Combat Commander in need of some TLC

[nova45]

Hi all,

first of all, excellent site! I also aplologize up front for the lengthy post.

I recently 'inherited' a combat commander from my dad. Electroless nickel, built in 1972 (according to the proof house web site someone was kind enough to post a link to). The previous owner, who gave it to my dad (yes, I typed that correctly - another story) years ago,was an undercover narcotics officer for a major metro police dept. This was his carry gun and is shows. He said he dropped it at least once and the finish shows a lot of galling where it has been carried/rubbed (no big scratches though). The rear sight is a MMC adjustable, the front sight looks to be original, but has a huge ding in it (remember the "I dropped it" part of the story?) Grips are pachmyer, don't know if they're original or aftermarket. Functionally, it's a dream to shoot.

Here it is

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n283/NOVA45ACP/combat%20commander/combatcommander1.jpg

OK, enough background. This weapon is in dire need of some upkeep. I have installed a new recoil spring and I detail stripped it and cleaned it (using info i found on M1911 I'd like to:
1) refinish (preferably in the original finish or something similar)
2) install a drop-in beaver tail (I have a scar from hammer bite shooting it so much as a kid)
3) install night sights (front & back)
4) new barrel bushing

I've done some searches, but I still need some proof checking and advise on my thinking:

Refinish: I called Colt and asked about getting the gun refinished in electroless nickel. CS told me they could do it in hard chrome - no thanks. Is there anybody out there who does this? I've seen some threads indicating that bead blasting may be an option - thoughts on this?
Also, does anybody know of a way to fix this :scared: ?

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n283/NOVA45ACP/combat%20commander/frontsight.jpg

Don't know if it's possible but it would be nice if I could (although one could argue that these are just war wounds in the old girl and they just add a little character)

Beaver tail: Was thinking Wilson Combat drop-in and just sending the gun in and letting them do it. Any others out there I should take a look at?

Sights: Any recommendations? I was looking at the Wilson Combat tactical sights, but I'm not dead set on that. I hate the thought of cutting the slide, but it that's what it takes to get good night sights, so be it. I don't want to use this as a carry gun now because the current sights are worthless at night.

This pistol will never be sold, so I'm not worried so much about "resale" value. However, it has a huge sentimental value and I don't want to....um...shall we say...subject it to the tender mercies of my gunsmithing skills :D . That said, I don't want a safe queen, this will continue to be a shooter, just like it always has been.

Thanks in advance for your input! <grasshopper nova45 sits down, expectantly waiting for 1911 Jedi masters to impart wisdom>

[Hunter]

Very nice Commander and welcome to the forum. You can look at that wear as character that tells a story but if you are looking to have it refinished I think I would let Colt do the job and while it is there you could the bevertail and night sights installed. At least the new changes would of been done by Colt and that won't detract from the value as bad as if you had a private gunsmith do it. That is my thought anyway if you are interested call Colt for a price 1 800 962 Colt, ask for Kathy she is a friend of mine and she is pretty sharp.
I posted before you had edited so I see you have already called Colt and were not interested in their finishes. I myself use a local gunsmith exclusively for anything I can't handle so I am not sure who to recommend. There are many folks here that can steer you in the right direction with you Colt. Let us know what you decide to do.

[nova45]

Thanks for the welcome Hunter! I will admit that leaving her as she stands is a bit tempting - for nostalgic purposes if nothing else. My bigest fear is that by neglecting to do somthing to it now (i.e. refinishing) that I will ruin the pistol. This one's going to my kids one day and I want it still around and functional when the time comes. This was the first large bore pistol I ever shot and learned much (which ain't a lot :) ) of what I know about shooting a pistol on this gun. No telling how many rounds I poured through it as a kid :D .

[Phil]

Welcome to the forum. For re-plating of the nickel finish, check out the links below. These folks have been around awhile..

http://www.apwcogan.com/Greetings.htm

http://www.apwcogan.com/nickel_plating.htm

[robot1911]

I'd replace the front sight and get the gun hard chromed.
Much better finish than what's on there now, or than the one Colt would do (Nickle over copper).

Bob

[Hawkmoon]

I don't know if you have a budget for the refinishing. If you can afford to have it re-plated, that would be the most authentic way to proceed, obviously.

However, I'm sure it won't be inexpensive. If that proves to be beyond your reach, I have a thought for an alternative, but I'd advise you to research it a bit before doing it. The thought: Gun Kote.

