Colt 70 Series Original Magazine?

[coltsr]

I purchased a new in box Colt 45 series 70 Blue Goverment Mode. Everything is original. However, I'm not sure about the magazine. The mag has stamped on the bottom "COLT 45 AUTO". It does not have the Colt Pony nor any other letters. Did Colt made this mag as an original equipment or has someone changed the mag.

[Hawkmoon]

I have not seen all that many genuine Colt magazines, but every one I have seen (including those that came with my Pony .380 and the ones I bought for it) have the pony. That's a Colt trademark. I suggest calling Colt customer service at the number listed on their web site ( www.coltsmfg.com ) and ask.

[SpeedRacer]

FWIW, the Series 70 Commander I recently purchased (used) has the EXACT same mag stamping on the bottom. No Colt pony. Granted I bought the gun used, but I was told the mag is indeed original.

[OD*]

coltsr,

It may very well be correct, the magazines didn't always have the colt on the base.

[Doran]

Does the front of the magazine have a drain hole?

[Teufelhunden82]

My new series 70 mags came equipped with ponies. Not saying that all of them came with ponies but mine did.

[SpeedRacer]

Just another FWIW...I double checked my mag and it is indeed just like the top one in flusher's pic with two dots. And yes, it has a drain hole on the front.

My Colt is a Lightweight Commander manufactured in 1972. Could this be the original mag? Seems hard to believe it would be replaced with an older (and harder to find?) factory mag.

[flusher]

The drain hole has not been mentioned to me by others.
Also the base should be dull and the body bright bright blue
Clawson's book on the Government Models discusses the 1950's and 1960's mags in some detail, so I am told.
I do not have the book.
Maybe someone can do some research if they have the book.

[OD*]

flusher

My '51 mag is completely polished blue, and the base plate is marked

Colt
.45 Auto

[flusher]

flusher

My '51 mag is completely polished blue, and the base plate is marked

Colt
.45 Auto

OD*


Is it original ?
There is no period after AUTO but one before 45 as you have indicated, correct?
Do you happen to have Clawson's Government Model book?

[OD*]

<Is it original ?>
As far as I know, it is how the widow brought it into the shop.

<There is no period after AUTO but one before 45 as you have indicated, correct?>
That is correct sir.

<Do you happen to have Clawson's Government Model book?>
Not yet, but the book has been re-released and I have a copy coming from board member Scott Gahimer.
I have the new 2nd Edition Government Models books. Those interested in getting a copy can PM or e-mail me for complete info, rather than posting here. The e-mail is easier to use. usgi.45autos@direcway.com
http://tinypic.com/hs6cds.jpg

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=128190

[OD*]

flusher,

According to Clawson, the top magazine in your picture is from the 1960s unless it has the drain hole, then it is from the '70s.

http://publish.hometown.aol.com/flusher2/myhomepage/colt%20mags.jpg

He doesn't show any magazine stamped as the bottom one is, nor as the one in my '51 is marked (1946-1970).

[flusher]

Thanks OD
I knew about the 60's
Doesn't he mention the 1940'and 1950's magazine?

[OD*]

Doesn't he mention the 1940'and 1950's magazine?

Yes sir, he states early post-wars consisted of MilSurp (which my '49 has) and new unmarked mags.

1947-1960 marked as;
COLT
45 AUTO. (Period only, no decimal point)

[flusher]

Thanks OD


You said

Originally Posted by OD*


My '51 mag is completely polished blue, and the base plate is marked

Colt
.45 Auto

So OD , what do you have???

[OD*]

Well, I have no idea? ;)

I just received the book today, so I may have over looked something. Or, the mag's not original to the gun.

[coltsr]

The Colt Mag in the Series 70 that I purchased about 1 year ago New in Box has a Mag that has these letters: COLT .45 AUTO. It was made in 1977 or 1978


I've been told that all series 70 Mags has the Colt Pony and another letter in the top right hand corner. Mine does not. It does have the dot before 45 and the dot after AUTO. Could this be an original equipment mag?

[flusher]

A previous thread by OD, states, per Clawson, that the 1970's mags have a drain hole.

[coltsr]

Mine does have the drain hole. Again letters: COLT .45 AUTO. Does that mean that it could have come originally with a Series 70 made in 1977 or 1978? It wouldn't bother me if it is a 60's mag as long as it is geniune Colt. As you know there are a lot of cheap bogus mags out there. I think most of the bogus ones doesn't have the dot before 45 or the dot after AUTO. But I'm not sure.
Coltsr

[flusher]

According to Clawson, you have a correct magazine.
Read a few previous threads

[OD*]

I think most of the bogus ones doesn't have the dot before 45 or the dot after AUTO. But I'm not sure

Some of the 1980s magazines came that way.

