Custom Colt MK IV 01970 Series 70 Government Model 45 ACP 5″ Semi-Auto 1982
SOLD FOR: $3075
LSB#: 221216PK009
Make: Colt
Model: Mark IV Government Model Series 70
Serial Number: 70B39045
Year of Manufacture: 1982 (COLT Serial Number Lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “MK IV / —SERIES ’70— / GOVERNMENT MODEL / .45 AUTOMATIC CALIBER” 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 “COLT’S GOVERNMENT MODEL”. The top of the barrel is marked “-COLT 45 AUTO- / MARK IV/SERIES ’70”. The left of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle and “6”. The barrel bushing is marked with the Kings Custom logo.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square-notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood, each with gold Colt ponies. The checkering is strong but there are a few light handling marks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is indeed sharp. There is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates a 7 out of 10!
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are just light handling marksalong with intermittent minor nicks in them matte areas. There are some scattered light handling marks. The screw heads are undamaged. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Fine-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has minor play to the frame and the trigger is crisp. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: Included is one (1) 7-round magazine. The gun will ship in its matching product box.
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, 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 70 model chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. Now, ready, aim, bid!
