Quoted:
I am looking at purchasing a friend's Colt Government but while doing a modest amtount of research I cannot locate the serial number on various online lists.... it is " 70S15XXX (last 3 "X's" are for online protection ).  The 3 rd number "S" is throwing me, as all I can find is "G" .....

Any ideas of date of manufacture or "funny business ? "

quote:  MKIV/Series 70 Production Information
The Series 70 Government Model Colts were chambered in .45 ACP, .38 Super, 9mm Parabellum and 9mm Steyr (for overseas sales). The Government Model has a 5” barrel with checkered walnut grips adorned with the Colt medallion. They were produced in Blue and Nickel finishes. Series 70 models were manufactured from 1970 until 1983. They were serialized with “SM” prefixes (approximately 3,000), “70G” prefixes from 1970 through 1976, “70L” and “70S” prefixes, “G70” suffixes between 1976 and 1980, “B70” suffixes between 1979 and 1981, and “70B” prefixes between 1981 and 1983.

resource:   http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/s70_colts.htm