[RS2]

Greetings everyone. I am a new member and this is my first post to the forum. I currently have a blue 1980 vintage Series 70 Government Model that I bought used in stock condition back in 1986. Several years ago I added a Wilson trigger, a FLGR (one piece)and an old-style, downturned Wilson beavertail, and had the ejection port lowered. More recently I installed a stainless Wilson hammer (which works beautifully with the original sear), a Wilson extractor and a drop-in Wilson match barrel & bushing and a pair of ebony Hogue stocks.
My questions concern a couple of Colt pistols at my local range/gunshop that I would like to know more about. The one I am most interested in is a 5" .45ACP gov't model that is some sort of Custom Shop limited edition. The left-side slide rollmark says Custom Shop and has an image of the Colt factory dome with a pony on top. It has a solid, long aluminum trigger, a Commander style hammer with an elongated slot, an upturned beavertail grip safety, a fixed Heinie rear sight, beautiful Rosewood (?) stocks and an incredibly smooth and light trigger (almost as nice as my old Series 70). The blue finish is also almost as nice as my old pistol. The only thing that so far has kept it from coming home with me is the $1,600.00 price tag. Your thoughts and comments on what this is and what is worth would be appreciated.
The second gun is a Limited Edition Custom Combat Officer's Model in .45ACP. The slide is stainless, the barrel is 3.5" with a bushing, and the full-size frame is aluminium and appears to be anodized (?) in black. It has a round-hole commander hammer, fixed sights, a flat beavertail grip safety and wraparound rubber grips. It is held out as unfired with box and papers. Price tag is $895.00. Does anyone know anything about this model? I think I would rather find a CCO with the 4.5" barrel and shortened frame for CCW use.
Sorry for the long post, but I would like to hear your thoughts about both of these pistols (I'm more inclined towards the custom government model, price notwithstanding).

 

[JoeMc]

If I were to buy a $1600 gun, I would have to go for a Wilson, Les Baer TRS, or Rock River. I think the Custom shop guns were just special order series guns fo large distributors like Lew Horton.

 

[Str8_Shot]

RS2

I think I will agree with JoeMC, for $1600 I will go with the pistols Joe has named, particularly if you want this pistol to shoot. The pistol you mentioned certainly sounds like a comemorative pistol and may be worth its price to a collector, but shoot it once and its value will drop like a rock.

As Joe mentioned, the Colt Custom Shop seems to have produced a lot of special order items for distributors and larger customers. I know I have come across a lot of supposedly "Custom Shop" pistols that were just enhanced models. I chock this last statement up to dealers that did not know the vintage of what the had, since at one time the Colt Custom Shop was a true custom shop that would do special order work for anyone.

Str8_Shot

 

[db4]

From your descriptions, it sounds like $1600 would buy you a pistol...almost as nice as your series 70.

My pet colt is a 70 Commander lightweight with a hardchromed frame, lowmount Bomars, and the usual bells and whistles and I wouldn't trade it for a new one.

 

[RS2]

Thanks gentlemen. I needed some encouragement NOT to buy that Colt. It's a beauty, but I just couldn't imagine that it was the best use of $1,600.00. I think that at that price level I'd be better off looking into getting a Wilson. I might just get a new Commander (with the new rollmarks) and have it modestly tuned up for CCW use. That will still cost only a fraction of that Custom Shop pistol.
Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone!
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[col132]

You could have a couple of nice guns for $2500. I'd definitely pass on the first one. Second one sounds interesting, but I'd have to check further into it.

 

[RS2]

Thanks Col132 for joining in the unanimous advice not to buy the custom GM. I was checking the prices and features of some Les Baer models, which would provide more feature at a lower price. The limited edition Officer's model would probably make a pretty nice carry gun. I'll see if I can get the model number or any other information about it at the gun shop. It's been sitting there for a few weeks, so for some reason it's not being snapped up like the two Defenders that have come and gone recently.
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[This message has been edited by RS2 (edited 11-23-2001).]

 

[The artis formaly Redzone]

To my knowledge Colt never made such an Officer model as you mention. The finish is the suspect. And the other is probably a S80 in a late custom shop variation. Which would be good but would need to be confirmed. To sell to this buyer.

 

[RS2]

Redzone, I just got back from a visit to the range with my 12 year old son. The Officer's model is still sitting there, but they were too busy to spend much time chatting today. I know from previous inspections of it that it is definitely a S80 version - I could see the FP safety parts on the underside of the slide. It is labeled as a Limited or Special edition from the Custom Shop, but I have never seen or heard of one like it before. I am contemplating it as a more interesting alternative to the Kimber Compact I was also eyeballing. Thanks for you input.
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[The artis formaly Redzone]

I have'nt heard of a Colt STS being annodized. It very well could be I hear things daily here I never knew. $895 is steep on an Officer S80. So give Colt a call to see about a free answer on the finish. Because $900 can get you a nib STS Trophy Match or M1911A1 repro. Either will hold its value and increase better than an S80 Officer. Unless its an XS which was a short lived gun increasing in value already. And the only close alternative to the XS is the compact M1991A1. With the build quality but lacking the features. And also half the price you mention. Just wanting you to get a good one.

 

[RS2]

I just returned from another visit to the range - put 250 rounds through my S70. I got a chance to look at the box for the Limited Edition Combat Officer's Model. It showed a model number of 09846CO and a serial number of FL068xx (why do we use x's for the last digits?) It does have a 3.5" barrel and I am certain that the frame is aluminum. Anyone know anything more based on the model number? What about its age?
Thanks for your help. RSS