What Mag for a Electroless Nickel 9mm?

[Vettepartz]

I was at a gunshow today and the New-Gun-Urge bit me. I picked up a Series 70 Combat Commander in 9mm with the electroless nickel finish. It had 2 blue Colt mags which I am not sure are original with this finish. Also had non original wrap around grips. Any one know what type/color mags came with this finish? I guess I will start hunting the parts forums for original grips and mag. I have learned not to post here about buying a handgun and not show pictures (LOL).

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r96/vettepartz/9MM01.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r96/vettepartz/9MM02.jpg

[daveohno]

Nice purchase, Vettepartz! I don't know about your parts question and I've never seen a 9mm Combat Commander with an electroless finish.

[lksstbls]

Brownells sells Colt OEM nickle, 9mm magazines. They're a little pricey a around $35, I believe.

I purchased a nickle CC a while back in .45acp. It was advertised by the shop as being electroless nickle, but I've learned since that it is "satin nickle" which was a normal production finish option for the period. It wasn't/isn't very durable and I believe has been dropped (25 years ago) and replaced by SS for production guns.

E-nickle was a product of Colt's Custom Shop and was/is much more durable.
I believe it's still available from Colt's shop and others. From the pictures in your post, your pistol looks an awful lot like mine in terms of finish, and I wouldn't be surprised if the actual finish is "satin" and not e-nickle. The satin finish has a gold or copper hue to it when held in the right light. The base material of the pistol is plated with copper, and then plated in nickle. Don't know whether the color tint is the copper showing through or not. It may be of some interest, that the satin nickle finish can be restored to near-new, with a careful light bead blasting. My pistol was much rougher looking than yours appears to be, and the finish restoration brought it to near-new condition.

The "proper" grips for the nickle CC's I believe, are rough-finish, uncheckered walnut with silver medallions. I looked pretty thourougly and I don't believe anyone makes replicas and the only option is looking for some used through gunbroker, or e-bay or some other used market. Those having them know their value, and be prepared to spend $100 if you can find some nice ones. I bought some new "retro look" aftermarket grips with silver medallions and they look just fine.

[clughog]

CDNN has the Colt Nickel magazines in 9mm as well: http://www.cdnninvestments.com/co19go9mm9rd1.html
They'd look fine with your pistol. I've seen the satin nickel magazines at a couple of gun show vendors here in Texas I'm pretty sure.

[elijdub]

Congrats John! Great looking pistol!
I received your email earlier. Sounds like we had a good show here in ABQ
finally :) (i was too busy with work to make the show). The correct stocks
would be smooth walnut (?) with silver medallions. I actually have a set that
i'll give you (as you generously made me copies of the TOPO maps) when we
get together.

[Vettepartz]

Thanks, Eli, that is super generous of you. There are some really helpful and kind people on this forum.

As to the finishes, I am not aware of the differences between "Satin Nickel" and "Electroless Nickel". I know that back in the early 80's, when I had an FFL, I was offered a 'deal' by a distributor on a small run of Colt Pythons that had what was called a "Royal Coltguard" finish. I bought 2, and sold one. This has been a very sturdy finish even to this day, even though I rarely use this wheelgun.

I am always open to comments on anything to do with Colts, and appreciate everyones opinions and suggestions.

[Rio Vista Slim]

As to the finishes, I am not aware of the differences between "Satin Nickel" and "Electroless Nickel".

I am always open to comments on anything to do with Colts, and appreciate everyones opinions and suggestions.
Vettepartz,

I owned a .45 caliber Satin Nickel Combat Commander in the early '70s. That pistol came with two nickel plated 7 shot magazines, and the rough walnut stocks w/silver Colt emblems as described previously.

I have never seen a 9mm Satin Nickel Colt, so I cannot guarantee how those left the factory.

The Satin Nickel finish was applied in much the same manner that a standard nickel plated finish. The electroless nickel finish is applied in an entirely different manner. Because the satin nickel finish is somewhat fragile, and can be compromised by using nitro solvents such as Hoppes #9, it tends to show wear quickly. The Hoppes #9 can actually yellow the finish, and eventually attack the underlying copper used in the plating process.

