a new to me Colt MarkIV / 70

July 06, 2007 16:29

My first post!
So i'm at my dad's house yesterday and he lays this Colt on me. He's had the same model for years (20 years with the local Sheriff's Dept), and found this one cheap and decided I should have it

I've already torn it down for a cleaning, but as you can see it is pretty beat up.

Anyone want to guess what finish this baby once had? I'm thinking of taking it to my local guru and see if it can be spruced up a bit.
Also, since i'm a lefty I would like to get anything ambidextrous I can (i think only mag release and safety are available), then maybe some new grips....

Anyhow, i'm happy to be aboard the forum.

here are the pics, links above the pics are for full size images.
http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt1.jpg

http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt2.jpg

http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt3.jpg

http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt4.jpg

http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt5.jpg

http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt6.jpg

http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt7.jpg

http://www.rusmannx.com/postit/colt45/before/colt8.jpg

Comments

12 comments

SuburbanNoize

July 06, 2007 18:44
very nice, id say get some rebuild parts, and make it new again, and since no one has said welcome let me be the first! Welcome. as to the finish i have no idea. sorry.
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tomahawk

July 06, 2007 19:04
welcome outer ring, love them .45's[;)]
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select-fire

July 06, 2007 19:13
Did you thank him?
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Doc

July 06, 2007 19:25
Welcome aboard.

If it were me, I would leave that gun exactly as it was when my dad gave it to me. Well, I would clean it up and maybe replace the stocks. Refinishing won't make it shoot any better and will not be economically justifiable since you spend money to reduce the value of the gun.

Here's one of my Series '70 guns that I bought new in 1973. In 1975 I added the S&W sights and the ivory stocks. Mine is nearly as worn as yours and I like it that way. Shows character and actual use.
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William81

July 06, 2007 19:30
Welcome aboard....nothing like a good old Series 70 Colt. Here is my favorite one.
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Colt Super

July 06, 2007 22:18
Welcome.

Nice 1911A1.

If the situation was mine, I would not refinish it, out of respect for your Dad.

Doug
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OutterRing

July 06, 2007 22:46
quote:Refinishing won't make it shoot any better and will not be economically justifiable since you spend money to reduce the value of the gun.
why would refinishing reduce it's value? my old man told me it would be worth more in worn out condition that it would be all polished up or refinished (blued), but I didn't understand why.
Also, i've talked to my guru and he's going to detail the innards for me. it'll take him 100 days (he can't help but be overly meticulous), but I don't care.
I think I will keep it worn looking. The same guru told me he can make me a leather holster that looks like it's been around for 30 years. I think that would complete the motif.
I might just suffer with the right-handedness of it. Maybe I don't want to mess with any of it's cosmetics and functions.

Thanks guys.
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spurgemastur

July 06, 2007 22:54
quote:Originally posted by OutterRing
quote:Refinishing won't make it shoot any better and will not be economically justifiable since you spend money to reduce the value of the gun.
why would refinishing reduce it's value? my old man told me it would be worth more in worn out condition that it would be all polished up or refinished (blued), but I didn't understand why.
Also, i've talked to my guru and he's going to detail the innards for me. it'll take him 100 days (he can't help but be overly meticulous), but I don't care.
I think I will keep it worn looking. The same guru told me he can make me a leather holster that looks like it's been around for 30 years. I think that would complete the motif.
I might just suffer with the right-handedness of it. Maybe I don't want to mess with any of it's cosmetics and functions.

Thanks guys.

Like many collectibles, firearms are more valuable in bad original condition than in good refinished condition. The reason is that collectors believe or know this to be true and so are willing to pay a premium for a beaten up "all original" piece but consider a shiny "restored piece," to have been meanieized. I'll probably get shot to hell for saying this, but I think it's truer of Colt collectors than anybody else in the gun world.

(Edit: lol. "meanieized." No, that's not what I typed. The word I typed adds "ized" to the epithet commonly given to a person born out of wedlock. Did not see that one coming! I love the autocensor.)

I have a friend who considers fire-arms to be machines that should be loved and respected. As such, he makes a hobby out of buying and restoring old .22 rifles. To him, the beauty of the thing lies in making, maintaining and restoring a fine piece of machinery so that it functions as well (or better) than it did on the day it left the factory. He is definitely in the minority when it comes to fire-arms enthusiasts.
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COLT

July 06, 2007 23:45
...Re-finish WIll decrease the value, period. The vasy majority of Colt fanatics, are picky..and don't wnat them in any condition but ORIGINAL, including the finish.

...Most feel that the worn bluing, light scratches, dings, are part of the hitory of the All American Gun that is the Father of all semi's, and should remain. The Colt 1911 is the MOST copied of all semi's, EVER. People buy clones, mostly because their cheaper, but you couldn't prove that by me with the price of a Kimber...but give me a Colt anyday.

...Most of the "urban legends" about a Colt needs to be worked on and tweeked right out of the box is BS. Most of that got started by people that are not willing to spend the money on a Colt. WHY, do you think Colt is the most copied gun in the world? It aint because it's a POS! Think about it..

You did good! If you want to put it back bone stock, and 100% as it left the factory, look up Doug Turnbull, he is the retoration "MAN", none better. Of course it may cost you the price of what a new truck would cost, but no one would ever know it had been re-done, he is taht good,a master. Kidding about the cost, but be prepared.

...Hell, I'd just get it re-blued by someone good, change a few internals out, reduced main sprng, fire pin spring, recoil spring, sear spring, sear and a few other parts and make it 110% reliable and it would look fine, then shoot the hell out of it...[;)]

a couple of mine...
Delta Elite 10mm 1st year production 87

Combat Commander Series 70 wearing ivory
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Doc

July 07, 2007 04:46
The value of a gun is largely based on how much original finish it has remaining. You will see things like "80% finish" in ads and that means about 80% of the original finish remains. If you reblue a gun it has zero original refinish remaining.

So, take a well-worn revolver that cost you $200. A nice example of the same gun that doesn't need refinishing can be had for $300. You spend $200 having it reblued. It is now worth $175 because that's what folks will pay for a reblued gun. You have $400 invested in a $175 gun when you could have just bought a $300 gun that was nice and saved $100.

In most cases refinishing doesn't make sense. IMO only when it's important to you to have the shiny looking gun and you don't care that you are losing money by doing it or when the gun is such bad shape that it's in danger of being severely damaged by corrosion if not refinished.

Your Colt has enough wear to look like a gun that has actually been used. I would leave it as this is the gun your dad gave you, not a shiny, new looking one. If you want a shiny new looking gun go buy your own.
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bobski

July 07, 2007 09:37
dont ruin the gun. keep it just the way it is! the wear tells a story to its lifetime of use.
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fishkiller41

July 07, 2007 10:26
quote:Originally posted by SaxonPig
Welcome aboard.

If it were me, I would leave that gun exactly as it was when my dad gave it to me. Well, I would clean it up and maybe replace the stocks. Refinishing won't make it shoot any better and will not be economically justifiable since you spend money to reduce the value of the gun.

Here's one of my Series '70 guns that I bought new in 1973. In 1975 I added the S&W sights and the ivory stocks. Mine is nearly as worn as yours and I like it that way. Shows character and actual use.

+1 My sentiments exactly..Sweet piece, and welcome to our nightmare..[^]

Jeff
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a new to me Colt MarkIV / 70

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