New (Old) Colt 1911 with strange barrel bushing

[inthebeech]

Well, I bought my first and last Government model finally.  It is a Colt and reads "Series 70" among other things on the slide.  After reading up on how to disassemble I took it down and found the barrel bushing design is that of a collet, which is different than the illustrations that I was following.  It made it clear then, once it was taken down for an initial cleaning and lubrication, why the bushing did not come out of the slide as easily as I anticipated.  My gun is a completely stock Colt (confirmed when I called up colt to get date of mfr.) but I think the bushing is something that one would find on a target model.
What do you know about this feature and is there anything else that is unique about this late seventies gun?
Thanks,
Ed

[Bigeasy]

Ed
 
The collet bushing was common to series 70 guns.  It should disassemble the same as a solid barrel bushing.  The split design was supposed to increase accuracy.  Some like them, some don't.  I never had a problem with mine.  It can be replaced with a common solid bushing if desired.
 
The series 70 guns sometimes bring a slight premium over later models due to the lack of a firing pin safety used on later models.  It is the basic 1911 design, that almost all aftermarket parts will work with.
 
Larry

[inthebeech]

Thanks Larry.  It is good to find out that the gun actually is as was claimed by the seller - all original.
 
So they bring a "premium? you say"  Brother you are not kidding ! 
Ed

[williamlayton]

There are all kinds of bushing, plugs made for those who are trying to re-invinte the wheel.
Blessings

[anachronism]

I've always suspected the collet bushing was really meant to reduce production labor costs for Colt. Regardless, I always replace them with solid bushings. The fingers con the collet bushing can break off, tying up the guns. Disassembly under these circumstances is frustrating.

[gray wolf]

""The fingers con the collet bushing can break off, tying up the guns. Disassembly under these circumstances is frustrating.""
Correct --it can also cost you your life, no time out in a gun fight.

[dogsoldier0513]

The collets bushing's 'fingers' exert spring pressure on the barrel. This is why the bushing doesn't come off as you thought it would. Colt didn't/doesn't recommend removing the bushing from the barrel as it may 'spring' the fingers.

[Bigeasy]

The collets bushing's 'fingers' exert spring pressure on the barrel. This is why the bushing doesn't come off as you thought it would. Colt didn't/doesn't recommend removing the bushing from the barrel as it may 'spring' the fingers.

 
Ummm, how do you field strip the gun if you cant remove the barrel bushing?
 
Larry

[dogsoldier0513]

The barrel STILL comes out the front of the slide per normal field stripping procedure. The collet bushing simply remains on the barrel. When you rotate the bushing to remove the recoil spring plug it should release from the slot in the slide. You risk 'springing' the collet's 'fingers' by removing it and reattaching it.

[bubbinator]

My first commercial experience with the Colt 1911A1 was a nickel-plated 5" gun that I added a Miniature Machine Corp(MMC) adjustable rear sight and Pachmeyr Presentation grips. It had the collet-bushing and I never had any problems with it.  The pistol was box-stock and from a sand bag rest on a truck hood I won many bets shooting a full mag+1 (8 rds) of Federal 230gr FMJ Match ammo all 8 on a sheet of copy paper at 100 yds!Regretfully that gun was sloten in a burglary and while we knew who did it the local SO dropped the ball(two of one of their deputies kids did it and she was vocal minority).  I am a State LEO-and guess what? Both are in jail now and have been before many times on lots of other charges since 2000 and the new generation of local LEOs I train get a briefing on them routinely.