[paul45]

and be prepared to spend $100 if you can find some nice ones.ones can be found on e-bay quite frequently for much, much less.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colt-1911-Vintage-Grips_W0QQitemZ260275022202QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260275022202&_trkparms=72%3A1011%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A3%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colt-model-1911-45-auto-grips-factory-vintage_W0QQitemZ270260936464QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270260936464&_trkparms=72%3A1011%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A3%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[Vettepartz]

Thanks for that comment, Steve. Here is a thought: from the figures posted on serial numbers for Combat Commanders in www.proofhouse.com, some start with 70BeeEss, then a number; others have 70SC then a number. Could it be that the BeeEss stands for blued steel and the SC stands for Satin Coltguard? This was mentioned by another member in another post. That would show at least 8 years of Satin Coltguard finishes. Dunno how many were 9mm. Mine has the "SC" designation. This forum won't let me use the characters that BeeEss represent; think BRAVO SIERRA. Just something to think about...........

[lksstbls]

My satin finish CC has a S/N 70SC.......... Never thought about the SC standing for satin Coltguard but could be.

[buckeyefan]

I think it is satin commander. The correct mag is also satin nickel on the end to match the finish of the gun. You will enjoy it. I really like mine alot. Congratulations!

[paul45]

70BeeEss corresponds to blued, 70SC corresponds to satin nickel, as stated.

Colt used the word Coltguard sometimes for e-nickel. Coltguard/e-nickel is an entirely different process than satin nickel.

Satin nickel is found much more often, making true e-nickel Colts scarce and priced accordingly.

You have a very nice satin nickel piece.

A friend of mine used hot water, toothbrush and toothpaste on his grundgy, dirty satin nickel Colt when he bought it used and the outcome was amazing...clean and shiney.

[Vettepartz]

I have seen mentioned in other posts about a lady that you could call at the Colt factory who would give you information about your hangun based on the serial number. I cannot remember where I saw that post, but I will search more for it. Thanks to all those who have replied so far.

[lksstbls]

I have seen mentioned in other posts about a lady that you could call at the Colt factory who would give you information about your hangun based on the serial number. I cannot remember where I saw that post, but I will search more for it. Thanks to all those who have replied so far.

I-800-962-COLT will get you to Colts. Customer Service. With the S/N, they will tell you immediately when the pistol was made. I think that pretty much limits what you can get over the phone. For a fee, they can provide more info.

Call during East Coast business hours and be prepared to hold a while (varies). Nice folks and very helpful.

[Vettepartz]

I called Colt's customer service and gave them the Serial Number. The lady was nice but had to get info from someone else on the finish. She told me it was made in 1974, and at that time, they were using BOTH satin nickel and electroless nickel processes to put on their guns. For the $100 fee I could go to their archives department and they would give me all the info I needed about how the gun was originally manufactured. I will wait for awhile before I use this service.

When I bought the gun at the show, the vendor told me it was the EN finish, and we all KNOW that all vendors tell the truth. Haha Anyways, he said he had bought the gun a year ago from gunbroker.com without any magazines and that he was told it was the EN finish.

It would be nice to see a picture of 2 guns, side-by-side, with one being satin nickel and the other in the EN finish.

[lksstbls]

I called Colt's customer service and gave them the Serial Number. The lady was nice but had to get info from someone else on the finish. She told me it was made in 1974, and at that time, they were using BOTH satin nickel and electroless nickel processes to put on their guns. For the $100 fee I could go to their archives department and they would give me all the info I needed about how the gun was originally manufactured. I will wait for awhile before I use this service.

When I bought the gun at the show, the vendor told me it was the EN finish, and we all KNOW that all vendors tell the truth. Haha Anyways, he said he had bought the gun a year ago from gunbroker.com without any magazines and that he was told it was the EN finish.

It would be nice to see a picture of 2 guns, side-by-side, with one being satin nickel and the other in the EN finish.

The gunshop where I bought mine told me it was EN finish and that was confirmed by a local 1911 smith. From the knowledge acquired on this and other 1911 forums, I'm convinced it's not and it doesn't really matter. I don't think the folks that sold it to me knew the difference, and it wouldn't have mattered to me if I had known when I bought it. It's been cleaned up to near-new condition, and is a good shooter, having been tuned a bit, but the smith who didn't know one finish from another.

If you have the original box the pistol came with, it would say either "Satin" or "EN". Otherwise, who cares? Enjoy the pistol.