Let's assume that we are just relating to the Colt 45 acp

1. What is the difference in the series 70 firing system from a series 80?

2. What does the designation A1 mean?

Thanks

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Well not sure if this helps. I have had both styles no Colt brands mind you the pre 70's style was a Springfield Armory the 80's was a Remington R1 one. I very much preferred the pre 70 to the 80 the pre 70 has a true half cock the 80's does not.

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Randy

The Series 80 has a firing pin safety, the Series 70 does not. Some say it affects the trigger.

It apparently took 69 years for this to be a problem.

the Series 80 has a safety that blocks the firing pin until the trigger is pulled. It's intended to prevent inertia of the firing pin from causing an AD if dropped muzzle down. On the down side, more moving parts generally means that the trigger pull isn't as good. There were also changes to the barrel bushing and hammer.

The A1 (1911 vs 1911A1) is a military designation. Changes were made to the frame (scallops behind the trigger), the trigger was shortened, the mainspring housing (went from flat to arched), the grip safety and the trigger. The finish was also changed to speed up production. We had plenty of 1911's after WWI and didn't produce 1911A1's until they were needed for WWII.

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"I also cook."

What mikerjf and s&wchad said^^^^

And if your question is what is the difference between a 1911 and a 1911A1, the following would apply for Government issued models:
The USGI 1911A1 sports a few upgrades to the 1911.
- The 1911A1 has improved sights (thicker front and wider rear).
- The 1911A1 has a curved mainspring housing making the 'grip' a bit different - Lots of people prefer the flat 1911 housing which is interchangeable.
- The 1911A1 has an extended grip safety spur where the web of your hand engages to prevent pinching.
- The 1911A1 has a longer hammer spur.
- The 1911A1 has a shorter trigger than the 1911.
- The 1911A1 has a angled relief cutout on the frame around the trigger.
- The 1911A1 was issued with plastic/composite grips where the 1911 was issued with wood 'diamond' grips.

Colt tinkered with a firing pin safety mechanism before WW2. It was the (Wm) Swartz designed system. It didn't last very long.

It functions with the shooters use of the grip safety. Depress the safety and it unlocks the firing pin. Grip safety engaged (such as if the pistol is dropped) and the FP is blocked in place.

Intro'd in the mid 30's and dropped when WW2 production started. Never picked up after WW2.
Colt offered the mechanism to the Gov'ment for their issue pistols but Unca Sam responded that it wasn't necessary so the Swartz Safety never made it into US issue pistols.


The Swartz style doesn't effect trigger pull at all as it works off of the grip safety. The Series 80 style FP safety can as the '80 works off of the trigger bow.
Either style if not fitted right can result in the hammer falling upon trigger pull,, but no bang as the FP can still be blocked in place.

Various other modern semiauto pistols use or have used a variation of the Swartz as a safety mechanism in their designs.

Yes, right after the first lawyer smelled a profit......Ben

Good explanations so far. It may be worth mentioning that it can be argued that the folks who are leaning toward the side of "purist" and the high end of the 1911 market (Baer, Brown, Wilson, Nighthawk, Guncrafter, and many more) all design their pistols to mimic the Series 70 and not the Series 80.

Kimber was one of the earlier of the very high volume 1911 gunmakers that chose to go with a firing pin lock, they used the Swartz design that works off the grip safety and doesn't interact with the trigger. Smith & Wesson 1911 pistols use this design also.

It would be fair to say that Series 70 is far more popular and loved than Series 80.