Posted: 5/7/2008 5:11:05 AM EDT
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I looked at a Commander yesterday. It is a pre 80 series gun and mostly original with only the barrel bushing having been changed out. It is mechanically sound- everything works as it should and the bore appears to be very good etc....It has no finish whatsoever though, the metal might have "patina" if one was being generous. The shop has a firm price of $500 and tax which would be $40. I think that's too much. Thoughts? |
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Honestly, if it is in really good shape other than the finish, and there has been no other changes made to the gun, that price is not too far off in my opinion. It depends on what you are after. If you are looking for a shooter, that could be a great base gun, it will need a refinish anyway if you have any serious work done to it. If you are looking for an all original collector piece, then refinishing it will definately hurt the value. Pre series 80 Commanders sometimes bring a premium. If it is too high for you, then it is too high. You definately don't want to feel like you got hosed if you buy it. |
| I have a really good smith in town that will do an excellent reblue for $60. So, I'd have $600 in a refinished Commander. Hopefully none of the "patina" is deeper than surface....that's a best case scenario the way I saw it. Now, at $400, $425, it's a buy for me....but at $500, too rich for my blood. |
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I paid $599 for a pre-80 Combat Commander and thought I did OK--not good, but OK. Then proceeded to put even more into it, but that's anoyher story. I'd take a look at gunbroker.com and note what folks are asking and getting. I'll bet that $500 is a pretty good price. |
| For a pre-80 Comander (I assume you mean the lightweight 'real' Commander and not the steel Combat Commander) that is a steal of a price IMO. I know very few will last long at that price around here sine people buy them up as base guns for custimization. Check good for vertical cracks where the dust cover meets the rest of the frame. |
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as has already been said $500 for a 70's Combat Commander in good shape is a great deal. If you could find another gun like it at the exact same price, it would still be a good deal. If you could find three at that price it would be just a price and not much of a deal. I'll bet you can't even find another one at that price, which should answer your question for you. |
| Part of the issue is that it's part of a VERY large collection of guns and there will be more guns in better condition, possibly cheaper, that come out of it. I can buy Commanders pretty regularly here for $600 in much better condition- a couple a year anyway if I wanted to. |
Well it sounds like you have your mind more or less made up on the issue. The other way to look at this is what WOULD you pay for it. I think you likely have a price in your mind you think is fair. Whatever that out the door price is you should call them up and say I'll give you $X out the door for it. They either say yes, or they say no in which case you are fine either way because that IS what you were willing to pay for it. |
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Success. I had shared my "appraisal" with the guy who is handling the sale of these guns when I first saw the Commander. He contacted the people who are selling them and they agreed to sell it for $425. I now own it. It is not pitted but there is a patina all over it, as I noted the front sight is missing and the left grip panel is busted- not something I had noticed before-cracked top to bottom. However, the bore is good and I think a refinish in a matte blue (guy that does this for me makes it look like Park, it's dark and flat) and I think I'll have a pretty good old blaster. Everything is fairly tight- safety etc.....Probably will change out the MSH to a flat unit and throw a Yost Retro rear and some kind of matching front on it and call it good. Have a decent set of full coverage checkered walnut grips (Springfield take offs?) to replace what's on there. Not a bad deal after all. Can always use another Colt .45 auto, especially a 70 series type, steel frame Commander. |