I stumbled upon what could be a unicorn today at a LGS. It was a full size Series 70 1911 listed as new, unfired. It had the original factory box, which was very rough, and one magazine. But it really looked and felt like it had been refinished in Robar NP3. I have had lots of NP3'ed guns and i live 10 min. from where Robar was. I have a Series 70 Commander my mom bought for my dad for Xmas when I was six yrs. old and it doesn't have some of the proof marks this gun had today. The salesperson said one of the store's managers used to tuck guns away in the safe to hold for certain customers, he was long gone and they had uncovered his stash and this was one of them. I cannot believe Colt had an OEM factory finish in those days that looked and felt so close to NP3. What do you guys think? At $1249 I think it was a good deal and am tempted to go back tomorrow.

You can write an inquiry to Colt. For a fee, they have a department that will research its origin, where it originally shipped to, and then send you an official letter.

Yeah, I didn't take photos or record the serial number. Just wondering if anyone knows about this finish. The one I got from my dad, he says is called "Armalloy." I don't know. It's a satin nickel thing. I've seen lots of others that were different, but none like the one I saw today. And why would anyone have an unfired one refinished in NP3?

Armaloy is an aftermarket finish. Colt did do a satin nickel finish and I have one. I am not aware of the finish you are describing.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
... And why would anyone have an unfired one refinished in NP3?

People refinish new guns all the time, whatever their reasons are. To give you an example, in the early 90s, when SIG factory nickel pistols were hard to come by, people sent their guns to Klein for a factory aftermarket refinish.

Ok, so what kind of finishes were available for this era? I don't know why someone would refinish an unfired gun. I first heard of Robar around 1995/6 when I got my first SIG. I can't believe this is a factory finish. Did Colt have anything close to a nickel/teflon factory finish in the 70s?

It's nice to have a library of old Gun Digests... Colt made the Series 70 in blue, nickel, and satin nickel finishes. The satin nickel (or electroless nickel) looks a lot like Robar NP3; after all, NP3 is electroless nickel with teflon added. Most of the factory original, full size Series 70 models will have Pachmayr grips.

This one had Pachmyr grips.

Colt had something called electroless nickel which would look a lot like NP3 so I bet that is what it is

Colt used a finish called Coltguard in the late 70’s-80’s (might have used it earlier). It was e-nickel. Standard Coltguard wasn’t polished to as high of a degree so they have a more dull/matte appearance. Royal Coltguard had a higher degree of polishing resulting in a more satin appearance.

Don't forget that Colt reintroduced the "Series 70" in the early 2000s for a while. Are you sure it wasn't from this later production?

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:
Don't forget that Colt reintroduced the "Series 70" in the early 2000s for a while. Are you sure it wasn't from this later production?

Not sure at all. I know the old brown box looks like the one from my mid-70s one my family has had since the mid-70s. Though the box is beat to hell. I'd like to see paperwork, but there is none. I might go back tomorrow or Fri. to get the serial # and research further.

The label on the box will be marked with the finish type.
N for nickel, S for satin, B for blue.

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:
Colt had something called electroless nickel which would look a lot like NP3 so I bet that is what it is

You can easily tell EL Nickel from NP3.

Just a few years back , the Grice gun shop had factory hard chrome Gov model 45`s only a few I looked and looked at it,and bought the custom shop Gov model in the blue box series 70 it was a stainless gun , I wish I would have got the hard chrome one when I had a chance . it was a smooth type finish and not the old electries finish .

quote:

Originally posted by bonanacroin:
Colt used a finish called Coltguard in the late 70’s-80’s (might have used it earlier). It was e-nickel. Standard Coltguard wasn’t polished to as high of a degree so they have a more dull/matte appearance. Royal Coltguard had a higher degree of polishing resulting in a more satin appearance.

Based on what you are describing it's probably this (Coltguard). I have a Colt Series 70 Government from the early 1980's with this finish. It's very NP3 like.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
I might go back tomorrow or Fri. to get the serial # and research further.

In addition to the serial number range, I'd be interested to learn more about the additional proof marks you describe in your OP. Can you take a few photos?

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
I might go back tomorrow or Fri. to get the serial # and research further.

In addition to the serial number range, I'd be interested to learn more about the additional proof marks you describe in your OP. Can you take a few photos?

There was a tiny "5" on the right side of the trigger guard and I think two more smaller single digits on the left side.

They made a run of guns in a dull white finish (e-nickel?) with blue controls, too.

On this one all the controls are the same finish as the frame and slide.