My 1972 Colt Government Model
Colt made the Series 70 Government Model from 1970 to 1983
Colt made the Series 70 Government Model from 1970 to 1983
Greg | 02 October 2020
After selling one of the "safe queens" that I knew we would never fire, I bought this gun to give to my son-in-law. It can be used for home and self defense, fired moderately and likely still hold its value.
The 1911 is popular among the general public in the U.S. for practical and recreational purposes. The pistol is commonly used for concealed carry thanks in part to a single-stack magazine (which makes for a thinner pistol that is, therefore, easier to conceal), personal defense, target shooting, and competition as well as collections.
There are no fasteners of any type in the 1911 design, excepting the grip screws. The main components of the gun are held in place by the force of the main spring. The pistol can be "field stripped" by partially retracting the slide, removing the slide stop, and subsequently removing the barrel bushing.
We didn't do this in AIT at Ft. Lee, Virginia, but at my permanent duty station at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, I attended several training schools as a Unit Armorer and in one class we had to disassemble and reassemble a 1911 while blind-folded in less than two minutes.
Specifications
- Cartridge: .45 ACP
- Other cartridge chamberings include .22 Long Rifle, .38 Super, 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto, .400 Corbon, .50 GI, .455 Webley, 9×23mm Winchester, .357 SIG and more. The most popular alternative versions are 9×19mm Parabellum, .38 Super and 10mm Auto.
- Barrel: 5 in (127 mm) Government, 4.25 in (108 mm) Commander, and the 3.5 in (89 mm) Officer's ACP. Some modern "carry" guns have significantly shorter barrels and frames, while others use standard frames and extended slides with 6 in (152 mm) barrels
- Rate of twist: 1:16. This means 16 inches (406 mm) of barrel traveled per rotation, or 1:35.5 calibers (.45 ACP)
- Operation: Recoil-operated, closed breech, single action, semi-automatic
- Weight (unloaded): 2 lb 7 oz (1.1 kg) (government model)
- Height: 5.25 in (133 mm)
- Length: 8.25 in (210 mm)
- Capacity: 7+1 rounds (7 in standard-capacity magazine +1 in firing chamber); 8+1 in aftermarket standard-size magazine; 10+1 in extended and high capacity magazines.[94] Guns chambered in .38 Super and 9 mm have a 9+1 capacity. Some manufacturers, such as Armscor, Para Ordnance, Strayer Voigt Inc and STI International Inc, offer 1911-style pistols using double-stacked magazines with significantly larger capacities (typically 14 rounds). Colt makes their own 8–round magazines which they include with their Series 80 XSE models.
- Safeties: A grip safety, sear disconnect, slide stop, a half cock position, and manual safety (located on the left rear of the frame) are on all standard M1911A1s. Several companies have developed a firing pin block. Colt's 80 series uses a trigger operated one and several other manufacturers (such as Smith & Wesson) use one operated by the grip safety.
This gun was made in 1972. I have ordered a Colt Letter. The serial number appears to be 1972 from the tables and from the Colt Database Search Tool, however, note 1971 in red marker on the box.
Photo Gallery
Series 70 Government Model Detail Photos
Click any photograph to open the larger image file. These photos are gathered into one collector gallery, including the former top-of-article images and the 1971 red marker note on the box.
About Greg Cook
Greg Cook writes about firearms collecting, personal history, and the stories behind interesting guns. His Army MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and he brings that practical background to his collector articles.