Colt pre-70s lighjtweight commander
I have just bought an pre- 70s polished nickel lightweight colt commander serial # 553xx-lw. The pistol is stock except for a trigger shoe & extended slide release. I understand that this pistol had a low production number. Anyone know how many we produced and it's worth. I would say it is about 75 to 80%.[?]
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USBP.... Welcome to the forums. There were alot of the light weight Commanders built since they were made from 1950 to 1976. Yours was made in 1968.
The blue book lists the value at:
In 9mm caliber
70% $400.00
80% $450.00
90% $550.00
In .38 Super & .45
70% $495.00
80% $550.00
90% $750.00
Joe
"Never let school interfere with your education"0 -
quote:Originally posted by Laredo Lefty
USBP.... Welcome to the forums. There were alot of the light weight Commanders built since they were made from 1950 to 1976. Yours was made in 1968.
The blue book lists the value at:
In 9mm caliber
70% $400.00
80% $450.00
90% $550.00
In .38 Super & .45
70% $495.00
80% $550.00
90% $750.00
Joe
"Never let school interfere with your education"0 -
Thanks for the onfo on lightweight numbers. Is there any records of the numbers of polished nickeled versions? 0 -
There were less than 100,000 total light weight Commanders made.
I cannot find any info on how many guns were produced in the polished nickel finish.
Joe
"Never let school interfere with your education"0 -
I don't think any of the older LW Commanders were made in nickel. I could be wrong, [:0] but my recollection was that nickel came first in the 70 series in the form of "satin nickel," and was only available on the so-called "Combat Commander."
Methinks this gun may have been refinished.
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net0 -
quote:Originally posted by nunn
I don't think any of the older LW Commanders were made in nickel. I could be wrong, [:0] but my recollection was that nickel came first in the 70 series in the form of "satin nickel," and was only available on the so-called "Combat Commander."
Methinks this gun may have been refinished.
I thought the same thing when I first looked at the gun, but the emblems and serial #s are sharp as on an original. Maybe worth a letter to Colt? Thanks for the information!
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net0 -
I doubt if that nickel finish is original. I've never seen (or even heard of) a nickel LW Commander.
The Series 70 Combat Commander was available with a satin nickel finish, but they're fairly rare0 -
I've never heard of a nickel Commander either.
But here's a (ltwt) Commander in Satin Nickel: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=28465870
I'm assuming it's correct since he has the labelled box?
If it is a factory finish, it must be pretty rare.0 -
According to my 1972 Colt catalog, satin nickel was available on the Govt Mk IV/70 & the Combat Commander, but not the Lightweight Commander.
Unless there have been secret advances in metallurgy, it isn't possible to plate non-ferrous metal; that would include the aluminum frames of guns. Even today, S&W gets that "stainless" look on its aluminum alloy parts by anodizing them.
The item listed on GB is interesting, but the box label may not tell us everything; Colt Custom shop labels were always completed with magic marker. My bet is that the gun shown is not described accurately.
Neal0 -
quote:Originally posted by Xracer
I doubt if that nickel finish is original. I've never seen (or even heard of) a nickel LW Commander.
The Series 70 Combat Commander was available with a satin nickel finish, but they're fairly rare
I never realised that the Satin Nickel finish was considered rare on the Combat Commander. I picked up mine in 1974.
Retired Air Force Msgt--NRA Life Member since 19710 -
Every time I see a reference to a Commander (or Combat Commander) being a Pre-Series 70 or Series 70, I wonder how such references got started. No Commander or Combat Commander was ever offered in a Series 70 version. The distinguishing characteristic of the Series 70 pistols is the collett bushing. Since the Commanders use shorter bushings, they never were offered with the collett bushing, so could not be Series 70 pistols. While Government Models and Gold Cups have "Series 70" stamped on the slides, no Commander pistols ever were so marked. If there are no Series 70 Commanders, there can be no "Pre-Series 70" Commanders. The Blue Book is in error in using such nomenclature. It may have gotten started because the serial number prefix of "CLW" was introduced in 1970, while "Pre-1970" Commanders have a "LW" suffix.
That said, no Pre-Series 80 Commanders (there are Series 80 Commanders) were ever factory-cataloged in anything except dual-tone blue. I suppose it is possible for Colt to have made one in nickel on special order, but I doubt it. The estimate of production in excess of 100,000 is probably close. That is not rare, and a modifed pistol in only fair condition like the one mentioned has value only as a shooter. Find someone who wants a pistol modifed as mentioned and it might bring a bit more than its shooter value.0
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