Colt MK IV Series 80 Officer’s ACP Stainless 1911 45 Semi-Auto Pistol, 1994
Sold For: $1,225
LSB#: 200820CP03
Make: Colt
Model: MK IV Series 80 Officer’s ACP Stainless, Enhanced
Serial Number: SF08752E
Year of Manufacture: 1994 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action, Semi-Auto, Detachable Magazine Fed Pistol
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT MK IV / -SERIES 80-” with the Rampant Colt logo. The right side of the slide is marked “OFFICER’S ACP”. The right side of the frame is marked with “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.” and the serial number. The left trigger guard bow has an incomplete inspection mark and the verified Proof. The right trigger guard bow has a “J”. The top of the barrel is marked “-COLT 45 AUTO-“.
Barrel Length: 3 1/2?
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade with a single tritium lamp, fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch with two tritium lamps dovetailed to the rear of the slide. The lamps have dimmed almost entirely, but are still useable as a three-dot sight system in normal light.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips have only light handling marks. The checkering is smooth by design. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine-Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Stainless Steel
Finish Originality: We suspect that the frame has been refinished. We have not seen another model with frontstrap checkering and the matte finish of the rounds is different than that on the slide.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This gun retains about 95% of its metal finish. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable in the slide flats. The action has light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to very lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good-Fine condition as partially refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The slide to frame fit shows little play. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single stainless 6-round Colt magazine. The magazine shows minor operational wear with intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Fine-plus condition.
Our Assessment: In the 1970s, the Rock Island Arsenal began production of a shortened 1911 for use as a General Officer’s pistol. These pistols were built only for issue to Generals and were not available to the general public. The idea of a compact 1911 was already around; the Commander had been in production for some time up to that point and gunsmiths had made more compact 1911-style pistols as one-off custom guns. Detonics was one of if not the earliest companies to introduce a production 1911-style pistol smaller even than the Commander, their Combat Master. Colt took some time to react to the popularity of these guns and then introduced the Officer’s ACP in the mid-’80s. This is a later example, produced in 1994 and is in about Very Good-Fine condition with 95% of its finish, a bright bore and strong mechanics. In addition to being a stainless gun, it is also an Enhanced model with beavertail grip safety, extended slide release, skeletonized hammer, and has been customized with frontstrap checkering and thin wood grips. With its shorter barrel and frame, this pistol brings more concealability to the classic 1911 design and with its 6-round magazine, it doesn’t even compromise too much on capacity vs. a full size. As great of a carry gun as this is, it’s also a Colt and collectors may be interested in adding this one to their stable. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS): This Pistol CANNOT be sold as a dealer sale in California but CAN be transferred as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley location. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.
