What to do?

[Eddy Munster]

Local shop just got two Commander Series 70 in. One brushed nickel and one blue. $800 for blue $900 for nickel. Both are in good shape. Not fired much. What to do?!

[kenhwind]

Gee; eany meany mitey moe, buy them both, and then you'll know.

[Eddy Munster]

Well I could, but that would change my plan of buying that beretta cx4 I've been eyeing. BTW is that about right for the $?

[lksstbls]

If the nickle Commander is "satin nickle" which was the production alternative to bluing for the period, it's no bargain. Satin nickle is very flat with no luster at all, and is very delicate and prone to showing handling wear. Not bad looking if it hasn't been knocked around, but if you carry it, the wear will show very quickly. I have one, and speak from some experience.

If the nickle, is electrolyess nickle or e-nickle, that's another ball game as e-nickle was/is a premium finish offered by Colt's custom shop and is quite handsome and durable. That price might be appropriate for a nice e-nickle example. Generally, the satin nickle variants go for $6-700 unless it's really pristine, and then maybe another hundred with box and paperwork. I paid $599 for my satin nickle pre-80 Series Combat Commander. It cleaned up very nicely, but I still have much more money in it than it will ever be worth. Technically, there were no 70 Series Commanders/Combat Commanders made. The 70 Series pistols of the period were full size 1911s, and had the infamous collet barrel bushing which was never used on the Commander Series.

[paul45]

What to do?!

BTW is that about right for the $?

Keep on walking.......

[Eddy Munster]

Technically, there were no 70 Series Commanders/Combat Commanders made.
So are they Series 80 sans the FPS?

[dakota1911]

To rerun the record there were no "Series 70" Commanders. Commanders built in the 70's did not have the firing pin or "Series 80" safety. The next question are they Commanders (alloy frames) or Combat Commanders (steel frames). The slides on both are steel of course, and the price does not seem that bad in today's market.

[lksstbls]

I don't know if there were other features, functional or cosmetic, that were part of the "80 Series", but the fp safety was/is the big issue. Everyone knows what is being referred to when the "70 Series" Commander designation is used, and even the technical press lists 70 Series Commanders. The Commander series never got the collet barrel bushing which was the selling point of the full sized 70 Series, hence no 70 Series Commanders. Certainly not a big deal, but a technicality folks with nothing better to do (like me) can fuss over. Enjoy your new pistol!

[Eddy Munster]

Thanks lksstbls for clearing that up. I dont want a Series 80 because some moron on youtube told me it was bad!(Jk) And I will enjoy it if I buy it! Dakota1911, both are combat commanders. As it turns out a friend of mine told me it's not a bad price for a pre ban colt. My state laws are similar to Cali"s. So colts bring a premium.

[dakota1911]

I would go with the blue one. I had both in the 70's and found the Satin Nickle showed wear fast and the little silver sights were hard to see under some lighting conditions. Lately I have seen pristine examples of 70's guns in the $800-$900 range and there seem to be less for sale than there were a year ago.

[Eddy Munster]

I just got home from the shop with my first colt! In the end it was the blue one that came home with me. It was in better shape, and less money then the satin nickel one. Looks to have been a safe queen too. Thanks for the help and all the info. I will post some pics as soon as I can.

[leade45]

The blue Commander sounds nice. Pics when you have a chance.

[Eddy Munster]

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv186/3975justin/031-1.jpg

[Eddy Munster]

http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv186/3975justin/028.jpg

[WhoaCowboy]

Welcome to the Colt's Family.....bet ya can't stop with just one :eb:

[Eddy Munster]

I almost couldn't walk away without buying both of them. Colt are hard to come by in my state. The shop also took in a few of colts custom shop officers models at the same time. Very nice! These however were not for sale, if they were I might have came home with more then one colt. I will be glad for the one I do have. I will let you know how she shoots after this weekend. BTW How hard are these to find in other states?