The electroless nickle finish was not a super high gloss finish, it was a dull finish more akin to the finish we see today on many stainless guns. Or to the finish that's left on a raw frame or slide immediately after bead blasting. So ... bead blasting alone might clean it up, but it also might cut through the plating and leave the gun vulnerable to rust. But bead blasting is the prep for Gun Kote, and Gun Kote is available in a satin aluminum "color." So bead basting and then coating it with that color of Gun Kote could get you pretty clode to the original appearance.

As to the front sight, if you know a GOOD welder, I think a touch with a TIG welder would fill in the gouge, and then you would be able to reshape it to the original countour with a very fine file. If you cover the whole gun with Gun Kote, the repaired sight will blend right in.

[OD*]

nova45,

Welcome to the forum.
If it were mine, I would have it re-nickeled.
As you can see from the life your Commander has lead, nickel holds-up rather well too. I'd keep it looking original.

[nova45]

Thanks to everybody for the replies and welcome!

I took a look at the AWP web site and am going to inquire further into their electro nickel plating. Hawkmoon, to answer your question, re-plated costs aren't a huge deal - if it's more than is in the toy budget right now, I'll just wait a few weeks longer and eat a lot of PB&J (a man's got to have his priorities y'know :D ) I've used Gunkote before and really like it, but the more I think about it, the more this gun is screaming for an original finish. Hard chrome just isn't for me - personal taste doesn't run to a shiny finish.


OD - hadn't really thought about just restoring it to original....hmmm...if i skip the night sights, I guess I'll just have to get another 1911 :) . Somebody please tell me that this 1911 madness I seem to have been infected with will pass one day!

If I do decide to replace the sights, any recommendations for a low profile, snag-free type sight?

Thanks again for all the help and great suggestions

[Hunter]

Somebody please tell me that this 1911 madness I seem to have been infected with will pass one day!
Short answer, No. :D

[OD*]

I guess I'll just have to get another 1911
Now you're catching on. ;)

[Phil]

Hard chrome just isn't for me - personal taste doesn't run to a shiny finish.Hard chrome isn't all that shiny. Here's an Officer's Model that started out life as a blue gun and now has hard chrome. Most folks mistake it for a satin finish stainless steel gun:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Murexway/OM/OfficersMedium-1.jpg

OD - hadn't really thought about just restoring it to original....Given the history of this gun and your emotional attachment to it, I agree with OD*. But I'm not sure that I'd cover up the war wounds. I'd probably just re-plate it in electroless nickel and put original grips on it. Unless the front sight damage renders it useless for ordinary shooting, I'd leave it as, is. It gives the gun a "special" story. Plus, once you replace the front sight, then it makes the slide damage more noticeable, etc, and once you finish "fixing" everything you end up with what looks like a new gun and the history gets sorta lost.If I do decide to replace the sights, any recommendations for a low profile, snag-free type sight?The gun in the picture above has green Trijicons, which are nice.

By the way, the is no known cure for "Coltitis" :)

[nova45]

Somebody please tell me that this 1911 madness I seem to have been infected with will pass one day!
Short answer, No. :D


I was afraid of that :D .

"Coltitis" huh? Hmmm...I wonder if I could get my health insurance to cover my habit - it's a disease after all, right? ;)

Phil - beautiful pistol! I like that matte hard chrome look. I think I'm still gonna nickel plate the pistol, but I'd definitely be interested in having hard chrome put on the next. Did you have that done by AWP? If so, I'm guessing it was their brushed hard chrome finish?

I've got a much better handle on what I want to do with this gun now.

Nickel refininsh
new barrel bushing, grips, grip screws
new beaver tail (drop in so I can put the original back on should I ever decide
to)
sights will stay as-is for now (they work fine in good light)

Next 1911 I buy will be a project gun.

Thanks again for letting me think out loud and for the input. I'm not usually this indecisive but I think I've got too much sentiment tied up in the pistol warring with a desire for a well put together gun. I know, I know, "join the club" right? ;)

I'll be sure to post a pic whenever it's finished....

nova45 sends

[Phil]

Phil - beautiful pistol! I like that matte hard chrome look. I think I'm still gonna nickel plate the pistol, but I'd definitely be interested in having hard chrome put on the next. Did you have that done by AWP? If so, I'm guessing it was their brushed hard chrome finish?

I know, I know, "join the club" right? ;)

I'll be sure to post a pic whenever it's finished....

nova45 sendsThat OM was already plated when I bought it, but I believe that you're correct - it's an APW brushed hard chrome job.

I think you're on the right track with the work scope that you have planned for this gun. Of course, do the plating last. I'm not sure, but the original grips on that gun may have been smooth wood with the Colt medallion.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Murexway/976767375-1.jpg

Be sure to let us see how the old gal turns out.