Colt LTW Commander

[Calokie]

Hello All,

I was in one of my local gun shops today and admired a Colt LTW Commander. The weapon was in pretty good shape, used, but looked like a shooter.

The commander was not a XSE model and I have a few questions. The gun did have front slide serations and a beaver tail safety. Since this is not an XSE model, what is the history of this gun? Does anyone have any experience with this thing, reliability, accuracy, etc.? Also, I've read through some other threads about alloy frame strength and it appears that I should not worry about the frame longevity? The guy wanted $450 for the gun, is that reasonable?

Thanks for the help.

[Brian D.]

I don't know about particulars on the history, other than Colt didn't start using those front cocking serrations 'til the late 1990s. Of course, that and the beavertail may have been post-factory modifications, hard to say without seeing the pistol.

But at $450, it's very good buy these days. Almost TOO good, if you know what I'm saying. Check it over closely for fit, function, and looks!

[Hawkmoon]

Frame longevity depends on how much you shoot it. Wichaka favors LW Commanders for carry, and I believe I recall him posting that he has shot the frames out of more than one of 'em.

[Calokie]

The gun looks stock and the grip safety looks as if it came from the factory.

I inspected the gun and didn't see anything too negative, i.e. a few scratches here and there, etc.

I'm one of those crasy people who shoot what I buy so I plan to shoot the gun. Maybe this isn't the gun for me if the frame will not withstand the punishment.

[wichaka]

I actually shot the frame out of a LW officers..........but if you dont stuff them with a steady diet of +P or hardball..........but use reloads, they'll last a long time.

I've got a LW Commander now I use on duty that I've had for about 8 months or so now.........it was used when I got it, rebuilt it and I've put 2,000+ rounds thru it, and the frame is okay.

Would like to see some pics of it if possible. If its in good shape, I'll take it.

[Hawkmoon]

I actually shot the frame out of a LW officers..........but if you dont stuff them with a steady diet of +P or hardball..........but use reloads, they'll last a long time.
My bad. Bad memory chip ...

Approximately how many rounds did it take to shoot out the frame, and was that mostly standard power ammo or mostly +P?

[Ric4509]

Like what Hawkmoon and Wichaka said frame longevity depends on how much you shoot it and what you stuff in them. If you shoot every other day with 50-100 rds like some of my friends you'll beat the heck out of the frame. Shok buff will help retard the wear on the frame. For $450 I think that's a good buy. Make sure the previous owner didn't mess up with the feed ramp and the barrel throating.

[Calokie]

Thanks for the help guys. I plan on making another trip to the gun shop to check it out in a little more detail.

I by no means do I shoot 50 to 100 rnds every other day. I probalby shoot 500 to 750 rounds a month through both my current 1911's and that's not on a real steady schedule any more. So, if I would put 400 or 500 rounds through the LWT a month I guess I would be okay. I normally shoot 200 gr. LSWC at about 950 fps which are very soft, but I've not been able to reload a lot lately and I've been buying the old Winchester target hard ball from Wally World, still not too harsh.

[Blasterboy]

Historically, the LW Commander was put Colt's inventory in 1957, since they had been requested by Wash. DC to make available a lighter weight version of the Gov't model 1911.