New Old Commander question

[bigwagon]

Another old Colt followed me home recently. It's the third one this month. What am I doing wrong?? This one is a 1951 Commander in 45 ACP. I instantly fell in love with the size, weight and handling of it the moment I picked it up, so I didn't stand a chance. It's a typical example of the breed, having been carried a lot and apparently shot a little. Mechanically it's in excellent condition, but the finish is holster worn on the slide and grip area. It's not abused, but the barrel turned out to be a little disappointing when I cleaned it up, with some very light pitting in the bore. Nonetheless, it shoots great and pounded through about 100 of my hardball handloads without a hiccup, but I think I would like to change the sights. The rear obviously can be replaced with another dovetail style without harm, so my question is what options are there to change the front blade without doing major, irreversible damage to the gun?


http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bigwagon/Comm2.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bigwagon/Comm1.jpg

[RemingtonRand]

Very nice. I love old Colts and your barrel should be fine with that little bit of pitting - keep cleaning using JB Paste and that too might disappear. Honest wear on a Commander like this just adds character in my eyes -- you did well giving her an appreciative home once again where the barrel WON'T be neglected anymore.

Personally, I would leave the sights as is -- she's a nice Combat Commander and the ranges in self-defense don't really need any better for most people -- besides, IMHO, it wouldn't LOOK right, so to speak.

Congratulations. I'm new here so I probably should tone my opinions down somewhat, but, then again, I've been around these handguns for longer than I want to admit :D


RR

[bigwagon]

Oh, yeah, I'm on my third application of JB and I've only shot it once! I tend to agree about the sights. I'm a purist myself and generally hold originality in very high regard, which is why I would not do anything irreversible. I went so far as to fit a spare King's long National Match trigger to it, but I took it back out because it just didn't "look right." The gun was great to shoot as-is, so maybe I just need glasses. I guess I am reaching that age. :(

[RemingtonRand]

I guess I am reaching that age.


I'm already there :) :)


RR

[saltydog]

You might want to give the folks at Kings a call. Their 'hardball sights are made to fit into OEM Colt dovetails. You can ask that the rear sight be 'opened up' to compensate for older sets of eyes. They will also make the notch deeper so you can dress it down to get POA/POI compatable with the existing front sight. Add a touch of model car paint of the front sight and you're good to go.

The dab of model car/airplane paint on the front sight can easily be removed if you want to get it back to its original apperance.

I'd consider getting something that wouldn't put shiny marks on the slide when you drift the rear sight out.

Speaking of which, with muzzle pointed away from you, the rear sight is removed L to R.

Hope that helps.

[1911Tuner]

I think she's bee-oo-tee-ful just the way she is. Brings tears to my ol peepers. I'd limit the use to about 100 rounds a year and leave it alone. There are thousands of less collectible Commanders out there.

[bigwagon]

Tuner, don't say that! I love shooting this Commander and now you're going to make me go out and get another one just so I don't feel guilty. But I must say there is something about these vintage Colts that the newer guns, from any manufacturer, just don't have. They may have more bells and whistles and even better metallurgy, but they don't have character, and that counts for a lot of something in my book.

[Hunter]

That is a beautiful Colt Commander. I believe you did real good with that one.

[Cocked & Locked]

I'd leave that Commander just like it is and wear it it over to 1911tuner's just to torment him...he like's them worn looking Commanders. That pistol looks great! While he's lusting over it, you can drink some of his great blackwater coffee.

As a matter of fact, I might just stick this one in my belt tomorrow morning and hobble over to drink some of Johnny's coffee...if he's gonna be around.

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/9381895/227551208.jpg

[wichaka]

I wouldn't throw a daily diet of hardball thru it............but if you reload, make up some softball loads, you should be ok with those.

[saltydog]

It'd serve him right.

[OD*]

Very nice Commander, bigwagon. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

[1911Tuner]

As a matter of fact, I might just stick this one in my belt tomorrow morning and hobble over to drink some of Johnny's coffee...if he's gonna be around.

