Would you buy this Colt 70 Series GM?

[Kestrel]

I found an original Colt 70 series GM that I think was made in the late 70s. It has the small lettering rollmarks. It's in the old electroless nickel/satin nickel finish (which I don't like). It has Pachmayr grips and one Pachmayr mag. No box. It is in MINT condition. Looks to be completely unaltered. The shop wants $750 for it.

I don't like the nickel finish. I might would send it somewhere like Novaks to have it blued and a few small changes (change barrel bushing, sights, throating, etc.), but not much else. Of course, I could leave the original finish on it and still change the bushing, have it throated and have some Kings sights put on it.

Is this a good buy? Any thoughts on the finish?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[wally]

Sounds like the one I bought years ago. If its old enough to still have the solid bushing it might be worth it, but you can buy better guns for that price IMHO if you are not hung up on the Colt logo. If its got the collet bushing I'd pass.

Mine needed work to be reliable with the H&G 68 Hard Cast lead SWC "IPSC" load, but was fine outta the box with ball. I've put many 1000's of rounds thru mine with only one problem - broken extractor. Easily fixed. Other than that I replaced the recoil spring a while back with one of the guide rod deals, its still probably the one gun I shoot the most. The electoless nicke has held up very well indeed on my gun, much more robust than blue, and the gun is "smoother" than either of the newer stainless Colts that I have, so I'd like to see electroless nickle return as an option, but the trend these days is to stainless.

Add the cost of new sights and I think you are definitely better off buying something else.

--wally.

 

[dakotasin]

by the time you get done making the alterations you want, you'd likely be better off w/ something else.

i love colts, especially 70 series, but i think for your purposes, this one rates a 'pass'.

 

[Kestrel]

Needing alterations is not a problem to me. I don't mind having the changes made. I love the old Colts. I have other 1911s, so it's not that I need one already good-to-go. My main concern is the satin nickel finish. I kind of feel that a Colt looks better blued than nickel. But I'm open to any other thoughts.

(Can you tell I'm wanting to be talked into it? )

 

[45Badger]

For that price you can buy a new edition Series 70, or take your pick from a ton of old ones (blue/excellent condition).