Custom Colt MK IV Series ’70 Government .45 ACP 5″ Barsto 1911 Pistol 1980

SOLD FOR: $1325

LSB#: 220204MI001

Make: Colt

Model: Custom Mark IV Series ‘70, Government Model 1911

Serial#: 66177B70

Year of Manufacture: 1980 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber/Gauge: .45 ACP

Action Type: Semi-Automatic Single Action Pistol with Detachable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S MK IV/SERIES ‘70 / GOVERNMENT MODEL / .45 AUTOMATIC CALIBER”, and features an adjacent Rampant Colt logo. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT’S GOVERNMENT MODEL”. The right side of the frame is marked “COLT PT.F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.” and features the serial number “66177B70”.  The left side of the trigger guard is marked with a  light “VP” proof while the right side is marked with a marking too light to distinguish. The top of the chamber is marked “BAR STO 45 ACP”. The rear sight is marked “Wichita”.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a Patridge-style blade dovetailed into the slide parallel to the bore. The rear sight is a serrated square notch Wichita sight with radiused corners. It is adjustable for windage and elevation and dovetailed into the slide. The rear sight has barely perceptible movement in the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered wood with gold-colored Colt medallions. There are some scattered light handling marks and a few tiny nicks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is mostly sharp. Overall the grips are in about Fine Plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blued Slide with Hard Chrome Frame

Finish Originality: Original to Customization

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no in the bore.

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 96% of its finish. The rear sight has barely perceptible movement in the slide. There is some thinning and finish loss on the leading edges of the slide. There are some light hairline scratches and little nicks on the slide, mostly at the front. There are some scattered light handling marks and there is light operational wear. There are some scattered light handling marks. The main markings are clear. The grip screws are lightly worn. Overall this pistol is in Fine condition as custom.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, it may need a thorough cleaning to meet your maintenance standards.

Box Paperwork and Accessories: Included are two 7-round magazines and an extra slide. The slide has the same markings as the installed slide but comes with a Wilson barrel marked “WILSON 45 ACP” on the chamber. The barrel is 5 3/4″ and is installed with a single port compensator. The barrel does not have a link or link pin included. There is no recoil spring, spring guide, or spring plug. The slide does not come with an extractor, firing pin, firing pin spring, or firing pin plate. The front sight is a blade fixed to the compensator and the rear sight is a square notch sight dovetailed and screw set to the slide. The slide has some scattered light handling marks. There are some touch ups where the factory front sight was removed. The barrel has a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. The slide unit rates in Fine condition as custom.

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 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. Due to its popularity and long life, the 1911 has also been a popular choice for custom pistols, with a wide variety of sights, barrels, parts, and popular modifications. This one was sent off for some custom work, there is no signature or markings to indicate who did the work, but the pistol is well done. It has a nice new set of sights including a Wichita Arms rear target sight, flat-topped slide, squared and checkered trigger guard, Barsto barrel, and a new duo-tone finish. This is a sharp looking pistol that will be a ton of fun to shoot and even comes with an extra slide and barrel. Please see our photos and good luck!