Combat Commander questions

[hound46]

Hi All,

I told myself one 1911 was enough....I'm sure you know the rest of the story. I just purchased a Combat Commander through an internet purchase and hoped someone could tell me a little more about it and how it started life.

The serial number is 70SC34XXX. It's satin nickel and reads "COLT'S COMBAT COMMANDER" on the right of the slide. The left side of the slide reads, "COMBAT COMMANDER colt AUTOMATIC CALIBER .45"

I'm not a collector and plan on using it for CCW, but I'm curious as to when it was made. Any idea what kind of grip panels it would have had?

Thanks in advance. By the way, this is kind of how my garanditis started....

[paul45]

Made during 1974. I am kinda guessing on the stocks....but I think they would be a non-checkered, rough grained, walnut colored stock with silver colt medallions.

Say, where are the pics?.....I like pics!!

Also....Congrats!

[EchoBravoKilo]

Congratulations! I have one from 1976, and it's awesome. Enjoy!

By the way, does yours have the lightened slide?

[hound46]

Thanks for the quick responses Paul and Echo. Can't tell you much more than I have, as it hasn't arrived. Here's a link to the auction photos. I figured the stocks were add ons. After it arrives and I get it cleaned up I'll take some good pics and post them.
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87604480

Can you tell me more about the lightened slide? I think I've seen pics, but I don't know when they started or stopped using them.

[wichaka]

Looks like a nice one..........

[EchoBravoKilo]

Nice! Happy Holidays!

[MCMIX]

Thanks for the quick responses Paul and Echo. Can't tell you much more than I have, as it hasn't arrived. Here's a link to the auction photos. I figured the stocks were add ons. After it arrives and I get it cleaned up I'll take some good pics and post them.
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87604480

Can you tell me more about the lightened slide? I think I've seen pics, but I don't know when they started or stopped using them.

That seems like an awfully reasonable price. Curious what you think when it arrives. Pictures would be appreciated.

[jeff1124]

it looks to be in fine shape! Pretty much as she came from the factory except the stocks are different and the barrel bushing looks to be thicker than OEM. I have a 1973, but it was a bit rougher when I bought it. Yours looks to have been looked after rather well, enjoy:)

[elijdub]

Very nice Colt! I think the price is reasonable as well, as it looks as it's in great condition :).
I'll second Paul on the "smooth stocks with silver medallions".
Congrats, and hope to see some more pics when it arrives :D!

[gfavaron]

The price certainly seems reasonable. Good job!

[hound46]

Thanks for all the kind words. I'm particularly glad to hear the positive feedback on condition and price. I thought I had done my homework, but one never knows. I talked to the seller. It had just come into his gunshop before listing it. Supposedly it had been stored for 30 years before that. But in the Garand world they say, "buy the rifle, not the story" and it's probably applicable in the 1911 world. My assessment of the "blotchy" finish is dryness from sitting in that eggcrate case giving it an uneven appearance. I think a good wipe down with oil will even things out. If not, I can live with what I see.

Pics and a full report to follow upon arrival.

Can anyone educate me on the lightened slide that EchoBravoKilo asked about?

Thanks again for the warm welcome to the Colt board.

[swampthang]

Very nice , I like Commanders , mine seems to almost aim itself!

[EchoBravoKilo]

Lightened slide: In the original Commanders and some Combat Commanders, and I believe some other LW Commanders, the slide area around the extractor is machined out. You can actually see the extractor when looking onto the slide. On later Commanders there is the full extractor tunnel. I believe the machining out of the metal was to save a little weight - but I don't know how much was saved. I have a '75 Combat Commander (blue) that has the machined out slide and a '76 Stain Nickel Combat Commander that does not. So, I was just curious about yours.

Enjoy the pistol.

Happy Holidays!

[lindermant]

...I think a good wipe down with oil will even things out. If not, I can live with what I see...if the oil bath doesn't do the trick, you might try this method of satin nickle cleaning (http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB6&Number=53904&Searchpage=1&Main=53891&Words=toothpaste+LARRYSTARLING&topic=&Search=true#Post53904).

enjoy your new Commander!

[hound46]

I never would have thought of that. It makes sense. I'll include before and after toothpaste treatment pics in my report. Thanks for the advice.

[elijdub]

Supposedly it had been stored for 30 years before that. But in the Garand world they say, "buy the rifle, not the story" and it's probably applicable in the 1911 world.
Sound advice...(IMHO)

Pics and a full report to follow upon arrival.

Thanks again for the warm welcome to the Colt board.
Lookin' forward to that full report ;)!

The Colt forum is full of good-natured, knowledgeable gun owners...that's always been my experience. It's a great place to spend time :D! ...And Colt Commanders are my very favorite model 1911 :D!
Again, Welcome, and nice Colt!

[hound46]

Here it is. It cleaned up very nicely. I did a complete break down of the slide. Boiled all the non frame parts and then toothbrushed them. Cleaned off with water and reboiled then oiled and lubed. It hasn't been shot much, and I'm guessing it hasn't been carried much either. The satin nickel reminds me of a less refined ruger target gray. I also had a stainless SP101 that I had bead blasted followed by a light wire whell with gunoil. Looks a lot like that. I like it well enough for carry. It's wearing a set of temporary grips I had. It came with a set of walnut checkered no diamond grips. It has the slide milled out of both sides of the receiver for decreaseing weight.

