New to me/us Commander

[boehlertaught]

Here's our new, to us, Commander John. Just picked it up; need to clean and test it out for you. I've already made some space in the safe...a very nice space I must add.
Enjoy

http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac119/boehlertaught/OldCommander.jpg

[dakota1911]

Here is a pre 80 Series (made in 1981) under my current carry, a steel 2007. It would be interesting to call Colt on their toll free number and find out when yours was made.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/commanders2.jpg

[John]

More of my guns here!!!!

Who changed that trigger on the first gun, to a short one? I can't shoot my Commanders with short triggers!!! Sacrilege!!!!!

[Spyros]

Ah, but that's how that one was made, John. It's an older Commander, with a new straight MSH and a current Commander grip safety!

[boehlertaught]

Sorry, it's been my third Monday this week. Just opened the post replys. Colts is close, just tried to call them. I'll call tomorrow and see if there's some info to get. I'll report back.

[John]

Ah, but that's how that one was made, John. It's an older Commander, with a new straight MSH and a current Commander grip safety!

Which one are you talking about? The lower one in the two-pistols picture or the one in the first picture?

The one in the first picture seems to be like a parts gun, frame and slide are of different color, the slide seems to be of the newer incarnation, it has hi-profile sights on it. Add the short trigger. I do not think Colt has ever made a Commander like that.

[Spyros]

I was referring to the gun in the first post. It seems to have an alloy frame, which explains the color difference with the slide. It's hard to tell what the actual color of the slide is... if it is a bit 'plum' colored, it may be refinished. Sights and MSH appear to be aftermarket. The grip safety is probably a GM safety, modified to clear the Commander hammer.

The short trigger and the hammer appear original... I was going to add the beautiful medallion grips to this list, but the markings on the slide point to this being a much older Commander than the ones made in the 70s (which would have these fully-checkered medallion grips). I too would be interested to hear what Colt would say about it... 1950s?

[boehlertaught]

Good Morning Folks, Just got in touch with Colt. The Commander in post #1 was manufactured in 1972. It does have an alloy frame. Sorry I didn't post a picture of the left side...but the slide stop and safety are just like those posted in #2. For the MSH, the Colt folks did not have info on how the pistol was shipped, only the date it was manufactured. The slide does not appear to have been refinished as it does not appear to have been sanded. Though is does have good plumb color going on, it looks good in person. Only one good scratch...the complimentary idiot scratch by the slide stop. It's a very nice pistol for what I paid and it came from and idividual so there's no paperwork. I always consider that a "good" buy.

[Rick McC.]

It looks like a great find to me!

Congrats,

Rick

[boehlertaught]

I thought it was cool when I first saw it. I could not believe the guy selling it made it half way through the gun show without selling to someone else...glad he did though. The slide has a small patch of small rust specs. I rubbed oil on them and they mostly went away. The inside looks almost new. It was clean and well oiled. I'm thirlled with it.

[John]

The alloy frame explains the color differences between the frame and slide. Nice Commander you got there, but you need to show us better pictures.