[flusher]

I think most of the bogus ones doesn't have the dot before 45 or the dot after AUTO. But I'm not sure.
Coltsr

You mean like this??



http://publish.hometown.aol.com/flusher2/myhomepage/mags2536.jpg

[nitehawk55]

My 1976 70 series has the letter "M" in the upper right . A lot of mags sold by a fellow on ebay were knock-offs of the same .


nitehawk55

[OD*]

My 1976 70 series has the letter "M" in the upper right . A lot of mags sold by a fellow on ebay were knock-offs of the same .


nitehawk55

That is a Metalform magazine.

[nitehawk55]

That is a Metalform magazine.

So those are original equipment mags ?

nitehawk55

[OD*]

Yes sir, Colt also uses Check-Mate Industries.

[flusher]

Mine does have the drain hole. Again letters: COLT .45 AUTO. Does that mean that it could have come originally with a Series 70 made in 1977 or 1978? It wouldn't bother me if it is a 60's mag as long as it is geniune Colt. As you know there are a lot of cheap bogus mags out there. I think most of the bogus ones doesn't have the dot before 45 or the dot after AUTO. But I'm not sure.
Coltsr


According to Clawson, 1970 era mags had a drain hole and decimal before 45 and a period after AUTO

COLT
.45 AUTO.

[frodo_lives]

Unfortunately I only have three Colt 1911's which I purchased new and that I can absolutely identify the magazine they were purchased with. For reference I will hold them so that I am looking at the bottom and the flat edge is to the right. A blued Colt MKIV Series 70 Gov. Model I bought new in 1974 has a magazine which has two lines of text. The first line says COLT and the second line says .45 AUTO. It has an arched drainhole above the bottom on the round part. Empty it weighs 2.40 oz. It has a nicely finished weld up the center of the back (flat).

Next I have the mag to a Colt Gold Cup MKIV Series 70 International Match. I bought this pistol new in 1977. Looking at the bottom the same way it has COLT on the first line and 45 AUTO on the second line. Near the top and near the flat back and away from the other letters is a single M. Again it is well finished, has the arched drain-hole and is welded up the center of the back or flat part. It weighs 2.45 oz.

Now I also have a silver mag I got from "somewhere". On the bottom it has Colt on the first line and .45 AUTO on the second line. The extra spaces are not an accident and the text is not exactly parallel with the edges of the magazine, as with the known Colt mags. This mag is not built that well. It has a round follower. It weighs 2.26 oz and my guess is that it was not made by Colt. It looks like it was joined at one corner of the back and the back is ground with what looks like a rough wire brush. It does have the arched drain hole, but the arch is higher than the two colt mags previously mentioned. By the way, this mag functions O.K. in several .45s I have used it in.

Moving up quite a bit in time and somewhat off the topic, in 2003 I bought a Colt Defender. Of course it is a smaller mag. It has a "pony" near the round part. It has COLT on the first line and 45 AUTO on the second line. Near the flat edge it has a C at the top and an S at the bottom. Of course it has the orange flat plastic follower, which has functioned fine. I think they may also be joining them now at one corner on the back. It weighs 2.13 oz in case there is any interest.

I don't want to write a book on this, although someone probably has already or could, but surplus 1911 mags I bought back in the 70's (big box, hundreds of mags, dig through, pick good ones at $1 each) weigh in at 2.43 oz. Recent surplus mags I have purchased at gun shows seem to run 2.34 oz. All of these have had flat followers.

[nitehawk55]

frodo , the poorly made silver ones you mention , were they purchased from a seller on eBay in Alaska by chance ? I purchased some from this fellow which are silver and marked with the "M" as well and are poorly made and I believe he may still be on ebay using the name "reddog-alaskan or something live that .
I think that there are a lot of "knock-off" mags being made possably in China or somewhere off shore that are being passed off as genuine Colt mags and some other makes as well . I'ts an unfortunate situation as I'm sure a lot of these have found there way to gun shows or other sources and are getting bought up by unknowing gun owners .
It is an unfortunate situation to say the least as for the most part they do not even function properly . :(

nitehawk55

[frodo_lives]

No, believe it or not I do not use Ebay. I probably picked it up shooting with someone in the 80's or 90's. I have other Colt mags, but they are like the ones I mentioned that came with the Colts I bought. Unfortunately, I do not know what exact gun they came with. I mentioned the silver one (a 7 round mag) because it was lighter and not that well made but still had Colt on the bottom.

[OD*]

Hell, it ain't just Reddog that is selling counterfeit Colt magazines, so is Sportsman's Guide!? :mad:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=70824

[nitehawk55]

These ones I got are stainless and have the Colt .45 on the bottom as well as the horse and M . I don't know if yours might be knock-offs but i'm telling you fellows this to let you know they are out there and probably a lot of them :scared:
I know this one fellow on ebay has been selling them and I'm sure others are being distributed at shows and the like so just a word of caution to be careful as they are good copys . There was a post someplace that showed the pics of the knock-offs compared to the genuine mags and once you could compare them side by side you could see a few differences as to the markings and the feeding ramp .

nitehawk55