Here are three classics from my safe. These will go to my kid:
Here's a further enhanced 'Enhanced' MKIV 80 series Colt. Base gun was a flatop 'Enhanced' .38 super. This is a full hosue gun that is fitted with both .38 Super and 9x23 Barsto barrels. Built by the same guy that built the guns Drago posted pictures of. The list of parts and work performed would take up half of a screen so I'll stop there and post a pic.
Tabs, you have mentioned a liking for .38 super. I like it to. All around, its my favorite caliber in a 5" 1911. If you like .38 Super, you must try a 9x23. I would never stop shooting 9x23 if I could find the ammo.
These two were built by a guy named Jim Hoag. He received a screen credit in 'Thief' for building several guns very similar to these in 6" longslide configuration. His current shop resides in Canoga Park but he started out in Kings. These were intentionally old school retro builds becuase this guy is truly old school. He is respected as a 'Master Pistolsmith' by his peers. At well over 80 yrs old he still does all of this work by hand.
1st one was built on a series 70 reissue w/ buried Bomars, flattened & serrated slide, new bushing, Hoag's signature beavertail, and signature bordered 20LPI checkering, squared trigger guard, trigger job & reliabilty job.
2nd one was built on an original MKIV big letter 70 series gun. Spec was basically the same except for the Hoag signature K-frame S&W rear site and a commander style hammer.
The differences between these two guns sum up the comparison I tried make between an original 70 series and a reissue 70 series Colt. Both were built into very nice and tight guns by the same master smith. Both can shoot a better group than I will ever be able to hold. One of them took about twice as much work and time to finish as the other.