Haven't shot it yet. I initially don't like the silver color of the sights. Will definitely shoot it to see if I'm actually hindered by them or not. 4 inches of new snow....might have to try it out on some cottontails.

I really like the commander sized 1911. It just feels right if you know what I mean.

apologies for the pics. I've sworn I wouldn't take flash pictures of guns and there wasn't any daylight left. May take some more shots when the sun rises. These don't really do it justice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v58/hound46/100_2669003_edited-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v58/hound46/100_2670004.jpg

[elijdub]

Here it is....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v58/hound46/100_2669003_edited-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v58/hound46/100_2670004.jpg
Looks great, Hound!!! I like the dark-colored double diamonds. They work well on the nickel finish, IMO.
I wouldn't do a single thing to this gun but leave it bone stock. Looks great as is ;)!
I know what you mean about the feel of Commanders; the balance, the look, etc. I plan on making it my life's work to purchase and fire as many Colt Commanders as possible :).

[EchoBravoKilo]

Beautiful. I agree about leaving it alone - although I myself cannot use the stock sights. Enjoy!

[Phil]

Made during 1974. I am kinda guessing on the stocks....but I think they would be a non-checkered, rough grained, walnut colored stock with silver colt medallions.

Say, where are the pics?.....I like pics!!

Also....Congrats!I'm guessing the same.... Like these stocks on a 1974 Series 70 GM:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Murexway/Series%2070/pix3781642343.jpg

[Phil]

Got the grips nailed down, I think. Here's a stablemate to yours... Ser # 70SC34699.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Murexway/CC/pix1394974718.jpg

[hound46]

Glad to hear those are the ones. I've got a buddy that had an exact set like those and is going to give them to me in the next 2 weeks.

Hey Phil, those are stablemates! I wonder how many they were producing a day in 1974?

[Phil]

Glad to hear those are the ones. I've got a buddy that had an exact set like those and is going to give them to me in the next 2 weeks.

Hey Phil, those are stablemates! I wonder how many they were producing a day in 1974?Wow. A correct set for free? What a deal.....

According to Proof House http://www.proofhouse.com/colt/index.html there were 9,349 pistols just like yours produced in 1974. Figure 5 days a week and 51 weeks of production (with a week down time), makes around 9 a day that were just like yours.

[elijdub]

I'm guessing the same.... Like these stocks on a 1974 Series 70 GM:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Murexway/Series%2070/pix3781642343.jpg
...Or these, from a pre-series 80 Commander (put on my Series 80 Commander ;)).

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/001-6.jpg

[hound46]

Wow. A correct set for free? What a deal.....

All he wants is dinner for he and his family.....I still owe him.

According to Proof House http://www.proofhouse.com/colt/index.html there were 9,349 pistols just like yours produced in 1974. Figure 5 days a week and 51 weeks of production (with a week down time), makes around 9 a day that were just like yours.

Do you think they had runs of different models vs all year production of one? That might make the number of one type produced on one day be quite a bit bigger.....Don't answer that. That's the kind of question that started that Garand problem I told you about. OK....you can answer that question. :o

[hound46]

...Or these, from a pre-series 80 Commander (put on my Series 80 Commander ;)).

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/001-6.jpg


Nice looking pistol elijdub!!

[Phil]

Do you think they had runs of different models vs all year production of one? That might make the number of one type produced on one day be quite a bit bigger.....Don't answer that. That's the kind of question that started that Garand problem I told you about. OK....you can answer that question. :oAll that is reported is the first serial number of that gun that was produced in 1974 and the first serial number produced in 1975. That series ran on until after 1978, so they didn't stop producing them in 1974. No one can say if the production of that particular model was exactly constant every day of the year.

But you can send your serial number to Colt along with $100 and they'll tell you the exact date that it was produced and to whom it was shipped from the factory.

[hound46]

This one came from Connecticut. It couldn't have gone too far from home. Wish I had $100 burning a hole in my pocket.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Mine from 1976 came with walnut checkered stocks with silver medallions...
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/EchoBravoKilo/1976%20Combat%20Commander/IMGP0687.jpg

[hound46]

Wow, that looks like it was just made. I was at my father in law's home this last week. He's got Reader's Digest going way back. I looked through some of the mid 70s editions to see what was happening when these combat commanders came out.

I still can't seem to use the silver issue sights quickly and accurately. I can shoot a modern sighted 1911 very well. Haven't quite got the hang of these yet even when dry firing.

[Phil]

...I was at my father in law's home this last week. He's got Reader's Digest going way back. I looked through some of the mid 70s editions to see what was happening when these combat commanders came out.Ouch...
:lm:

[jeff1124]

I know where I was when my "73 CC came out. It had to do with a letter I received from a Mr. Nixon....<sigh>

[elijdub]

Nice looking pistol elijdub!!
Thanks hound :)!

[EchoBravoKilo]

I know where I was when my "73 CC came out. It had to do with a letter I received from a Mr. Nixon....<sigh>

Did it begin with "Greetings?"

[jeff1124]

Did it begin with "Greetings?"

Actually the official notice just said "greeting" like he meant he was greeting me into the army, which I guess is what he was doing!

[EchoBravoKilo]

That's right - I forgot, it was singular. I guess they didn't have grammar checkers then.

[proudpapa]

They still don't.

[Ric4509]

That's in great shape based on the pic. The original grip panels are made of fruitwood. Price seem to be very reasonable. Please post some pics when you get it. Congratulations!!