Posted: 1/15/2017 1:52:42 AM EDT
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Hello, guys.
Short story: my brother died a couple years ago and left me a Colt Commander. I'm not sure of it's date of birth, but it would appear something is amiss. First off, it shoots way high, so I'd like to have modern sights installed. I know that means machining and all, but I'm interested to know if there's a super-reccommended and respected armorer to do such work. I'm understandably reticent to have just any ol' local yokel do it. Secondly, the finish is pretty bad. Well, to tell the truth, it's shiny all over but the bluing is worn off above/around the slide release and near the rear of the slide. It looks like holster-wear to me, but I'm not sure. Curious about suggestions for that, as well. Finally, the action is nice and tight, but I have no idea if the feed ramps have been polished or modified. I've only shot a few rounds through it (enough to realize the sights are fucked), so I don't yet know about modern SD ammo feeding-reliability. FMJ functioned flawlessly, though. I've got two Mark IV's in my collection, but wonder if I had this one Commander dove-tailed and fixed up (parkerized, etc) would be a good investment, as I really don't know as much about 1911's as I should. As for pics, my iPhone is acting up and I'm having trouble uploading pictures at the moment. Thanks for any input. the thing sure feels good in my hand and I might adopt it as my EDC, should I get it squared away, despite the weight. |
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Quoted:
<snip> I've got two Mark IV's in my collection, but wonder if I had this one Commander dove-tailed and fixed up (parkerized, etc) would be a good investment, as I really don't know as much about 1911's as I should. Absolutely. You can dovetail the rear and the front sight while you're at it. Beavertail safety if it doesn't have one already. Maybe something like a Smith & Alexander magwell; Wilson Combat has a "new" low profile magwell. Ambi safety if you're into that; I don't like having the 2nd safety against my body but for some it's a must have. Consider hard chrome for an EDC gun. |
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I had good luck dealing with Bob Reeves at Nighthawk Custom. He was able to put together a few mods that didn't make the gun too expensive that I wront carry it.
Turn around time was about a month. Two thing to remember here is alot of Smiths are booked up and you can end up not seeing the gun for a year or more. Second certain things like front strap checkering really crank up the price. So when the smoke clears you could have sold your gun and bought a Nighthawk or Wilson, or etc. But a good Commander with a few things like better sights, beavertail grip safety, etc. makes a very nice carry gun. |
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What vintage Commander? It would be a bit of a shame to chop up an early one. S80, earlier? Alloy frame, or steel?
Are you sure it's the gun printing high and not you? Have you tried shooting it from a rest...and at what range are you shooting? Have you tried a new barrel bushing? Be sure to get a commander specific one... If you are %100 set on machining it, Novak has a quick turnaround; you can send them the slide and they do their magic. 1-2 weeks turnaround, and it includes refinishing the slide. If it's your garden variety S80 or younger model, no harm in cutting it up. If it's an early one, I'd probably pause and think about it...and, if it's an alloy frame, there are considerations as with regards to refinishing, etc. Like an AR lower, it would need to be anodized after carving on it, for proper hardness and protection. Also, as far as "investment" - the second you make any alteration to it (new sights, parkerizing, etc) you basically halve it's value, if it has any. It's not an issue if you plan on shooting the piss out of it or if it has no value. If you have it as an "investment" though, then you'll be sorely disappointed when it depreciates rather than appreciates. |
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Thanks for the replies.
I guess I shouldn't have used the term "investment", as I know it's worth more in it's current condition - even if the front sight is low. As I said, I have two other 1911's and I'm pretty good with them (one, with old-style irons), so I don't believe for a second the accuracy issue is me. And yeah. I figured turn-around would be quite awhile. Thanks again. I'll be looking into it more and reaching out to who's been listed. Oh. As for the frame and what it's made from, I don't know. I'd guess it's steel from how old it is, but I know what happens when you ASSUME! LOL I'll look around and see if I can find a magnet... ETA: A couple things about the pistol itself: it's got no texturing on the grip-safety, nor the front side of the pistol-grip. The trigger appears to be "plastic" but not the grip-safety, which is metal. The slide-grooves are vertical, not slanted, and a magnet only sticks to the slide. Lastly, the serial number is in the 56,000's. I looked that up and it says mfgr date would be 1913, but that seems hard to believe as the hammer is the same "circular" style as moderns ones have (plus, the lower not being steel). Also, although some of the bluing is worn off, the gun is in pretty damn good condition (with the exception of the front sight being filed/worn down (how or why, I have no idea! Smooth draw, maybe?). Thanks. |
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Does the serial have any prefix or suffixes? You're looking up the serial number from a Gov't or USGI model, not a Commander.
If it's 56xxxLW, it was made in 1968. Something of that vintage has a fair bit of collector value, even if it is worn...it'll qualify to be traded as a C&R next year; 50 years old. |
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Quoted:
Does the serial have any prefix or suffixes? You're looking up the serial number from a Gov't or USGI model, not a Commander. If it's 56xxxLW, it was made in 1968. Something of that vintage has a fair bit of collector value, even if it is worn...it'll qualify to be traded as a C&R next year; 50 years old. Oh. Yes. It is followed by "-LW". And I hadn't thought about C&R. Hmmmm . . . . now you've got me thinking. |
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Personally, of it were my brother's gun, I'd keep it as is and in the family. The are plenty of shooter 1911s available for reasonable prices. Get one of those and shoot the crap out of it but keep your brother's gun as is. Just one man's opinion... I hear ya. My one Mark IV had been his, too. He gave it to me when I bought a house in the city and was starting a family. That was the beginning of a radical change in my personal ideology, I must say! Hell, my 226 was his too, for that matter. All that said, he wasn't particularly attached to this 1911, so I am kinda ambivalent about it as well. Thanks again for the replies, guys. I'm still on the fence about what to do with it. |