Can you guys tell me about this Colt MK IV Series 80 1911 45 ACP?

[CountGlockula]

I'm looking into purchasing it but have no idea on it's history, value, manufacture date, etc. and Colt's website doesn't help...can't even find it there.

Here's a sample picture:


Thanks for your help.

 

[Oro]

You won't find it on Colt's website as it's not a current model. It is, I believe, about 10 to 15 years old.

Seeing a photo of the other side and the sights would help date it better, but I think that's an early or mid '90s "Enhanced" Government Model, it looks entirely stock and not mucked with. Equivalent to the current XSE line which are like that but with some minor feature differences. If you call Colt and give them the serial number they can tell you the date quickly - there's no public/internet records of the Government Model s/n's I know of past the end of the Series '70 production years (1983 or so). The current equivalent is the O1980XSE, which Impact Guns advertises for $920 (before shipping and transfer).:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/098289041395.html

A "good" price on it would be maybe $750? Anything below that would be a pretty good deal.

 

[harmonic]

When did Colt start putting the (quasi) beavertail safety and commander hammer on the govt model?

It looks like a Combat Commander to me, and probably, in very, very good to excellent condition would go for maybe $750, give or take.

As far as history, the series 80 has the added firing pin safety device which afficionados swear messes up the trigger pull. I have before and after samples and cannot tell the difference.

 

[Oro]

When did Colt start putting the (quasi) beavertail safety and commander hammer on the govt model?

Some time in the early/mid 90s on the 'Enhanced' model. I think they might have started that way in 1991 when the "1991" series came out, with that name to distinguish them from the entry-level 1991. It is now called the "XSE" series and has been since the late 90s. I think that's an earlier one since it has a standard thumb safety (not extended), arched MSH and no front cocking serrations. All the new "XSE" guns have those featuers. FYI, that IS a "beavertail," It's just not a "high rise" or "upswept" beavertail with the cupped hammer pocket that started to be the rage 10 years or a bit ago.

It looks like a Combat Commander to me, and probably, in very, very good to excellent condition would go for maybe $750

No, I'm pretty sure that's a full size 5". The slide length in front of the dust hood is full size. But we do agree on the price.

the added firing pin safety device which afficionados swear messes up the trigger pull. I have before and after samples and cannot tell the difference.

I completely agree. I avoided 80 Series Colts for years and years, then finally got a Commander made in 2007. It is as good a trigger out of the box as ANY pre-80 I have and better than most of them.

 

[Justice5]

When I saw the picuture you posted CountGlockula, I thought it was my gun in the safe! I just compared it with mine sitting in front of me now, I think I have the same exact gun. Same model and series Colt MK IV series 80, same beaver tail, and same hollowed out hammer. Everything looks the same but I have a slightly different set of grips, wood but have the gold Colt emblem on each side in the center. For what it's worth, this is my favorite and best shooting handgun that I own, and I have mostly glocks and revolvers otherwise. I don't carry this one or use it for competition, just kinda sits around and goes to the range when I want to feel good about my shooting skills! I don't know much about it and I just tried to look up my serial number to get info for you, but I can't seem to find anthing. Mine was given to me by my uncle who passed away, who I didn't know very well. So, I can't tell you about a price on it. All I can say is it shoots very accurate. I never had a malfunction, but a friend of mine shot a magazine or two and had a failure to feed. Probably him and not the gun though.

 

[paul45]

That very nice looking enhanced MKIV would be between '92 and '97, when MKIV production ended.