The SS GCT is there but the blued one is gone.

 

I have one made in 2012 that came with rubber grips and they did not groove the front of the frame. Wonder if it is worth more?

 

Funny! Me too! And...a few more from various years. It's a tack driver.

 

With all the hoopla about how Series 70 triggers are "so much better" than Series 80, I wonder if they dropped the Series 80 in favor of the Series 70 because that seems to be what so many prefer for a "Target" pistol.

That's my guess, which is of course, pretty much worthless.

I've never had a Series 70 1911, but will have my very first in a couple of weeks when I take delivery of a brand new o5870A1 Gold Cup.
At the same time, I have read lots of times that many people can't tell the difference between the two, and if they do, the difference is removed once a simple trigger job is done. So it's hard to tell who and why Colt made the decision to drop the blue Series 80 NM.

 

Back in the day, Colt didn't have the best finishing on their series 80 parts. Hence the horrible trigger feel.

I have a couple series 80 type guns with trigger so nice, you'd never guess they were a series 80.

The new series 70 GCNM has a decent trigger out of the box, but nowheres as nice as the old s70 GCNM.

 

I have no idea why Colt dropped the NM Series 80 but I would guess it just goes along with streamlining the offerings and producing what will sell best. I have a Series 80 NM and a Wiley Clapp Government and the WC Lightweight Commander. The triggers on all three are very good and I can't tell the series 80 parts are there.

 

Bought a Series 80 NM last month and glad I did. Has the nice wood double diamond grips with the gold medallions along with the grooved front strap.

Shoots nice, the rear sight looks to be more sturdy than the Elliason sight, plus the corners are slightly rounded rather than the squared of yore.

Wont carry it but nice to know I could if I wanted to without it digging flesh off me.
The trigger pull had a touch of creep when I tried it out, but a couple of passes with a stone on a jig cleaned it up nicely.

The barrel bushing and firing pin stop were fitted pretty tight for a factory weapon but no wrench or punch is required for disassembly after the initial take down.

The Series 80 parts-levers and plunger were highly polished which I think goes a long way to a nice trigger press.

I know a lot of folks turn up their noses at the Series 80 Colts, but at least in my case, I really cannot tell the difference between it and a stock 70 series, which was a bit more money for fewer parts. The Series 80 Government Model I bought last year was also a good, dependable, accurate pistol right out of the box.

 

WAG's ?

Customers gravitating toward Series 70.
Fewer parts and less machining operations.
Streamlining product lines.

Maybe customers voted with their wallets and the Series 80 lost out once the modern Series 70 pistols became available.

Wouldn't surprise me if Series 80 goes the way of the dodo.
Look how many offerings of today do not have the firing pin safety parts.

Brent can give us the real poop, if he so chooses.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if Series 80 goes the way of the dodo.
Look how many offerings of today do not have the firing pin safety parts.

Brent can give us the real poop, if he so chooses.

I would really hate to see that because I am much more comfortable carrying a Series 80, while the one Series 70 I'll have will be relegated to target shooting only (being a Gold Cup anyway ). .

 

I too cannot tell the difference of my series 80 versus series 70 trigger.

I still prefer series 70 for the less moving parts.

 

Do certain states, such as Cali require a drop safe mechanism in their pistols? If so does that mean no new Series 70 pistols out there?

 

No Series 70 in CA as per roster. There are SOME here,nonetheless,and they
can legally be transferred between individuals. The blued Series 80 GC
is a NON rostered pistol. I am buying one NIB but have a question,does that
pistol have the OLD style WIDE trigger? Have not seen one in person and
can't tell from few pics I have seen. As far as 70/80 trigger pulls,if done right
you can't tell the difference! Pete

 

I own many series 80 pistols including my daily carry a lightweight commander, rail gun and a few others. But when I went to order a new Gold Cup I discovered that they didn't offer a flat top any more and that was a deal breaker for me. Now I have a new series 70 Gold Cup National Match and I'm very happy with it. I do own more series 70 compared to series 80 type colt's but that makes me a happy guy. Good luck

 

They still have the SS Gold Cup Trophy in Series 80.

 

Surely Colt isn't finally listening to their customers?

 

The series 80 Gold Cup I owned from the 1980s had a superb glassy clean breaking trigger. One of the best I ever experienced on a handgun. It was totally stock and factory honed. My new 70s Series repro GCNM has a quite good trigger stock and I would be happy to have it smoothed and lightened to be as good as the 80s series pistols trigger. But, I'm tempted, and after shooting it last weekend, very tempted to shoot 5000 rounds through the gun first and see if that improves the trigger to a degree I wouldn't bother getting a trigger job on it first.

 

its all weather or not you like the safety

 

I do not.

It doesn't keep me from buying a gun I want though.
I would love a new s70 Combat Commander in well pretty much any caliber.

 

I assume the new Series 70 Gold Cups have a Titanium firing pin for drop tests. I know my new Series 70 Gov and Wiley Clapp Commander do.

As for the trigger. Colt introduced the Series 80 system in 1983 so Gold Cups made after that time would have it. The steel trigger was used till 1996 and in 1997 the wide three holed Aluminum trigger was introduced with the Trophy model. Below is a 1996 GCNM Series 80 on top, then a 2010 GCT in the middle, and then the 2012 GCNM "round top" I mentioned. All these came with rubber wrap around grips and I replaced them with stocks I ordered off the Colt website back when you could order them off the colt website.

 

A couple of pictures of mine. It does not have the grooved front strap and in the second picture you can see how the Gold Bead front sight jumps out.

 

My gold cup trophy SS has adjustable trigger. Love it. Changed the grips to wood. Looks better feels better.

Be alert be safe , the light at the end of the tunnel may be mussel flash