What I wanted was a Para 4-1/4" commander style 1911 with adjustable sights for my wife's 60th birthday in July. The gun on the shelf said 4-1/4" barrel and was priced accordingly. The next 1911 on the shelf was identified as a Para 5" Target Elite for about $70 more. My sales receipt states the correct serial number of the gun I bought and description of a 4-1/4" Commander. The factory box is for a Commander model with a different serial number. The last document I signed states boldly that "ALL GUN SALES ARE FINAL" and there are no returns.

Now the disappointing part. What I came home with is a full size 5" Para Target Elite not the commander model. The gun was incorrectly identified in the display case. Two sales people completed the transaction to verify the correctness of the Form 4473, copy of carry permit, etc. There was a "problem" with the SKU number but one of them did a manual over ride to complete the transaction to send me on my way at store closing time.

On-line the Para commander is fixed sights only with an alloy frame. I want a steel frame and adjustable sights. Now the frosting on the cake: the store is a Gander Mountain that is going out of business and closing. Apparently the entire store operation is now run by a "liquidator".

"All firearm sales are final" but I didn't get the gun I wanted. Oh, I don't want the gun I thought I wanted. My wife' birthday is the end of July. Do I ask her if she wants another full size 1911 and spoil the 'surprise' aspect of this gift? Do I go back and offer to return the gun in exchange for a full refund? Or, just accept my 'good fortune' pricing and we head to the range? I'm so confused.

EDIT: I gave the Para to my wife last night and all she said was, "I like it !!!". My problem is solved, the wood grips sealed the deal, and she liked the fiber optic front sight. Gander Mountain's mistake saved me $70. At check out time the box serial number, with 'DISPLAY' sticker, did not match s/n on the gun. Sales person had a Para box, Para pistol, and a buying customer -- get them out the door.

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S&WHF 366

I like the full size 5" 1911 the best. I have a steel Commander .45 and it's recoil is not bad at all but it is pretty heavy with the bull barrel. You may want to rent a light weight alloy Commander for your wife and see if she enjoys the recoil before buying her one.

Didn't anybody open the box to see what was in it and confirm the serial number?

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Have you tried to return it yet?

How did you pay for it? Cash, check, credit card?

Play a game for me please....go back to the store and double check that they put the actual serial number of your gun onto the 4473. Otherwise you may be hosting unwelcome house guests in the future. It's funny right now but won't be funny later. Should be all they have to do is to change it on the form and initial if they screwed it up. Take it all back there and get it straightened out, but don't let them have the gun back. They made a mistake and should eat it.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok