Custom Colt MK IV Series ’80 Government Model .45 ACP 5″ Semi-Auto 1985
Sold For: $1,225.00
LSB#: 220623DB022
Make: Colt
Model: MKIV Government Model Series ’80
Serial Number: FG50257
Year of Manufacture: 1985 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT MK IV / —SERIES 80—” and with a Rampant Colt logo. The right of the frame is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.” with the serial number. The right side of the slide is marked “GOVERNMENT MODEL”. The top of the barrel is marked “-COLT 45 AUTO-“. The left of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle and “8”, the right side is marked “L”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: Custom sights have been installed on the slide. The front sight is a patridge blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a flat-topped square notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood with gold-colored Colt medallions. There are a few scattered little nicks and light scrapes, some of the most noticeable are on the back edge of the left panel and on the top edge of the right panel. There are some areas of finish that is separating from the grips. The checkering is still mostly intact and strong. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grip is in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 93% of its metal finish. Custom aftermarket sights have been installed. There are some scattered scuffs and draglines. There are a few little nicks and dings, the most noticeable are on the right side of the slide on the rear edge. There are some little spots of surface frost, some of the most noticeable are on the grip frame around the panels. There are some spots of discoloration from previous oxidation on the bright sides of the hammer. There is a bit of discoloration in the mainspring housing serrations. There are some scattered light handling marks. The screw heads are lightly used. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Fine condition as customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has minor play to the frame and the trigger is crisp. This pistol was made with a firing pin block safety (series ’80). We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a 7-round magazine.
Our Assessment: Colt’s 1911 served the United States military through two World Wars and several other conflicts, is still in use by some units today, and has become popular with law enforcement, competitors, and recreational shooters across the nation. The design was the end-result of a series of developments by famous gun designer John Browning, starting with the Model 1900. The advances made by Browning were revolutionary at the time, and were so successful that they are considered commonplace today. Browning not only developed first a pivoting and then a tilting barrel to allow for a locked system, he developed the concept of “the slide”, which is now synonymous with semi-automatic handguns. Having secured a contract for the US Military sidearm, Colt also offered the pistol to the commercial market as the “Government Model”. The design has seen some updates including a firing-pin block safety, higher-profile sights (these sights are aftermarket), and more ergonomic grips, but the basic design and fantastic trigger remain the same after more than a century. This example is a fairly recent Series 80 model chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge which has since seen some upgrades outside of the factory. The pistol will make for a fine Single Stack division or Bowling Pin shooting pistol. Please see our photos and good luck!