That's cold, Ralph. Cold! I'll be here unless I fall down the steps.

[paul45]

I also vote to leave it as it is.....it's a '51 for crying out loud. Put Kings sights on it ( which I like alot) and watch the value plummet.

[larry starling]

Leave it as is....That seems to be echoed quite a bit in this thread and I agree. Don't do anything enjoy it as is.... ;)

[saltydog]

The man seems to want to put aftermarket sights in the '51. What I suggested can be 'un-done'.

If its in Near Mint to Excellent condition, I'd leave it alone.

[jeff1124]

Isn't 1951 the year that the Commander was introduced? If that's the case. I'd definitely leave it as is, except I don't know if I could go without shooting it. Maybe do as wichaka says and find a good, dependable lead load for shooting. Enjoy it, it looks great to me! :)

[bigwagon]

Just to clarify, when I said "hardball" load, I was simply referring to the fact that it was 230gr. FMJ ball. It's loaded with 5.0 grs. of W231, which puts it pretty far below a true GI hardball load velocity-wise. And it didn't take much convincing to make me change my mind on the sights. There really is nothing wrong with the gun the way Colt built it in 1951, but I may try a dab of paint on the front sight. For the record, this gun is nowhere near mint. I'd rate it at 80-90 percent, but it is honest wear and it has a certain appeal. I ordered a new 23-pound mainspring and recoil spring plus an EGW firing pin stop that I'll install before I shoot it again. Any tips for a good "softball" load?

[EchoBravoKilo]

Beautiful Commander! I think it is year 1 (1951). As for your comment about vintage Colts, I could not agree more...

By the way, I recently aquired a 1976 Combat Commander, and at first thought the small sights made it very difficult. Previous owner had put red sight paint on them. I took the red off the front and put a little white in its place (I shoot indoors). It seems to have made a big difference. I originallly thought I'd change out the sights, but now am inclined not to do so. I will however continue to shoot the pistol. It is tighter than my new XSE Combat Commander.

[dakota1911]

I guess I would detail strip it. Check it over. Maybe put new springs in it (Save the old ones), and then not shoot it a lot. Other than that I wouldn't do anything.

[saltydog]

'49 001-0065

'50 66LW

'51 6000LW

'52 20300LW

The CLW prefix started in '69

Info from proofhouse.com

[jeff1124]

'49 001-0065

'50 66LW

'51 6000LW

'52 20300LW

The CLW prefix started in '69

Info from proofhouse.com

My bad! For some reason 1951 stuck in my head as when they came out!

[saltydog]

Naaaha, no 'bad' at all.

I've been trying to get a few pre-70 Commanders, and proofhouse.com was a site that I had 'bookmarked'.

Wasn't trying to came across as a HA...

salty.

p.s.,

For the original poster of this thread, I hope you do not let anyone talk you into 'polishing, throating, etc.' anything around the aluminum lower feed ramp. Its good to go, as is.

With its lightened frame and a loose grip, you may find that your thumb engages the slide stop in recoil. Hang on to the handle a bit tighter.

sd.

[bigwagon]

Nope, as I said, the gun functioned flawlessly in my first outing with it. I will probably load up some lead 185-200gr SWCs to shoot in this and my Gold Cup. Hopefully it will like that, and I'll be happy. Beyond a possible trigger job down the road plus the EGW FPS and new recoil and hammer springs, I won't be modifying this gun. The trigger is actually quite good, but I would like to have it a bit lighter. It feels like it's about 6 pounds or so, and 4.5 would probably be perfect. Oh, and I'm a lefty, so no problems with my thumb and the slide stop!

[saltydog]

big, if you don't mind a suggestion...

If you do get a trigger job, have the 'smith work on new parts and keep the OEM stuff for later use. Or you can sell the OEM hammer, sear, and trigger. There are folks out there, myself included, who have post war but pre 70 Colts and would like to have correct Colt fitted parts in them.


salty.