Pawn shop find: Colt "Enhanced" Government Model

olivehead1

olivehead1

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2015
Messages
643
Reaction score
1,833
Location
The Deep South
Manufactured 2001. From what I can tell, the grips may be factory, but if they're not, maybe someone can tell me what this gun would have shipped with.

Can someone tell me if that trigger is factory? I've found some slightly older versions of this gun online with a two slot ventilated trigger, but not one like this with the more recent 3-hole variety. But clearly sometime after this period, Colt started going with the 3-hole design.

Any info appreciated.
 

Attachments

  • Colt Govt XSE L.jpg
    Colt Govt XSE L.jpg
    60.4 KB · Views: 376
  • Colt Govt XSE R.jpg
    Colt Govt XSE R.jpg
    61.3 KB · Views: 267
Register to hide this ad
Here is mine bought in Feb of 2000. So they must of changed them after that time frame. It is stock except for the checkering on the front strap and the flat mainspring housing.
You will like it, mine has been a great 1911.

 
Last edited:
It's a Colt, so it's not going to be cheap. The stocks are likely factory, the trigger, I don't know. If the price is right, it was mechanically sound and I wanted a stainless Government Model, I would not let the possibility of it having a replacement trigger stop me from buying.
 
After some additional research (i.e., combing through a few pages of Google and Bing photos), I'm pretty sure that this gun is entirely stock. It looks like, as not uncommon for Colt and other manufacturers, there were transitional guns coming out at the same time as then-current models, and there was some mix and match involved. Seems my particular gun was a model that was more or less produced uniformly until around 2000, then you start to see the Videki style trigger rather than 2-slot trigger. Also around that time you start to see Novak or Novak-style sights rather than the enhanced 3-dot GI style. I've found guns made before and after mine that have Novak sights, but before 2000 you didn't seem to have the front serrations. I think you have to go back to the mid-80s/early-90s to find the plastic trigger shoes.

Anyway, I grabbed some grips and screws I had handy and slapped them on there. Not necessarily sold on the look, and it'll probably end up back to stock.
 

Attachments

  • Colt Govt XSE grips.jpg
    Colt Govt XSE grips.jpg
    193.8 KB · Views: 100
Congratulations!

attachment.php
 
LostintheOzone said:
Not a mish mash of parts. It's a stock Gov't XSE. The slide was what clued me in. Most came with combat sights which yours doesn't have. Not to worry.

Colt XSE Government XSE - GunGenius
Click to expand...

I found that same GunGenius listing and it further supported my research. The only thing I question is the trigger; I've only found one with that particular style of 3-hole (with the exposed pins), and the guy believed it was probably not stock. Another 20-some-odd year old gun.

Someone on another forum took umbrage, I think, at my posts supporting the contention that this gun was pretty much stock, more or less insisting that it was not, the trigger wasn't stock, the front serrations were aftermarket, etc. My only point was that my Google Fu is pretty dang good, and I found at least a dozen of examples of very similar guns, the only big difference being that particular trigger in most cases, and the sights. I've found these enhanced guns between 2000 and 2002 with both the modified 3-dot GI style sights, and with Novak style sights. And of course the serial of my gun starts with "SS" and ends with "E" so clearly left the factory as a stainless "enhanced" or "XSE" model.

When they get back from vacation next week, I plan to give Colt a call just to see if they have any information beyond "Government Model" shown on the serial number look up.

p.s. I'm thinking the trigger in this gun is probably a Wilson Combat "Competition Match" trigger, installed who knows when. The 2 pins is a giveaway, unless someone can sight another trigger like that from a different manufacturer.
 
Last edited:
I don't know what a Wilson Combat trigger looks like but the trigger on your pistol looks exactly like the trigger that came on my Gold Cup Trophy that I purchased new around 2012.

It might be after market but it looks like an XE trigger to me.
 
Dug around in my parts box for what I believe is a videki trigger that came on a model 70 I bought years ago. No rivets showing on that one
 
arjay said:
Dug around in my parts box for what I believe is a videki trigger that came on a model 70 I bought years ago. No rivets showing on that one
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's why I'm thinking WC Comp Match. 1st pic is mine, 2nd is WCCM.
 

