My New 70 Series

[Innovative Traditionalist]

I picked up my new 70's Series and was thrilled with anticipation until I cleaned it yesterday. First I discovered that the slide line between the blued flat surfaces on either side and where it meets the curved top was not straight. It curved from the back downwards towards the ejection port and then it swung upwards towards the muzzle. Further examination of the slide indicated the the right side of the slide at the rear just over the slide rail was cracked clear through. I returned the gun to the gunshop and they will get me another one. This was very disappointing for a new Colt which is praised through and through by the other forum members. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

[Hunter]

Did you take any pictures? They help when figuring out the problem.

[terabyte]

:confused: a new pistol like that, hard to comprehend.

[Innovative Traditionalist]

Hi Hunter:

I did not take any picture. The problem from all appearances is a mis-production. I'll try to get over to the gunshop to grab some pictures before they ship it out on Monday.

[ButchKent]

Unfortunately, quality control is not what it used to be. So we have to do many more checks on what we believe should be products of outstanding quality than in the past. I quess it is a fact of business in some sectors, that it is cheaper to replace than to inspect to ensure it meets high standards. I'm sure they will make it right. I have not bought a single new Colt. All of mine are either new old stock from the '70s and 80's or Colts that others have reworked. For these Colts, I couldn't be happier with the quality of the products.

[Hill]

To be clear........you bought a NEW Colt 70 series repro (or whatever term is correct for their current edition of the 70 series pistol) and it arrived with a cracked slide, cracked so completely that it altered the design lines of the slide??

Is there any indication that possibly could explain the damage, like maybe some inventory person in the shipping sequence dropped the pistol while it was out of it's packaging?

Any chance in your mind that it did not leave the factory in the condition in which you received it?


Please do try to photograph this pistol!!

[jeff1124]

Sounds like forklift accident to me! ;) I've bought 4 brand new Colts and a few used ones and have had no significant problems!

[Hill]

Sounds like forklift accident to me! ;) I've bought 4 brand new Colts and a few used ones and have had no significant problems!

Yeah, I've bought four new (if the TALO pistol qualifies as a Colt release) and make changes to them according to my personal preferences, but none had any operating or finishing problems. I've never even HEARD about a Colt that arrived in such a state as this described pistol.

[Innovative Traditionalist]

I don't think that someone did this to this gun after it left the factory. The crooked or bent lines I was talking about are the lines of separation betweeen the polished blued sides and the flat black rounded top of the slide. It looked as if someone took the slide in an upright state and bent the middle downward. The slide itself did not seem to be bent and functionally, it was normal. The crack in the slide was in the right rear of the slide running somewhat horizontally behind the slide serrations and just a little above where the slide rail and slide mesh together. From the rear of the gun, one can see the crack going through from the outside to the inside. And yet, there is no evidence of damage or manhandling to this part or any other part of the gun.

Thanks everyone for your input. I will post some pictures this weekend.

[daveohno]

I haven't had any issues with my Colt's other than sights working loose, but Colt will fix it for you. Congratulations on your purchase, even if it will be a couple of weeks before you get it back. :o

[OD*]

I've never even HEARD about a Colt that arrived in such a state as this described pistol.
Unfortunately there are a number of such posts on the *other* 1911 forum (not of cracking though).

[A.B.]

That's really freaky. Jeff's right, forklifts can be mean, I guess it happened transiting around the shop floor. :confused:

[texagun]

I had a similar situation several years ago when the Colt Defender first came out. I bought one of the first ones from a local gun store. When I got it home to clean it before shooting it, I discovered the barrel was cracked. It had a 1/4" vertical crack about 1 1/2" from the front of the barrel. The crack was not clear through, but it was deep enough to put your fingernail in about 1/16". I had the dealer return it to Colt. They returned it with the barrel very roughly buffed (ground down) and the crack was still there. I returned it again to Colt with a long letter telling them this was unacceptable and that I would not fire the gun with a crack in the barrel. It was finally returned with a brand new barrel, beautifully polished and finished and I never had another issue with the gun, other than having to replace the recoil assembly about every 400 rounds. I swore off new Colts for a few years but have bought several since then and they have all been near perfect. The story is just to point out that problems like this CAN occur and get past the inspectors, but I think it is very RARE these days.

