Custom Colt MK IV Series ’80 Government Model .45 ACP 5″ Semi-Auto 1983

SOLD FOR: $1690

LSB#: 220123PS016

Make: Colt

Model: Custom Government Model Series 80

Serial Number: FG02326

Year of Manufacture: 1983 (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 “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 “L”. The barrel bushing is marked with the Kings Custom logo.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: Custom sights have been installed on the slide. The front sight is a serrated ramped blade with a yellow insert, it is fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch sight with a serrated rear face, it is dovetailed into a raised base that has been added to the slide. There is a slight gap between the slide and the rear sight dovetail and it is loose and has some play to the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is a Pachmayr checkered black rubber wraparound grip. The checkering is mostly strong but there are a few light handling marks. Overall, the grip is in Fine-plus condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

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

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 93% of its metal finish. The rear sight is loose in the slide. There is some touched up finish surrounding the front sight form when it was installed on the slide. The frame has been modified and has had an extended beveled magazine well installed. An extended slide stop has been installed. The ejection port has been chamfered. There is thinning and finish loss on the edges. There are some scattered little faint hairline scratches. There is some finish loss on the sides of the slide at the front. There are some spots of oxidation on the sides of the extended magazine well. There is some thinning on the There are some scattered light handling marks. The screw heads are undamaged. 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, 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 new rear sight just needs to be tightened and this will make for a fine SIngle Stack division or Bowling Pin shooting pistol.  Please see our photos and good luck!