Craig Wetstein Custom Colt MKIV Series 70 Government Model 45 ACP Semi-Auto
SOLD FOR: $3707
LSB#: 230908AW002
Make: Colt
Model: Mark IV Government Model Series 70
Serial Number: 70B27959
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 “COLT’S 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 over “AUTO SHOP / CULVER CITY”. 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 a triangle at the rear and “6” at the front. The right trigger guard bow is marked “Z”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a fully adjustable Bo-Mar square-notch with a serrated rear face dovetailed into the slide. The top of the slide has been serrated for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood, each with Rampant Colt medallions. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blue Slide & Chrome Frame
Finish Originality: Original to Customization
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its metal finish. There is a notable spot of finish loss on the top of the slide just left of the ejection port. The left side of the slide has some faint streaks. 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. The reset is very short. 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, serial matching box, and paperwork including the manual.
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 has been customized by Craig Wetstein at Auto Shop. Craig is best known for his stint at Pachmayr Custom Shop from 1976-1980 where he was a 1911 gunsmith building custom guns including Combat Specials. The Auto Shop in Culver City was open from 1980-86 and his output was quite low, making this a rare and beautiful piece. Auto Shop guns were very well done and this pistol is proof of that. It has been finished with a beautiful blue and chrome contrast with great mechanics and a crisp trigger with a super short reset. If you’ve got an affinity for 1911 pistols, don’t sleep on this one! Please see our photos and good luck!
-Greenfield
