Colt Commando & 1943 US Craighead Holster

EOD_daddys_grrl

March 21, 2014 18:41

I have this Colt Commando .38 Special and it is completely locked up. Frozen. Is it collectible enough that someone might buy it in its present condition, or would a little elbow grease make a big difference in the selling price?

Also have the Craighead US 1943 holster - wondering if I should clean it before selling or leave it as is?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

0

• 

  EOD_daddys_grrl

  March 21, 2014 18:43

  Just noticed that the grips on mine are smooth, but the others I've seen are checkered... Are the grips not original?

  0
• 

  rufe-snow

  March 21, 2014 19:14

  Photo of Colt Commando, off the net. Yours obviously has led a hard life. I would soak it in Kroil for about a week. Then gently with a plastic hammer. See if you can get the cylinder open, and the internal mechanism functioning. You might have to take it apart, to get at the internals.
  
  I have seen similar problems in the past, with guns exposed to salt water.
  
  In it's present condition. Don't see it being worth hardly anything. Much better value wise if you could get it functional. And if possible get repo grips if the originals can't be obtained.
  
  
  
  
  

  0
• 

  bk0331

  March 21, 2014 21:00

  I would be interested, I love project guns. You may email me at bklimecki at gmail dot com. Thanks.

  0
• 

  charliemeyer007

  March 21, 2014 21:38

  I'm not sure but I don't you will get it open until you get the trigger forward. Run a bare cleaning rod down the barrel first to verify it's empty and a slug isn't stuck in the forcing cone.

  0
• 

  perry shooter

  March 22, 2014 02:09

  Zip lock bag with paper towel wrapped around pistol with lots of Kroil
  Let set for a week. DONT do any thing to holster.

  0
• 

  He Dog

  March 22, 2014 06:26

  Do not store it in the holster, that will do further damage to the finish. You can see the difference between the part of the frame that was in, and the part that was out.

  0
• 

  1BigGuy

  March 22, 2014 07:10

  Both items are valuable; especially if the pistol is militarily marked. The Standard Catalog of Military Firearms lists values for military pistols beginning around $250 and working up for there to around $850 for one in pristine condition.
  The holster would be best left alone. By the way, the book listed above has holsters for 1917 revolvers (very similar to yours) ranging in price from $75 to $250. I would think your original war-era holster would be pretty close to that.
  The pistol would obviously be worth "more" if fully functional.
  You could try to repair it yourself as others have suggested, or you could take it to a competent gunsmith and let them have a crack at it. If your purpose is merely to sell it, then maybe the repair investment wouldn't be worth it because you might not recover your cost.

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.