Bright Nickel Commander

[clughog]

Here's a Bright Nickel (not polished stainless) Model O4617 Combat Commander, S/N FC097xxx, I picked up a while back at a local gun show. It appears absolutely new and unfired, has the original box and papers, but the grips have probably been replaced. I've been told that the rubber grips weren't original to this early of a model and it should have "Coltwood" grips on it. That's my question: What are the correct grips for this pistol? Colt Customer Service was no help. If I can't bring it back to original, I'm thinking that a set of ivory grips would look really good on it!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/BrightNickelCC_0002.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/BrightNickelCC_0004.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/BrightNickelCC_0005.jpg

[tombstone]

Nice Commander! I agree, ivory, with the medallion if available....

[Hunter]

Man that is a sharp looking Commander. I am not sure about the original stocks.
Do you know the year?
Have you had a chance to try her out yet?

[horse]

Well....the blued screws say a lot and a little.
Flip the grips over and see if they are reinforced and mk'd like a viet nam era plastic handle.

I have a lot of "one to 200 of" oddballs from the custom shop that are plain jane as they kept thier "union" shop seniority employees busy sweeping up the odd bits and making all kind of wierd combo's(series 70 w/80 features being the most known)
btw..i'm here on info of the most wierdest varient I ever came across.

I know one thing concerning colt auto's,and that is: "never say they never"

good luck sir.

[Frank]

Wow, that is a gorgeous Commander. And I think ivory stocks would look terrific. Well bought!

DVC

[cliff731]

Creighton,

That's an incredibly beautiful Commander. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

If you cannot determine the original factory type grips, a set of walnut or cocobolo wood with a gold or silver Colt medallion inset would look great. However, you're in Texas, so that changes everything... read on....

I understand that in http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/pentaxuser01/Symbols/texas2.gif these are obligatory on nickel plated Colts... inlaid into ivory being preferred... http://www.ajaxgrips.com/0/ajax/ajax/images/18/111.JPG

[hardballing]

LOVE "bling" Colt's and that Commander is a beauty.

While I also think ivories would be nice, if you want something just slightly different, you might consider the work of Patrick "Executioner" Grashorn of Grashorn Gunworks (www.grashorngunworks.com).

Patrick works in both moose and elk stag and can make you (for about $140.00 or so if I remember right) a set of "polished stags" that will resemble polished bone grips (heck, they ARE polished bone come to think of it). He has made several for me, some with medallions, some without. The polished look has deep black or gray suble streaking in them that looks awesome imo. He can do Smiths, Colt SAA's (and clones), 1911's and lots of others too.

And his turnaround time, from order to delivery, is usually under a week and a half.

Just a thought. Thanks for sharing the pics. NICE pony.

[d90king]

Looks great clug.... That really is a nice looking Commander. Not sure what the "correct" grips were but Ivories sure would look nice. Make sure to match the grip screws with the pistol.

[randyw]

Wow, I saw a commander just like that at the Bigtown gun show this past weekend. Also saw an Electroless Nickel Officers model. I like yours better though. Congrats

[daveohno]

That's a beautiful Commander, Clughog!

[A.B.]

Wow! I don't think you can go wrong, whatever you choose. :appld: What year is she?

[paul45]

That there is a scarce one! BeeUtiful! Gotta be 83 to 86......my guess anyway?

My gut tells me "Coltwood"s were done away with by then.......but I can only guess....... :confused:

My vote for a calender shot!!

[clughog]

Thanks for the compliments, folks. It was made in 1984 according to Colt. I checked the inside of the grips like horse suggested and they are reinforced, but no markings of any kind. They're a semi-soft rubber, not hard plastic. Obviously new condition, for what it's worth--I'm about half way thinking they may have be original to the pistol, unless we can establish that Colt didn't put these type of grips on pistols in that era. I was told by someone that Colt didn't start putting these on pistols until the early 1990's or so. That's why I was questioning it. The guy I got it from said they were on the pistol when he bought it from the original owner many years ago, nothing was said to him about changing out the grips, and it was sold to him as being NIB. He was thinning out his collection and this was one he decided to let go.

Hunter, I'm not planning planning on shooting this one--I got it to resell, so it's going on the market at some point and I want to preserve its value. But the more I look at it, the more I think I may have to keep it. And if I do, I'll just have to shoot it!

Thanks for the link, hardballing. I can't seem to get it to open, but when I do I'll check it out. I've got a SAA Colt that I've been thinking of putting stag or buffalo horn grips on from Eaglegrips. I'll be interested in seeing what's available from your source.

Hey, Paul! If my photography skills were any good, I'd probably submit a shot of this one for the calendar--it looks a whole lot better in person than what my pictures show. And I think it's scarce as well, especially in this condition.

[paul45]

You might want to hang on to that one, Clug......I believe bright nickel to be quite a rare finish on that model........

I would be all over that one!

[elijdub]

That's a beauty, Creighton...congrats!!!

[Nic]

Congratulations, looks great. Nic

[clughog]

While I also think ivories would be nice, if you want something just slightly different, you might consider the work of Patrick "Executioner" Grashorn of Grashorn Gunworks (www.grashorngunworks.com).Found out why I couldn't open site...here's the correct link: http://www.grashornsgunworks.com/. He's got some nice ones!

[azreloader]

Man, that is gorgeous. Of course you know how I feel about shiny pistols. I hope you keep us informed in case you do decide to sell it! :appld: