Series 70 frames Vs Series 80

[czcanuck]

A bit of a newbie question but here it goes:

If you had a Series 70 frame could you use a Series 80 slide on it and vice versa?

[wjkuleck]

The Series 80 slide has a hole for the firing pin plunger and spring; the Series 80 frame has recesses alongside the hammer and sear for the firing pin safety levers. The series 70 slide and and frame have neither.

You can put a Series 80 slide on a Series 70 frame, but you must remove the firing pin plunger and spring. There is no lever in the Series 70 frame to rise up and disengage the firing pin plunger. Thus, unless you remove the firing pin plunger and spring from the Series 80 slide, the firing pin will be blocked at all times. The firing pin safety will of course now be absent.

If you wish to put a Series 70 slide on a Series 80 frame, you must delete the levers in the Series 80 frame that interact to disengage the firing pin plunger in the Series 80 slide slide. There are filler pieces available to fill in the recesses alongside the sear and hammer in the Series 80 slide.

Regards,

Walt

[rock185]

Walt is correct. In fact, Colt used to sell factory replacement slides with Series '70 rollmarks, but the slides were internally machined for the Series '80 firing pin safety...

[czcanuck]

Thanks for the info.

[Previs]

Walt is correct. In fact, Colt used to sell factory replacement slides with Series '70 rollmarks, but the slides were internally machined for the Series '80 firing pin safety...

was that because there was a demand for the old roll marks? Seems almost deceptive one could fake a series 70... Then again someone could fake a 100 years of service roll mark too.