Officer frame, Commander slide mystery

[copperhead1861]

Last year I obtained an Officer’s Series 80 Mk IV, serial SFxxxxxE, model 09180E. Although the box indicated a 3.5 inch barrel, the weapon had a high-gloss Commander’s slide with the 4.25 inch barrel. The gals at Colt made a great effort to come up with the weapon’s pedigree, but in the end all they could verify was that occording to their records, the weapon was shipped as a 3.5 inch barreled weapon.

After many months of e-mails and phone calls, here is what I found out from Lew Horton;

Dear Michael,
This gun was one of 125 Colts sold to us in January of 1997 from Colt.
They were originally ordered by a police department (hence the slide
conversion) who never bought them as they turned around and cancelled their order. The guns were then offered to Lew Horton Distributing (us) for
purchase. We then purchased the "cancelled" lot from Colt with the already
swapped slides. The guns were labeled used but actually were not. This
labeling (USED) is what Colt designated the guns as their order from the
police department was cancelled after production. Hope this helps you
out... and sorry again for this request slipping through the e-mail
"cracks"!!!

So it would seem that there may be another 124 Officer framed, Commander slid weapons from this run in late 1996.


Mike

[larry starling]

Sounds like a CCO of some type. can you post a picture of your gun?

[XTrooper]

Very interesting find, Mike!

[dakota1911]

That is an interesting find. Now you have a collector on your hands, and a nice one at that.

[clughog]

How unique! Mike, it would be great to see pictures of your Colt. Fantastic story--sounds like it was well worth the effort you went to in order to document it's history.

[daveohno]

Another mystery unraveled!

[MacEntyre]

Here's another one for sale (http://www.combatcarry.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=350291)

[John]

:wl:

:fp:

[roadstar]

And my dealer in Indiana told me the same story in 1997. Glad to hear someone else confirm it. My guy said the PD canceled the order because when they got the stainless guns they said "we wanted blue guns".

Here's mine...
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s77/roadstar34/Hybrid.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s77/roadstar34/Hybrid2.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s77/roadstar34/Hybrid1.jpg

I have had work done to mine by Novak. Novak low mount nite sites, hi-ride beavertail, carry bevel, bead blast finish. I love it, but feel free to tell me how stupid it was if you wish. :scared: I can take it.

[roadstar]

Copperhead's gun from Colt Picture thread. Looks just like mine did before I sent it to Novak.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s77/roadstar34/Hybrid4.jpg

[MacEntyre]

I'd love to have one of those! :p

[copperhead1861]

All,
Thanks for your comments, and digging up my orig. photo from elsewhere on the site.

Question: Should I put this one away and start looking for a replacement off-duty?

Mike

[roadstar]

I say carry it. For a guy with small hands (me) this is the perfict 1911. I handle it better than my GM. All the advantage of an OACP with a longer site radius and better shootability.

[Justin]

Cool Pistol

[m9x18]

Hi roadstar,

I actually like what you did to yours. A gun is a very personal thing and people have been adding personal touches to them ever since firearms came into existence. And since I acquire guns to shoot and carry rather than collect, I can say yours is one sweet looking gun!

[MacEntyre]

Yesterday, at a local store, I saw a Wilson CQB that has an officer's frame and a commander slide... it's a very interesting combination, with a nice feel to it. Apparently, it is more common than I thought.

[fed_wif_a_sig]

Colt still makes the "CCO" (Concealed Carry Officer) as a Gunsite pistol, but good luck finding one. Wilson, Kimber make one with a 4" barrel. Detonics makes one with 4.25" barrel. Smith is rumored to be making one but as of yet hasnt answered my email. The Revolution™ Compact Nitron is the same dimentions but I havent held one yet. I have to say the one offered by Gunsite is priced pretty decently and if I havent found a used one by then, I'll be ordering one of those next year.

[clughog]

Colt still makes the "CCO" (Concealed Carry Officer) as a Gunsite pistol, but good luck finding one.Steve, my understanding is that the Colt Gunsite CCO is no longer a production model, so if you find one NIB it will be at a premium price.