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70 series Colt question

budreaux39budreaux39 Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
edited March 2002 in Ask the Experts
Bought a Colt Combat Commander. Thought it was stainless untill I checked the book and can't find ss, only nickle. Serial # starts 70SCxxxx. Any help to know for sure?Thanks,budreaux39
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Comments

  • azgunnut2@yahoo.comazgunnut2@yahoo.com Member Posts: 305 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    most likley not stainless , any good "smith"can tell you with one look...could be a britenickle or satin nickle (factory) or an after market type finish...of course you can write colt and ask , if you are willing to waite for an answer...if its a true "70s" series gun , dont think they came in "stainless" if my foggy mind is working tonite????????
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  • budreaux39budreaux39 Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks az, I bought the gun w/o looking at it real close as the price was right for me, and after getting home with it, as always, I started doing a little research and found no mention of ss in the 70 series. Anywho, appreciate the info,b
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This sounds like an electroless nickel finish. It will be dull matte with a yellow cast typical of nickel finishes. There were no Colt Series 70 pistols made in true stainless steel. Stainless Colt pistols in Series 80 were introduced in 1984, well behind the "stainless wave" rolling through the gun business beginning in 1965 with the introduction of the Smith & Wesson Model 60. Had Colt and Ruger been on the ball, AMT would never have gotten off the ground with its variable quality stainless M1911, Ruger Standard pistol and Ruger 10/22 clones. As a point of interest, early Colt stainless pistols are fantastic qualtiy and have NO plastic parts.
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  • budreaux39budreaux39 Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks JC, You mentioned 'yellowed or gold tint' and thats why I guess I missed it 'cause this one doesn't have the yellow look. Matte finish 'silver' and I didn't check s# 'till I got home. I really thought I had a newer pistol. In the bluebook, Fjestad mentioned 70 prefix and suffix on a Gov model with a 70G or G70 depending on years of manuf., but no mention of MY s# configuration there or in the back. Found same s# config. on GB auction and they (2) were nickel, thats when I came to you folks, and I thank you for every minute of effort, as 'knowledge is lost if not gained'.Scott
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  • RocklobsterRocklobster Member Posts: 7,060 ✭
    edited November -1
    The reason for the yellowish tint to some of the Series 70 nickel finishes is that they are worn and the copper that the nickel was plated over is starting to show through...
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I guess it is a matter of opinion, but, in comparison to true stainless steel with its "blue" cast, I think nickel has a "yellow" cast, but obviously it is not a strong yellow look. It is not because it is worn through to the copper under it. I suppose this pistol could be an aftermarket finish like hard chrome or the old Armaloy, a great silverish finish probably no longer available.
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  • budreaux39budreaux39 Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks fellas, I guess I'll keep it. Bought it as stainless to shoot and it should shoot as good being nickel (grin). Anyway, thanks all who took time to help. Still alot to learn and so little time! budreaux39
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