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series 70, 1911

Taylor46
What is the difference between a series 70 and a series 80 1911 .45 pistol. I have seen the Dan Wesson advertised as series 70. I have a Kimber Gold match, is that a series 80 or 70?
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6 comments

Date Votes
  • Taylor46
    What is the difference between a series 70 and a series 80 1911 .45 pistol. I have seen the Dan Wesson advertised as series 70. I have a Kimber Gold match, is that a series 80 or 70?
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  • woodmaster9
    Since no one has answered you I'll give you what (little) I know- There is some small difference in design in the safety mechanism between the 70 and 80 series. Most all the 1911 lovers prefer the series 70- not necessarily because it's any better but because the series 80 represents a modification to the original 1911 design. (Us gun guys are a picky lot!) I've owned both and both were great guns. Perhaps another member could ellaborate on the specifics.
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  • Laredo Lefty
    The addition of the firing pin safety is what separates the series 70 from the series 80 pistols in the Colt line.

    Kimbers with the firing pin safety are called series II in the model name. Kimber switched to the series II around 2001-2002.

    Joe
    "Never let school interfere with your education"
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  • Taylor46
    Thanks,

    I was looking at advertising for a Dan Wesson and they said that theirs was a Series 70. I was wondering why Colt ever wemt away from the design if it was better?

    Taylor 46
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  • BonJoeV
    quote:Originally posted by Taylor46
    Thanks,

    I was looking at advertising for a Dan Wesson and they said that theirs was a Series 70. I was wondering why Colt ever wemt away from the design if it was better?

    Taylor 46


    Two words... Product Liability.
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  • perry shooter
    Hello in the 1930"s colt put in some pistols a safty called a SWARTZ SAFETY. Colt paid a ROYALTY for each one It worked off of the GRIP SAFTY to move parts to block and unblock the fireing pin it worked great and did not change the trigger pull When Colt started WW 2 production they dropped this modification ARMY DID NOT WANT them and when colt took the on hand CIV. guns they took SWARTZ parts out and restamped the serial. Now comes 1979 and Colt legal decides they need the extra safty back but don't want to pay ROYALTY so they change the design, but it now works off of the trigger instead of grip safty so trigger pull goes to %$#% . This was called a series 80. Kimber and other MANU. don't have a contract with SWARTZ so they use the BETTER Swartz design."PRAISE THE HARDBALL GUN"
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