Colt Government Mk. IV Series 70 (1970–1983)
Greg | 31 December 2023
Taylor and Zack are showing off their skill with the Government Model .45 at the range. Zack's first 5 at center mass and Taylor's first 5 at the head using the 1974 gun, which is more than a dozen years older than either of them. On our last visit to the indoor gun range, we put the Series 70 up against the Series 80 Gold Cup National Match. The contest was so close over-all that I thought it resulted in a toss-up. I'm pretty sure Zack preferred the Government Model because the first time he fired it, all five shots were touching the red dot at center mass.
Key Features
Technical specifications of the Colt Government Model 1911:
- Cartridge: .45 ACP
- Barrel: 5 in.
- Rate of twist: 1:16.
- Operation: Recoil-operated, closed breech, single action, semi-automatic
- Weight (unloaded): 2 lb 7 oz.
- Height: 5.25 in.
- Length: 8.25 in.
- Capacity: 7+1 rounds
- Safeties: A grip safety, sear disconnect, slide stop, a half cock position, and manual safety
When it goes to the gun range, it wears the original wood stocks, but when we return home and after a really good cleaning, the Elephant Ivory with U.S. Treasury Department insignias that were special made for me by Nutmeg Sports back in 2005 go right back on.
This gun is my third most carried gun. The 70 Series Government Model is not picky about what ammo I feed it. In all these years I can't recall ever having a misfire or jam with it. If you are a fan of the .45 ACP cartridge or the Model 1911 pistol, you should have at least one example of the Colt Series 70 in your collection.
Despite being challenged by newer and lighter weight pistol designs in .45 caliber, such as the Glock 21, the SIG Sauer P220, the Springfield XD and the Heckler & Koch USP, the M1911 shows no signs of decreasing popularity and continues to be widely present in various competitive matches such as those of USPSA, IDPA, IPSC, and Bullseye. Many of the shooters I talk to, prefer the Series 70 over the Series 80.
Colt Archive Letter
The Colt 1911 .45 ACP
Whether you own a Series 70 or 80 Colt or both, a trip to the gun range is costly nowadays due to the high cost of .45 ACP ammunition.
Even today, a proper M1911 pistol Government Model feels substantial in the hand in a way many modern pistols do not. The balance, the trigger, the slow mechanical confidence of the design all contribute to an experience that remains uniquely satisfying more than a century after its introduction.
Collectors continue to chase original examples not simply because of rarity or value, but because these pistols represent a period when American craftsmanship, military history, and mechanical elegance intersected in a way that still resonates today. The platform survives not because it is the newest design, but because it continues to evolve while preserving the character that made shooters admire it in the first place.
From classic Government Models to Gold Cups, carry variants, and modern hybrids, the story of the 1911 is ultimately a story of enduring design — one that still feels alive every time the slide goes forward.
Greg Cook
Greg Cook writes about firearms collecting, personal history, and the stories behind interesting guns. His Army MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and he brings that practical background to his collector articles.