Colt 1911 production date using serial number

booyhill · July 28, 2011, 07:35 PM

This is my first post and great to have other shooters with knowledge to answer some tuff questions. This is my first Colt, it is a Gold Cup National Match MK/IV / Series 70 serial #70N23060. I would like to know what year this particular model was produced and what to expect from it (problem wise)
if any. It is just as it came from the factory, with the exception of being shoot, Lord knows how many times! Gun is clean and I would rate it at 90%
when I get it cleaned up, and I am very anul about my weapons. I have about $800.00 in it counting transfer fees and a box of MagTec 230 grn FMJ.

Thanks in advance.

gyvel · July 28, 2011, 08:14 PM

According to R. L. Wilson's little handbook, your gun was made in 1975.

James K · July 29, 2011, 11:20 AM

Since it is a Gold Cup, reliability is probably not a factor, but if the gun will be used other than on the range, and it still has the 70 Series collet bushing, I suggest replacing it with a standard bushing.

Jim

RJay · July 31, 2011, 06:35 PM

IIRC Gold Cups come with 12 lb recoil springs, you should make sure you have at least a 16 lb spring installed, I hae a 18 lb spring in my own for hard ball.

RickB · August 5, 2011, 12:09 PM

If it's been shot a lot and the collet bushing is intact, it's probably going to stay intact. The issue appears to have been slight errors in machining on some guns that resulted in stressing and breaking the bushing, so the problem isn't the bushing per se, but how your gun treats its bushing.
I'd be more concerned with the rear sight. The Elliason has a reputation for breaking various parts, most often the roll pin that goes through the slide at the front of the sight. Some have reported good results from replacing the roll pin with a solid one, but others have had problems with the harder pin then wearing the hole in the slide. Compressing a sliver of shok-buff under the sight body, so the sight isn't bouncing off the stops with each shot, should help it last. I had a Series 80 Gold Cup slide on a gun, and within a few hundred rounds all the pins and adjustment detents broke. I had it loctited in place. If your gun has been shot a lot, and the sight is still stuck on and adjusts properly, then someone may have done some preventive maintenance already. If the gun has seen a diet of softball loads, that would have made the sight's life easier.

harleyboy · September 3, 2011, 01:57 PM

@gyvel:
can you please check the Serial-Number 70N0255# ?
Thanks in advance.

RJay · September 3, 2011, 04:39 PM

Colt finished 1971 with serial number 70N2001 and finished year 1972 with serial number 70N06201. Yours was made after they turned off the lights in 1971 and before the end of 1972.

harleyboy · September 3, 2011, 05:44 PM

thank you very much, for this fast reply!!
and thanks for your help!

it's nice to hear when it was build - one year later then me
and the GCNM has the better condition as myself

RJay · September 3, 2011, 07:14 PM

You're welcome, it is nice to have someone come back and say thank you.

harleyboy · September 4, 2011, 01:39 PM

no problem

i bought the GCNM several years ago,
it was a unused till i get it - i only shot one time
for ordinary shooting i take a normal springfield 1911
the GCNM is in my display case

thefresh2o · November 13, 2011, 11:22 PM

Hi,
Long time listener, first time caller...
I have just bought a nice Series 70 Gold Cup, 70N89648. Can you please tell me the DOB for this fine bit of machinery?
Thanks

Dfariswheel · November 14, 2011, 07:27 PM

70N89648 was made in 1980.
The numbers started that year at 70N80735. 1981 started at 70N92647

thefresh2o · November 15, 2011, 05:09 AM

Thank you very much.
Good to know.

July 28, 2011, 07:35 PM	#1
booyhill Junior Member Join Date: September 12, 2010 Posts: 1	Colt 1911 production date using serial number This is my first post and great to have other shooters with knowledge to answer some tuff questions. This is my first Colt, it is a Gold Cup National Match MK/IV / Series 70 serial #70N23060. I would like to know what year this particular model was produced and what to expect from it (problem wise) if any. It is just as it came from the factory, with the exception of being shoot, Lord knows how many times! Gun is clean and I would rate it at 90% when I get it cleaned up, and I am very anul about my weapons. I have about $800.00 in it counting transfer fees and a box of MagTec 230 grn FMJ. Thanks in advance.

September 3, 2011, 07:14 PM	#9
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	You're welcome, it is nice to have someone come back and say thank you. __________________ Ron James

November 13, 2011, 11:22 PM	#11
thefresh2o Junior Member Join Date: July 21, 2010 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 5	DOB - Gold Cup Hi, Long time listener, first time caller... I have just bought a nice Series 70 Gold Cup, 70N89648. Can you please tell me the DOB for this fine bit of machinery? Thanks

July 28, 2011, 08:14 PM	#2
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	According to R. L. Wilson's little handbook, your gun was made in 1975.

July 29, 2011, 11:20 AM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Since it is a Gold Cup, reliability is probably not a factor, but if the gun will be used other than on the range, and it still has the 70 Series collet bushing, I suggest replacing it with a standard bushing. Jim

July 31, 2011, 06:35 PM	#4
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	IIRC Gold Cups come with 12 lb recoil springs, you should make sure you have at least a 16 lb spring installed, I hae a 18 lb spring in my own for hard ball.

August 5, 2011, 12:09 PM	#5
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	If it's been shot a lot and the collet bushing is intact, it's probably going to stay intact. The issue appears to have been slight errors in machining on some guns that resulted in stressing and breaking the bushing, so the problem isn't the bushing per se, but how your gun treats its bushing. I'd be more concerned with the rear sight. The Elliason has a reputation for breaking various parts, most often the roll pin that goes through the slide at the front of the sight. Some have reported good results from replacing the roll pin with a solid one, but others have had problems with the harder pin then wearing the hole in the slide. Compressing a sliver of shok-buff under the sight body, so the sight isn't bouncing off the stops with each shot, should help it last. I had a Series 80 Gold Cup slide on a gun, and within a few hundred rounds all the pins and adjustment detents broke. I had it loctited in place. If your gun has been shot a lot, and the sight is still stuck on and adjusts properly, then someone may have done some preventive maintenance already. If the gun has seen a diet of softball loads, that would have made the sight's life easier.

September 3, 2011, 01:57 PM	#6
harleyboy Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Posts: 3	@gyvel: can you please check the Serial-Number 70N0255# ? Thanks in advance.

September 3, 2011, 04:39 PM	#7
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Colt finished 1971 with serial number 70N2001 and finished year 1972 with serial number 70N06201. Yours was made after they turned off the lights in 1971 and before the end of 1972. __________________ Ron James

September 3, 2011, 05:44 PM	#8
harleyboy Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Posts: 3	thank you very much, for this fast reply!! and thanks for your help! it's nice to hear when it was build - one year later then me and the GCNM has the better condition as myself

September 4, 2011, 01:39 PM	#10
harleyboy Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Posts: 3	no problem i bought the GCNM several years ago, it was a unused till i get it - i only shot one time for ordinary shooting i take a normal springfield 1911 the GCNM is in my display case

November 14, 2011, 07:27 PM	#12
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	70N89648 was made in 1980. The numbers started that year at 70N80735. 1981 started at 70N92647

November 15, 2011, 05:09 AM	#13
thefresh2o Junior Member Join Date: July 21, 2010 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 5	Thank you very much. Good to know.