Posted: 10/3/2009 8:21:33 PM EDT
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I'm looking at a Colt Commander for about 450. Factory nickel is in good shape, but it looks like it's been carried a bit. Serial number is 70sc492xx. Good buy or not? Not really looking for a safe queen, so is the nickel gun a bad choice?
Thanks, Ben ETA- the markings look like this one, only the gun isn't as mint and has pach. grips on it. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142001620 |
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That Commander was made in 1976, $450 is a good price and it should serve you well. As long as it hasn't been bubba'd.  Wow thanks! It's been in the shop for over a year and was just marked down. The only non stock things on it besides the grip is a dot of red paint on the front sight and a wilson extended slide release. The guy that sold it is a regular and told me the only reason he sold it was to trade into a rifle he'd wanted for a while. Are the colts of that era pretty good in terms of fit and function? I suppose changing the sights to 10-8s ect would wreck the nickel on the slide (I am clueless on nickel). Thanks again, Ben |
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Given that I paid $599 for a satin nickle CC a couple of years ago, $450 sounds like an excellant price to me. If the nickle finish is sound and hasn't been scratched through to the copper substrate, it can be rejuvenated to near new with a careful bead blast. Keep Hoppes #9 away from it as the copper solvent in the Hoppes will harm/destroy the nickle finish by attacking the copper substrate.
There are sight alternatives that will fit the existing dovetail–– Millet makes a nice set, as does 10-8. Novak even makes a family of Novak-style rear sights which can include tritium inserts. I had some professional trigger work done, and now have much more invested in the darn thing that it could ever be worth, but its an excellant shooter and reasonably handsome. It was pretty much a beater when I took it home. |
Update- there was a 10% off sale today and I ended up getting the gun for $440 out the door 
I'm thinking until I beat it up more I want to keep it stock except the sights. The nickel isn't quite collector grade, but it is in very nice condition, so I think some different sights, msh and grips should do it 
I was thinking of something like this http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=139050281 |
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Quoted: I have seen where some have used toothpaste to clean and restore this finish. YMMV Update- there was a 10% off sale today and I ended up getting the gun for $440 out the door I'm thinking until I beat it up more I want to keep it stock except the sights. The nickel isn't quite collector grade, but it is in very nice condition, so I think some different sights, msh and grips should do it I was thinking of something like this http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=139050281 |
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Quoted:
I have seen where some have used toothpaste to clean and restore this finish. YMMV Update- there was a 10% off sale today and I ended up getting the gun for $440 out the door
I'm thinking until I beat it up more I want to keep it stock except the sights. The nickel isn't quite collector grade, but it is in very nice condition, so I think some different sights, msh and grips should do it
I was thinking of something like this http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=139050281
Interesting.....
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Quoted: Apparently, the mild abrasive quality was enough to clean it but not damage the finish. Quoted: Quoted: I have seen where some have used toothpaste to clean and restore this finish. YMMV Update- there was a 10% off sale today and I ended up getting the gun for $440 out the door I'm thinking until I beat it up more I want to keep it stock except the sights. The nickel isn't quite collector grade, but it is in very nice condition, so I think some different sights, msh and grips should do it I was thinking of something like this http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=139050281 Interesting..... |
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For $450.00 I'd have grabbed it. While not the biggest fan of nickel, for that price, I wouldn't care. I've been watching this gun for over a year with the idea of a custom gun, but kept holding off. I don;t think the gun is nice enough to keep as a collector, so I'll carry and shoot it until it looks ugly and then have some work done to it and have it done up in something besides nickel... |
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I bought my LW Commander for $300 in 1997. Never regretted it for a minute. At $450 I'd have bought it fast. Nickel or not. If I remember correctly, nickel plate can be removed. If it was shiny pimp chrome, I'd see if the finish could be dulled down with a light bead blast. |
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I bought my LW Commander for $300 in 1997. Never regretted it for a minute. At $450 I'd have bought it fast. Nickel or not. If I remember correctly, nickel plate can be removed. If it was shiny pimp chrome, I'd see if the finish could be dulled down with a light bead blast. It's dull nickel so it looks ok and is in nice shape right now so I'll roll with it for a while. When I change it up, I'd like to go with a black finish like melonite maybe
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