Slide swap

[ExpendableYouth]

Hi, I just bought a Series 80 Government model Colt and I was going to send it to the Colt Custom Shop for the tactical package. My friend has a Series 80 mkiv combat elite slide from the 90's and asked if I would do a straight swap for the slide since I'm going to have the a lot of the parts replaced. I like the roll marks on his slide better and he would be getting a brand new slide so it seems like a win-win for both of us.

My question is would this be a straight swap, or would this require fitting for it to work. His slide looks pretty good it just has some lost blueing from holster wear and an idiot scratch on it. I figure if they are going to refinish and fit the slide I would be good but I don't want him to have to have a bunch of work done.

Thanks for the input.

[ar15barrels]

Take the two guns apart on the bench and swap the complete top ends and see if they fit together correctly.
There are certainly some things to look at, such as how tight each barrel locks up as the link cams over and the alignment of the safety cut in the slide to the frame, but these things are easy to check if you know how they are supposed to be.

[ExpendableYouth]

Thanks, I will check it out when I pick it up on the 17th. I was just curious if someone else had already done this before.

[ar15barrels]

Thanks, I will check it out when I pick it up on the 17th. I was just curious if someone else had already done this before.

Even if it worked for someone else, that's no guarantee it will work for you.
No two guns are truly identical.
It might even be the case that it didn't work for someone else, but migjt work fine for you.
No way to know until you actually check.

If you are swapping parts between two guns, keep the complete top ends together, meaning you move the slide/barrel/bushing and all the small parts as a complete assembly.
That will dramatically reduce the number of things that may not fit correctly.
Do not go picking and choosing through all the small parts.