[clughog]

The only problems I've had with my new Colts appear to be from a lack of quality control, and, fortunately, have all been minor. And I see plenty of quality control issues with other products as well, not just pistols. Here's a picture of a grip safety that came on my Colt XSE Combat Commander back in late 2006. Never should have been installed and for definitely should have been caught by SOMEBODY at Colt before shipping. Colt replaced it quickly, but that's just poor quality control! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/IMG_0860.jpg

[WJR]

Please let us know the outcome. I still have a Series 70, blued and stainless, as high on my "want" list.

WJR

[Innovative Traditionalist]

Please let us know the outcome. I still have a Series 70, blued and stainless, as high on my "want" list.

WJR

WJR: I will keep you posted. Please do not consider this thread as an adverse mark against Colt. The Series 70 is still the "real thing." The original Mk IV was the real thing and everyone else was a "wannabe." Nowadays the other makers incorporate a lot of the custom features into their guns. These features probably make the guns more useful in competition and games but are not necessarily useful or desirable in a true defensive weapon. The beauty of the older Colts and John Browning's designs in in their simplicity, ruggedness and dependability. The Colts, especially the repros, still have those virtues.

[WJR]

Thanks, IT.

WJR

[rhtwist]

From experience, look the gun over thoroughly before accepting it, might catch a thing or two. Good luck. The 70 Series are beautiful to look at.
rhtwist

[Innovative Traditionalist]

Sorry for the delay. Work had to take priority so that I can afford my toys. Here are the pictures. I apologize for them since I did not have all my photographic gear with me. I did not have my specialized lighting or macro lenses with me.
http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w350/Bandolero_670/1911%20Forum/BentLine3.jpg
http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w350/Bandolero_670/1911%20Forum/CrackLine.jpg

[TattooPaul]

I want to see pics. This seems too far gone to have made it out of the factory. It might have, but 8 days later, still no photo's. I'd like to see this issue shown with good images… Colt's will back up any genuine issue.

Right after posting this response your photos displayed. I have full confidence in Colt's making things right. Please keep us posted. It's a beautiful sidearm when issues don't exist. Good luck with that nice Colt!

[PaulM]

I bought a Series 70 repro last year. It holds a very special place for me. Never-the-less I have had a problem or two with it. The first was an ejection issue. It would crush the mouth of the ejected brass. Returned to Colt, problem solved. The thing that still bothers me is the tool marks on the inside of the slide. It isn't seen by anyone but me, but still...they shouldn't be there!

[1saxman]

The 'bent slide' is careless, heavy-handed polishing. The crack looks like it's along the cut for the frame rail. I cannot imagine junk like that getting as far as assembly. I just heard a 'ka-ching' as the value of real Series 70s went up again.

[TattooPaul]

Sorry for the delay. Work had to take priority so that I can afford my toys. Here are the pictures. I apologize for them since I did not have all my photographic gear with me. I did not have my specialized lighting or macro lenses with me.
http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w350/Bandolero_670/1911%20Forum/BentLine3.jpg
http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w350/Bandolero_670/1911%20Forum/CrackLine.jpg


After looking at the posted photos is seems that the top shaping of the slide was not done well and someones practice piece got passed along without further refinement. That crack is not only unacceptable, but unsafe. I can't imagine that they would not replace that for you.

All this being said, I have seen many beautiful 70 Series Repro's and this has the most issues by far of any of them. The rest I have seen have been gorgeous and this model is high on my "next to purchase" list. I am confident that the factory will make good on resolving this issue. Keep us posted and good luck.

[Innovative Traditionalist]

Hi Y'All:

From all the comments I conclude that I got an abnormal piece, a flluke. That is exactly what I had thought. In no way has this incident dampened my enthusiasm for Colt. Although I have other guns and my Kimber, Kahr, Sig 220 & 229 plus a myriad of other autos & revolvers, and they all shoot beautifully, my favorite so far is still my 1991A1 Commander. The Colt's just fit my hand better and the arched spring housing allows me to have just the right hold. I haven't received the replacement for the one I turned in but I am looking forward to it. Again, thanks for all the comments.