how common is a 40 S&W series 80?

[y2kdon]

picked up one today. Just curious as to when it was made and how common it is.
serial # is GF012xxE
has fixed sights, rubber grips and plastic trigger like a 1991 series, but this is marked "Colt MK IV, series 80"
Picture 001.jpg

tried searching the forum but search engine doesnt like my search words.

[ace]

i've seen a couple in 80 series here and there, a couple enhanced like yours and a couple pre-enhanced versions too. every one of the ones i've seen were stainless. they are not common but i see one every once in awhile.
btw, i believe the grips on yours are not original. i believe the model you have would have come with the radical concepts made grips with a rubber front strap and silver colt medallions.

[y2kdon]

Thanks Ace
What are you seeing that classifies it as enhanced? I see the cutout under the triggerguard. Is there something else? Perhaps the grip safety? Seems odd to have enhanced features mixed with plastic parts. On further looking, the think the mainspring housing is plastic also.

[paul45]

Hammer, Duckbill GS, flat top slide, angled cocking serrations. Cosmetic "enhancements" from '92 on.

[ace]

yup the things i originally saw in the pic that told me it was enhanced are the flat slide top, hammer, and grip safety.

[DPris]

When I took a Colt armorer's class on the 1911 in '93, the guns provided by Colt were all stainless .40s.
That's the only time I've ever seen one (or 30).
Denis

[paul45]

I had this one for awhile. Sold it to fund other stuff.

[ace]

^^
yeah i forgot that i've seen a couple 2 tone ones like the one above too, also there was the elite 10/40 which was a dual caliber 2 tone.

[y2kdon]

Been searching for information online for this pistol. Found one comment that only 2500 were made in 1992, but I also found pictures of two-tones like the one above, solid stainless, one like mine and another with a different trigger, so there may have been mupltiple runs of them?????

[y2kdon]

found this site that give possible date of 1992, and a model number of O1040E. Still curious about how many were made.

http://www.1911timewarp.com/ModelNumbers.htm