Attachments

  • Colt Govt XSE trigger.jpg
    Colt Govt XSE trigger.jpg
    30.8 KB · Views: 8
  • wilson trigger 2.jpg
    wilson trigger 2.jpg
    34.9 KB · Views: 9
I see it now. I'm just wondering why someone would put a WC trigger on a gov't model with those unusable sights. Has the barrel bushing been fitted also? Those are the first two things someone usually does to a 1911 to tune it up. That and put some decent sights on it if it doesn't already have those. Maybe it was a work in progress, IDK. Those sights would have to go if it were mine. I've owned 3 gov't models and tried to use the stock sights. No Bueno.
 
Last edited:
That's a stock XSE, including the trigger and grips. I bought a Commander XSE in 2001, had Wayne Novak's shop install Novak sights and do their carry bevel package, and gave it to my son for Christmas that year. He still has it and shoots it regularly... :)
 
LostintheOzone said:
I see it now. I'm just wondering why someone would put a WC trigger on a gov't model with those unusable sights. Has the barrel bushing been fitted also? Those are the first two things someone usually does to a 1911 to tune it up. That and put some decent sights on it if it doesn't already have those. Maybe it was a work in progress, IDK. Those sights would have to go if it were mine. I've owned 3 gov't models and tried to use the stock sights. No Bueno.
Click to expand...

Compared to stock GI sights, those on the OP's Gov't Model are EXCELLENT.
 
1992 Model

Here's a picture of mine, Colt Series 80 MK lV, 40 S&W (only year made in that caliber). I got it through the Armorers School.
It has a nylon trigger and dual recoil spring assembly. The grips came with the gun, but I'm not sure if the guns were produced that way. The armorer was a good friend of mine.
Bright stainless steel with a flat rib slide top with no serrations. High fixed sights and beaver tail grip safety.
Other than the grips it's the same as thee guns we worked on in the school.
Shoots like a dream!
 

Attachments

  • COLT 40 S&W 2.jpg
    COLT 40 S&W 2.jpg
    107.5 KB · Views: 21
Last edited:
One of my Google hits was the online version of the GunTests review of the XSE from Sepember 2001. I couldn't access any pics or PDFs from the online version, so found an actual copy of that issue on eBay because I was curious to see what the GT gun looked like. Here's a copy of the relevant page. Their test gun's serial number is only about 800 below mine, so based on the pics, my gun is entirely stock with the possible exception of the trigger. The GT gun and a few I've found in online auctions had the two-hole trigger. That's not to say mine didn't come from the factory with the trigger it has now, but since I've yet to find one just like this elsewhere, I'm leaning against it.
 

Attachments

I'm compelled to add my .02! Not an expert by any means but I think what you have is the XS model vs the XSE. The XS was made for a short time in the late 1998-2000 time frame (actual dates conflict). The model is generally identified by the C-more rear sight (note the cut downward at the rear of the sight) and the duck bill safety- the hump going down the back of the grip safety. Overall, not a comparative large number produced. Then Colt and C-more had a falling out and the XSE was born. I think the XSE lasted until 2015 timeframe. I'm referring to the one SS336 has.
I hope I'm right on this. If not, you got what you paid! LOL!

BTW, the XS versions were manufactured across the Colt lineup including the Officer, Commander, and Government models.
 
Last edited:
Forgot about this thread. Had intended to share.

Here are a couple of Colt Enhanced Goverment Models in offbeat factory chamberings. They're dead stock except for the stocks. I can't stand rubber so put the originals back in the boxes.

Top: A 1997 chambered for 9X23. Bottom: A 1992 chambered for .40 S&W.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

olivehead1
Pawn shop find: 1977 Colt Python
Replies
17
Views
2K
Grayfox
Grayfox
R
COLT SPECIAL COMBAT GOVERNMENT
Replies
4
Views
767
rct269
R
OutAtTheEdge
Unexpected Find
Replies
1
Views
513
Ivan the Butcher
I
olivehead1
Pawn shop find: Colt Combat Elite
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Rpg
R
OutAtTheEdge
Another Unexpected Find
Replies
5
Views
599
ridewv
ridewv

Latest posts

Back
Top