Series 80 on the way.

[swoter]

New to me series 80, that I bought online. Here’s a couple of pics that the original gun shop put online.

 

[1KPerDay]

Nice. Classic.

 

[357smallbore]

Love 70 and 80 series Colts.
Especially Combat Commander size

 

[JeffG]

'70s and '80s series were beauties.

 

[Reinz]

Looks good!

Enjoy

 

[Dan-O]

Love me a 1911 with an arched mainspring housing.

 

[vanfunk]

Everyone should have a classic Colt Government Model in .45. Everyone. Enjoy!

 

[bannockburn]

vanfunk

Everyone should have a classic Colt Government Model in .45. Everyone. Enjoy!

I whole heartily second the motion!

 

[bannockburn]

And now for something sort of different...a Colt Lightweight Government!!!

 

[doubleh]

Love me a 1911 with an arched mainspring housing.

And I hate them. That is the one thing I don't like about 1911's but there are plenty without it plus it's an easy change. Different sized and shaped hands makes for different likes.

 

[trackskippy]

The arched vs flat MSH and the short and long triggers that go with them is kind of a wonderment. The government went to the arched, and short trigger with the A1's because the guns pointed/presented better, which for me they always have, that was that up until the games people seem to have taken over and insisted otherwise, which I never really understood.

Maybe its just because the A1 grip configuration makes the 1911 and the Glocks pretty much on an even keel as far as portability goes, and it just irks them.

What sucks these days is, trying to find the steel parts to replace them (Colt going to plastic for the MSHs and triggers just added insult to injury ). Back in the 80's and 90's it wasn't as much of a big deal, as so many were going the other direction that the parts were readily available due to being swapped out. Now, unless you want to pay a premium for the older parts (and boy are you going to pay!), most of the new stuff is new made, and a lot of them are not the greatest.

Add to that, no one seems to see the value in the lanyard loops anymore, and that just adds another level of annoyance if you want them.

 

[bannockburn]

doubleh

And I hate them. That is the one thing I don't like about 1911's but there are plenty without it plus it's an easy change. Different sized and shaped hands makes for different likes.

While I don't actually hate them I have found that the flat mainspring housing fits my hand the best. The one that feels the worse is the Bobcat style of mainspring housing/grip frame configuration. Feels like it's trying to dig a hole in the middle of my hand with every shot I take.

First things I did to my Colt Combat Commander were replace the factory walnut grips with a pair of Pachmayrs (with the front rubber strap removed), swap out the mainspring housing with a flat rubberized one, and switch the factory magazine with a Pachmayr magazine. I seem to recall all these Pachmayr parts came altogether in one DIY conversion kit.

 

[halfmoonclip]

doubleh


While I don't actually hate them I have found that the flat mainspring housing fits my hand the best. The one that feels the worse is the Bobcat style of mainspring housing/grip frame configuration. Feels like it's trying to dig a hole in the middle of my hand with every shot I take.

First things I did to my Colt Combat Commander were replace the factory walnut grips with a pair of Pachmayrs (with the front rubber strap removed), swap out the mainspring housing with a flat rubberized one, and switch the factory magazine with a Pachmayr magazine. I seem to recall all these Pachmayr parts came altogether in one DIY conversion kit.

I'm not generally a fan of the Pacyderm rubber grips, but those look great, especially with the rubber finished MSH.
Never had much issue finding flat, knurled MSHs, but haven't had to look for one lately. Despite their natural lubricity, the poly MSHs are just against the laws of nature.
Moon

 

[swoter]

I had a pair of those on my 70 series Colt, but didn’t really like them. Replaced with walnut a long time ago.

 

[nettlle]

Colt's are nice. Although I have other 1911's that cost more Colt's run well and are accurate. If you don't own a 1911 Colt you are missing something.

 

[nettlle]

Deleted. Double post.

 

[doubleh]

The reason for my dislike for an arched mainspring housing on a 1911 is that it doesn't fit my hand. The same is responsible for me owning no glocks. I also use Hogue rubber grips with finger grooves on my 1911's. It makes it extremely easy to attain the same grip every time I shoot one. There is also the comfort factor. I have attained the age where most of the fat padding in my hands has disappeared making recoil felt more. Most all my centerfire handguns wear either Hogue or Pachmyer rubber now. They may not nearly equal the looks of wood but they certainly make shooting more pleasant in my case. Even some of my 22 LR guns wear rubber grips just for the same grip every time feature.

 

[swoter]

Picked it up today, it’s in better condition than was advertised. Serial dates it to 1983, and still has the collet bushing. At some point someone did stick a stainless guide rod in it.

 

[Rock185]

swoter, I had an early S80 like yours. It was a very nice pistol in all respects. My early S80 like yours, had the collet bushing, small GI type sights and high cut ejection port like the S70 and earlier models. It appears the grips and front sight have been replaced on yours. With the taller front sight, and what appears to be a factory rear sight, you may find your gun shoots low on the target.

I attached an old Shooting Times that has an article on the then new S80, and shows the original grips and sights. Enjoy that Colt. Those were good ones..