Colt 'whazzit' Commander

[JRS]

Gun dealer has Colt Combat Commander listed at $1,200.00. Said he would let me have it for $900.00. Looks like authentic all the way, except for Pachmayr grips.
On ejection port side has “Colts Combat Commander” in block letters on length of slide. Serial No. 70xxxxxx. On other side of slide has “Combat Commander” in small block letters with “COLT” in large block letters in the center flanked on the right by 9mm Luger Caliber..Barrel is standard (Not Ramped).
I’m really not that interested in collectibles, but if it is a museum piece, I’ll probably go ahead and finish buying it and try to resell it for a profit. If not, I’ll probably pay it off, lick my financial wounds and Ed Brownize it for a carry/shooter.
What on earth have I got here?
No photo. Dealer does not allow cameras on premises.

[lksstbls]

For reference only, the Gun Digest book of "Modern Gun Values" lists the "Perfect Condition" value of a 70s-era CC as $800. The book says that the pistol was offered in .45acp, .38 Super, and 9mm Para, with no premium listed for the 9mm. It was also offered blued, and nickle, with a $50 premium for the nickle.

These "book values" are a starting point only. The 9mm version, may in fact, be worth a signficant premium over the others to someone looking to fill out a collection, and if they are in short supply. I recently paid $599 for a a nickle .45acp, 70s era CC. The .45 CCs are pretty common and the price reflects that. As for the 9 mm CCs....????? Someone will be along with better info, but my parting comment is that the $1200 sounds awful rich to me.

[JRS]

I forgot to say the CC is in blue (probably 90%) and I looked up the serial number and the best I can determine is it was built in 1962. The Forum Moderator eliminated the majority of the serial number as being offensive because it is 70 (BattleShip)42xxx.

[1911Tuner]

I looked up the serial number and the best I can determine is it was built in 1962.

Can't be. Colt didn't start building Combat Commanders until mid 1970, and very few were out there until early 1972. By '73 it was firmly established.

[doctruptwn]

JRS-

I have the model that you are describing. Mine is SN# 70(BattleShip)84xxx. It was to my understanding built in the mid 80's, at the time the US military was bidding out for 9mm handguns. Mine is as you describe with the Rampant colt to the right of the 9mm Calibre. and the word "Model" following Combat commander on the ejection port side. My understanding from talking with a retired Colt employee, to his knowledge 9mm was only built twice. During the Korean war and shortly for several years following, and in the 80's During the US Army bidding period. I would think he would know but I base my statement on what he told me. At any rate I have seen VERY few. There are 2-3 people on here that have them, and I know 2 people personally that own them, and 1 in the Frank Phillips museum. There are only 2-3 for auction at most times on gunbroker, and at least 1 of them has been there on and off for over a year.

So there's what I think, take it for what you will. Just to make you feel bad I paid $300.00 bucks for it in 1986

[1911Tuner]

My understanding from talking with a retired Colt employee, to his knowledge 9mm was only built twice. During the Korean war and shortly for several years following,


Wrong. My father bought a 9mm Combat Commander...brand-spankin' new...in early 1973. He bought it at a Cook's department store...of all places...which was a forerunner to K-Mart and Wal-Mart and came shortly after the demise of Clark's.

[lksstbls]

A review of gunbroker.com archives for the past 90 days indicates a couple of nickle, 9mm CCs have sold in the $800-$900 range. Another has been listed continuously at around $1500 minimum bid with no bids offered at all. Can't recall if the O.P. indicated whether the piece came with box and paperwork which might be worth 5-10%.

[paul45]

but if it is a museum piece, I’ll probably go ahead and finish buying it and try to resell it for a profit.

Since you posted that thought on the "world wide web"........perhaps you ought to know that unless you have a FFL.......that action is illegal. :)

[elijdub]

Are we talking about a good condition, original, pre-series 80, 9mm Commander here...:)? If so..BUY IT without hesitation for $900! At least that's what i'd do... I've been searching for a reasonably priced, very good condition 9mm Commander for over a year without (much) success. $900 is a fair price, IMHO....maybe a tad on the high side, but they ain't makin' any more of 'em.

Edit: With the SN info provided, without further numbers, the best i can say is that it was made between '70 and '78.

[gfavaron]

Colt serial numbers and markings can be confusing at times. My 9mm combat commander was made (according to Colt) in 1980, and has serial #80(BeeEss)39XX. One might think from that serial that it is an 80 series with a firing pin safety. It is not.

[Hawkmoon]

$900 for a 90% 9mm Combat Commander is not too high. Regardless of what your reference book says, in the "real world" pre-Series 80 Combat Commanders in 9mm are worth a considerable premium compared to the same pistol in .45 ACP.

Whatever you do, please do NOT have it modified in any way.

[elijdub]

Whatever you do, please do NOT have it modified in any way.
I whole-heartedly agree....

[rbmcmjr]

Regardless of what your reference book says, in the "real world" pre-Series 80 Combat Commanders in 9mm are worth a considerable premium compared to the same pistol in .45 ACP.
Does the 9mm Combat Commander merit a premium over the regular (lightweight) version? I have one of those and it is a sweet shooter.

