Commander Question

[FOX84]

I have an opportunity to aquire the current blued version of the Commander. I would like your input on the finish. Does the blueing hold up? This pistol will be shot alot so I am concerned about the finish. Should I wait on a stainless?

FOX

[wichaka]

If all you're going to do is shoot it, then blue will do you fine.
If you want it for carry, then it will get some holster wear.

I work plain clothes, and here's my daily duty Commander...........it was made in 1978. There's some holster wear, but it's holding up great for almost 20 years old.........whatcha think?

The blueing they use now is very good and durable as well........


http://w3.gorge.net/scshields/lw2.jpg

[daveohno]

If you can afford it, buy both :D

If not, decide how much that holster wear will bug you and how much you sweat. I sweat more than several people at once, so blue and my sweat are a problem. If it's not going in a holster, as Wichaka says, the blue should hold up pretty well.

[paul45]

I have an opportunity to aquire the current blued version of the Commander. I would like your input on the finish. Does the blueing hold up? This pistol will be shot alot so I am concerned about the finish. Should I wait on a stainless?

FOXMight I add, if you plan on shooting it alot, then really....who cares?.......honest wear on a well taken care of Colt is a thing of beauty..... ;)

[FOX84]

I do intend, depending on how well it shoots and feels, to carry it. I am in South Texas so sweat is a consideration. Stainless is not my favorite finish but I want something that works. One thought that crossed my mind was that if the finish would wear sooner than expected, hard chrome could be an option.

Thanks for your input.

FOX

[daveohno]

There you go, problem solved!

[Ruggles]

I agree holster wear look good on a well used gun. I prefer a blue gun so years down the line I can admire the holster wear I have put on it. Get the blue, I have one (NIB last year) but do not carry it enough to comment on the wearing of the finish on it.

[azreloader]

I have an opportunity to aquire the current blued version of the Commander. I would like your input on the finish. Does the blueing hold up? This pistol will be shot alot so I am concerned about the finish. Should I wait on a stainless? FOX
I went through the same process a couple years ago. I live in AZ so sweat was a consideration here also. Went with stainless and just a week or so ago, got a blued one cause I like the look of the blued gun with Ivory(sim) grips.

When in doubt, get both. :D

[EchoBravoKilo]

.......honest wear on a well taken care of Colt is a thing of beauty..... ;)

Absolutely! Here's a blue 1951 Commander - not bad for 57 years of use...

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/EchoBravoKilo/1951%20Commander%209mm/IMGP0839.jpg

[elijdub]

One thought that crossed my mind was that if the finish would wear sooner than expected, hard chrome could be an option.
...or re-blueing for that matter ;) Re-finishing isn't expensive enough to warrant purchasing a gun with a finish that isn't your preference, IMO. I'd be happier paying $150 20 years from now and having the finish of my choice....personal opinion!

[Rio Vista Slim]

...or re-blueing for that matter ;) Re-finishing isn't expensive enough to warrant purchasing a gun with a finish that isn't your preference, IMO. I'd be happier paying $150 20 years from now and having the finish of my choice....personal opinion!
I agree with Eli on this one.
While I am fortunate enough to own both a blued and a stainless Commander, I prefer the blue one, and the finish is holding up well. It gets shot quite a bit, carried even more, and other than a couple of unnoticeable spots near the muzzle, looks as good as the day I bought it.

[JRI]

After digesting all the good information provided it all comes down to what you want. Me, I'll go stainless.

[FOX84]

I agree with the sentiment towards the blued finish. To the extent that the blued version came home with me tonight. Truth is when my FFL dealer and I ordered the Commander did so thinking it was a parkerized version based on the picture his source source posts on there web site. So when the pistol arrived we were both surprised to see a blued Commander in the box. When we found out the parkerized finish which I originally wanted was not available I thought the stainless would be a good alternative. I figured the Parkerized Commander would make a good base weapon that I could shoot, breakin, and customize as needed including an upgraded finish if nessessary. I recently did this process with a Springfield Milspec which turned out beautiful (Briley Customized).

So it begins, with a Blued Commander.

FOX

[azreloader]

Congrats. It really was a win - win situation. Now you need to post pics before Gunny makes a rude visit.

[Hawkmoon]

Absolutely! Here's a blue 1951 Commander - not bad for 57 years of use...

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/EchoBravoKilo/1951%20Commander%209mm/IMGP0839.jpg
Zowie! Not just any old Commander, but a 9mm Combat Commander. Nice pistol.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Zowie! Not just any old Commander, but a 9mm Combat Commander. Nice pistol.

Thanks - I love it. Got it a week ago and been putting lots of rounds through it. BTW, Combat Commander wasn't around in 1951 - this is alloy frame, steel slide.