Source: ATF P 5300.11 · Curios or Relics List · Jan 1972 – Apr 20253,573 entries · 4 sections
The C&R RegisterA finding aid to the ATF Curios or Relics List, for Type 03 collectors
C&R · II · 153

Colt Mk IV Series 70, mismarked Government/Commander

Section II: curio or relic, still subject to the Gun Control Act

Official wording

ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION II · VERBATIM · PDF P. 6 ↗

Colt, Mk IV Series 70 semiautomatic pistols in all cal.’s, which were incorrectly marked at the factory with both Colt Government Model markings and Colt Commander markings.

What this entry requires

  • ATF REQUIRESYour firearm carries the marking “marked at the factory with both Colt Government Model markings and Colt Commander markings”
  • INFOATF states no date; production was about 1970–1983.

Editorial facts · Our research

Country
United States²
Manufacturer
Colt's Firearms
Type
Pistol
Action
Semi-auto
Caliber
All calibers
Made
c. 1970–1983production; ATF states no date¹
Service
Commercial
Search listings ↗Check a specific gunReport an error ↗

Source

Official wording
ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section II · PDF p. 6 ↗ · ATF original ↗
Entries
1 line
Verbatim check
Checked against the PDF text before every release
Editorial facts
Confidence: Medium · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
References
  1. Wikipedia, “M1911 pistol” ↗, years (estimate: range of the base model): variants table "Colt Government Mk. IV Series 70" 1970–1983; the mismarked Government/Commander run itself is not documented
  2. Wikipedia, “Colt's Manufacturing Company” ↗, country: American firearms manufacturer headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. (the maker ATF names)
Fact tags
  • ATF the ATF wording states it.
  • REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
  • ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
  • NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
Source checked
20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
Corrections
1 change · see below

Correction history

  1. Evidence passEditorial confidence: Low → Medium. Re-rated after supporting references were added or re-checked.

All corrections · How corrections work

Historical context

M1911 pistol (base model shown for Colt Mk IV Series 70, mismarked Government/Commander)
Shown: the base M1911 and M1911A1, not the factory-mismarked Mk IV Series 70.

Image: Wikimedia Commons, “M1911 and M1911A1 pistols.JPG” by Dkamm at English Wikipedia, Public domain. Retrieved October 2026.

Summary: Wikipedia, “M1911 pistol”. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.

FROM WIKIPEDIA

The Colt M1911 is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered primarily for the .45 ACP cartridge.