New member with newb questions (Colt Commander)...

[SpeedRacer]

Hey all, I've been reading through this site for several days now. Great stuff! Gotta be the most helpful, non-judgemental member base of any gun forum I've been to. :D

I've recently purchased my first handgun (Springfield XD-40 Service) for home defense and light range use. It's a great "tactical" type gun. Now I've been bitten by the bug!!! After much thought, I decided to buy a 1911-style pistol as my second purchase. Something I can tinker with, take apart and upgrade over time. Plus I really want a .45ACP well, just because. :)

Now to the point...a gun collecting co-worker has a blued Series 70 Colt Lightweight Commander (CLW prefix, right?) he is willing to sell me. According to him the gun is EXTREMELY "low mileage" (less than 300 rounds through it) and in 98% condition or better. The gun is completely stock.

First question, is this a good base gun to build/customize? Does the Commander have as much aftermarket support as the full-size 1911s? If the gun really is in that great of shape, is it something I should even mess with?

Secondly, what would be a fair price? I don't know the blue book value, but I have seen similiar guns on GunsAmerica, etc going from $600-800.

Thanks all, and if things work out I'll be around a while. :D

[John]

If you wanted it for CCW, I would say jump on it. A Colt S70 Lightweight Commander is a very nice gun. But if you intend to shoot it a lot, the aluminum allow frame might prove not to be up for the task. A Combat Commander would be a better alternative.

[SpeedRacer]

Someday I will likely get my CCL, but right now it's not really a deal maker/breaker. And it probably won't see too much use by most people's standards. Maybe a thousand rounds a year tops. Would the alloy frame still be an issue at that low level of shooting?

Thanks for the response...

[John]

A thousand rounds a year will not be an issue, but 500 a week will.

[SpeedRacer]

Great, thanks. I hate to ask, because it's been asked a million times before and can greatly vary...but what would be a fair price for this beauty?

[John]

Can't help on this last one, I live in Greece, so others have to help you on that.

[wichaka]

500-700+ depending on condition.............cant tell that without a pic.

I carry one just like it for duty.............they are great guns. If you dont buy it, let me know..........I REALLY NEED ANOTHER ONE!..........BAD!

http://w3.gorge.net/scshields/rearsight.jpg

[Hawkmoon]

Now to the point...a gun collecting co-worker has a blued Series 70 Colt Lightweight Commander (CLW prefix, right?) he is willing to sell me. According to him the gun is EXTREMELY "low mileage" (less than 300 rounds through it) and in 98% condition or better. The gun is completely stock.

...

Secondly, what would be a fair price? I don't know the blue book value, but I have seen similiar guns on GunsAmerica, etc going from $600-800.
Something to consider is that the Blue Book considers 98% to be a gun that has been sold to an individual owner (and hence must thereafter be considered to be "pre-owned") but never fired. 100% applies to guns never sold at retail. So if your friend has used this gun at all, the best it can be is 95%, not 98%.

The Blue Book does not appear to have a listing for a Series 70 LW Commander. The price for a "pre-70 Series" in 95% is $875, and for a Series 80 LW Commander in 95% is $525. So the prices suggested by Wichaka are probably about right -- understandable, since he's always on the lookout for them.

[SMMAssociates]

Speedracer:

The Commander is more or less a "Government Model" in terms of add-ons and customization. Most of the parts are interchangeable.

Wichaka's got aftermarket sights on his, I think, and I don't think the beavertail is stock, so those are obvious. You probably could swap the latter yourself if you buy a drop-in (assuming you're not laughing at me 'cause you've done it a dozen times). Swapping sights is a little more complicated....

IMHO, the LW's really a carry gun. Shoot it often enough to be sure it's working, and buy a beater to burn lots of ammuntion. You can buy lots of Commander-sized clones....

Just watch out because there are four of us here who want that gun!

Regards,

[SpeedRacer]

Thanks for the info everyone, that really helps. It is indeed a beauty of a gun. I should be checking it out in person this weekend.

I will likely buy it regardless, and see if it's really what I'm looking for. I had a coworker today offer me an unlimited supply of his .45 reloads, so maybe the LW isn't the right choice after all. :D

If I decide to sell/trade you guys will be the first to know. ;)

[luke]

Sandman!

Are you not from the Philippines?

[mitchjoe]

SpeedRacer:

Unless you know the co-worker who offered up the reloads pretty well & his reloading practices, I'd stick w/ factory ammo (or your own reloads).

mitchjoe

[Hawkmoon]

SpeedRacer:

Unless you know the co-worker who offered up the reloads pretty well & his reloading practices, I'd stick w/ factory ammo (or your own reloads).

mitchjoe
I was going to say the same thing. The only report I've ever read of a 1911 Kaboom was caused by a "friend's" reloaded ammo, that was double-charged.

The 1911 runs fine with factory ammo, and it's relatively cheap if you buy it in bulk. Reloaders who try to push the envelope can create problems, and with an alloy frame you especially don't want to be running home-brewed +P or +P+ ammo through it.

Of course, if you want to get into reloading yourself, that's a different story. Then you have control of what's going on, and only yourself to blame if you mess up.

[SpeedRacer]

Thanks for the concern guys, believe me I'm well aware of the dangers of reloads. But my coworker definitely knows what he's doing, we've been to the range several times together. He owns 4 or 5 1911 style pistols, including a Colt, Para, Kimber and others. He actually reloads a touch on the light side, as he doesn't want to put undo wear on his higher end guns.

As for the Colt, didn't get to see it this weekend. However I plan on buying it tomorrow sight unseen. If it's anywhere near as nice as my buddy says it is, it will be well worth the money. :D