IS NOT a Series 80 and on and on. I am here to learn, however I'm a bit slow at times.

Thanks.

[elijdub]

So to kind of get back to wat I am asking, is a "Pre-Series 70" simply a "Late Model A1"? Or was there a difference between an A1 and the gun that BECAME a series 70?
As far as i know, the pre-series 70 government models (i.e., anything made prior to 1973) are simply "late model A1's". Here's an example made in 1960.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=99600405

[diabloxscorchox]

its a great gun. i own one and love it. i just gotta get some trijicon night sights on it.