Rick

[elijdub]

Does the 9mm Combat Commander merit a premium over the regular (lightweight) version? I have one of those and it is a sweet shooter.

Rick
I don't think so personally...though others may disagree.
I suppose one could speculate that, since "Combats" were put into production in 1970 while "LWs" had been built since 1949, the former could've been produced in lower numbers (increasing their value).
I like them both equally ;).

Edit: How 'bout some pics of your Combat ;)?

[doctruptwn]

Wrong. My father bought a 9mm Combat Commander...brand-spankin' new...in early 1973. He bought it at a Cook's department store...of all places...which was a forerunner to K-Mart and Wal-Mart and came shortly after the demise of Clark's.

Tuner - I'm Not saying that it is absolutely correct, It's just what I was told. HE said the 9mm Calibre was built in limited quanity not the commander model.

At any rate if you buy, as said get some colt walnut grips that it originally came with and don't fiddle with it otherwise.

[Hill]

Gun dealer has Colt Combat Commander listed at $1,200.00. Said he would let me have it for $900.00. Looks like authentic all the way, except for Pachmayr grips.
On ejection port side has “Colts Combat Commander” in block letters on length of slide. Serial No. 70xxxxxx. On other side of slide has “Combat Commander” in small block letters with “COLT” in large block letters in the center flanked on the right by 9mm Luger Caliber..Barrel is standard (Not Ramped).
I’m really not that interested in collectibles, but if it is a museum piece, I’ll probably go ahead and finish buying it and try to resell it for a profit. If not, I’ll probably pay it off, lick my financial wounds and Ed Brownize it for a carry/shooter.
What on earth have I got here?
No photo. Dealer does not allow cameras on premises.

It sounds like the twin of the one I bought at local store for $525., right down to the Pachmyer grips.

I paid $800. for a 1951 LW Commander in 9mm but that model has gotten old and by that, collectible.

9mm Commanders are nice shooters, but so are .45 Commanders.

I'm thinking that the premium on 9mm Colts exists mostly in this forum. The people here will make a person crazy, losing all or most of their normal sensibilities.

They also get price boosts because they're taken south of the border. 1911 style pistols are extremely popular down there but they aren't allowed to have the .45 pistols.

[1911Tuner]

It's just what I was told.

Understood. I just found it interesting that a former Colt employee didn't know. Guess ya just don't know who to trust these days. ;)

[JRS]

After reading all the input on my impending Colt Combat Commander purchase, I have decided that my best course of action would be to preserve the gun in its original configuration. That means I will ditch the Pachmayr grips for walnut woodies (Midway has them from Hogue) and to get a letter of authenticity from Colt and then to make the gun a sort of “Sunday-go-to-meetin’ “ celebrity with limited exposure. And all the while, my “new” Colt Combat Commander collectible will just hang around and increase in value. Thanks for the input. JRS

[lksstbls]

Congratualations on your pending purchase. FYI, period correct walnut grips are hard to find, and expensive when you do. I know, because I looked, unsuccessfully and settled for something presentable but not "correct". My definition for "correct" is uncheckered, but a rough/smooth finish texture, and Colt medallions).I found some for $100 on G.B., but given that I already had more money into the piece than it would ever be worth, I drew the line. Good luck. This could be a discussion thread on its own merits.

[Hill]

Congratualations on your pending purchase. FYI, period correct walnut grips are hard to find, and expensive when you do. I know, because I looked, unsuccessfully and settled for something presentable but not "correct". My definition for "correct" is uncheckered, but a rough/smooth finish texture, and Colt medallions).I found some for $100 on G.B., but given that I already had more money into the piece than it would ever be worth, I drew the line. Good luck. This could be a discussion thread on its own merits.

Ummm, I THINK that the rough texture silver medallion uncheckered grips were restricted to nickeled Commanders and that blued ones got the 70 series gold medallion checkered walnut grips with no double diamonds like the government model wore.

[rbmcmjr]

Edit: How 'bout some pics of your Combat ;)?

My 9mm is a lightweight. I won't clutter this thread, but you can see it in my public profile with the stainless lightweight .45 version.

Rick

[doctruptwn]

Ummm, I THINK that the rough texture silver medallion uncheckered grips were restricted to nickeled Commanders and that blued ones got the 70 series gold medallion checkered walnut grips with no double diamonds like the government model wore.

Hill --that is what mine have on them. Gold medallion for blued, Silver for stainless.

[lksstbls]

Ummm, I THINK that the rough texture silver medallion uncheckered grips were restricted to nickeled Commanders and that blued ones got the 70 series gold medallion checkered walnut grips with no double diamonds like the government model wore.

I had not paid any attention to the potential differences between blued and nickle, as my pistol was/is nickle, but I belive that you are correct as usual.
Good point.

[michael t]

My 9mm commander was made in 1951 My serial is in low 6000 range I bought it cheap it in a pawn shop because he didn't want a 9mm 1911 in store. . I called Colt to make sure.
A simple phone call and you know.