1943 Colt Commando 38 Special

[jhnttrpp]

I have run across a 1943 Colt Commando 38 special. I have no idea where it has been all of these years but it is in very nice condition. I have attached a few photos I took with my phone. I can try to do better later. Serial number 234xx. It has been shot very little. I'm just curious as to how much this one is sought after. I know it is not as desirable as the blue guns but it has been well taken care of. Enjoy and comment as you like.

 

[DWalt]

I'd think it would bring a better price than a blued OP of the same general time period and condition. Attractive to both Colt collectors and military collectors. Not too often seen, at least not by me. Ike carried one of them.

 

[Gardner11]

Colt made around 50,000 of this model . Yours is very nice, I looked for over two years before finding one . Ike carried the 2” model which is rare , you have a great piece of American history .

 

[Watchdog]

I have run across a 1942 Colt Commando 38 special. I have no idea where it has been all of these years but it is in very nice condition. I have attached a few photos I took with my phone. I can try to do better later. Serial number 234xx. It has been shot very little. I'm just curious as to how much this one is sought after. I know it is not as desirable as the blue guns but it has been well taken care of. Enjoy and comment as you like.

Did you buy it? I hope so. Cause I sure would've. They go for a pretty penny up here, and I've only seen one for sale in an LGS in the past couple of years.

Regarding it being "not as desirable"...well, that just depends on who wants one, really, and how bad they want it.

 

[Targets Guy]

That's a nice find. Good looking revolver.

 

[Absalom]

You didn‘t mention the price. I‘m not sure where you got the idea about these not being as desirable as the blue guns. A Commando will currently bring up to double the price of a blued Official Police in like condition. From the looks of it, that one would start around 700 (wild guess )

With that serial, it‘s from later 1943, by the way. You can officially ignore Proofhouse and the Colt online look-up; they are not accurate. There really aren‘t any 1942 Commandos, except very few early ones with three-digit and lower serials. As a rule of thumb, into the low 30-thousands are 1943, the rest are 1944. The very last ones were assembled Jan/Feb. 1945.

 

[jhnttrpp]

You didn‘t mention the price. I‘m not sure where you got the idea about these not being as desirable as the blue guns. A Commando will currently bring up to double the price of a blued Official Police in like condition. From the looks of it, that one would start around 700 (wild guess )

With that serial, it‘s from later 1943, by the way. You can officially ignore Proofhouse and the Colt online look-up; they are not accurate. There really aren‘t any 1942 Commandos, except very few early ones with three-digit and lower serials. As a rule of thumb, into the low 30-thousands are 1943, the rest are 1944. The very last ones were assembled Jan/Feb. 1945.

I didn't mention a price because I didn't buy it. I am looking for this information for a friend. He will put it up for sell some time in the near future. I am just trying to help him figure out exactly what he has and how much he should ask for it. The date was my error. I did use the online look up for the date. Thanks for all the info everyone has given. I know it is a Colt and this is the S&W forum, but I am a member here and have found the members to be helpful.

 

[RoninPhx]

At the beginning of WWII there were not enought 1911A1's to go around. I think it was the alabama national guard, when federalized, issued these guns. prior to being deployed they received the 1911's and the revolvers were put in storage. Where they sat until a few years ago. Revolvers were donated to some entity, which then started selling them. At the time could be bought with the original box, or without it. I am going from poor memory but i want to say the gun minus a box around 700dollars, and over a grand with the box. goggle would probably have it. there are a number of links, but here is one U.S. WORLD WAR II COLT COMMANDO REVOLVERS ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD NEW UNFIRED IN BOX - .38 COLT AND S&W REVOLVERS 1941-2000 [REF] - U.S. Militaria Forum

 

[Absalom]

.....I am going from poor memory but i want to say the gun minus a box around 700dollars, and over a grand with the box. goggle would probably have it. there are a number of links, but here is one U.S. WORLD WAR II COLT COMMANDO REVOLVERS ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD NEW UNFIRED IN BOX - .38 COLT AND S&W REVOLVERS 1941-2000 [REF] - U.S. Militaria Forum

Yep, one of those cases where hindsight is 20/20 ...

Unfortunately, the old auction you linked is from 2011, and irrelevant today price-wise. Those NIB Alabama guns hit four digits within a few years; there were some from Massachusetts marked MASS also. These days, you are lucky if you find any used standard Commando with a starting bid lower than 6-700, no matter the condition. The majority of current offerings on GB, for example, hover around 1200 to 1500; although actually selling for that is a different story, of course.

 

[jhnttrpp]

I read your link. This gun is not in the same serial number range as the Alabama guns. I can't say where this gun originally came from. The most recent owner passed away 3 years ago. I can't ask him.

 

[jhnttrpp]

I thought I should post a few more photos. I'm trying to show the condition of the gun and some of the markings. I put some CLP on a patch because I saw some fine specks in the barrel. The photo shows the how little came out. The barrel shows no rust or any thing else. What I saw was dust.

 

[Absalom]

I thought I should post a few more photos. I'm trying to show the condition of the gun and some of the markings. I put some CLP on a patch because I saw some fine specks in the barrel. The photo shows the how little came out. The barrel shows no rust or any thing else. What I saw was dust.

I noticed a bit of "red dust" around the barrel root; you've likely seen that too, shouldn't be hard to dispose of.

Overall, the gun is really in very nice shape and the finish original without a doubt and shows very little wear.

The brown plastic stocks also seem to be solid and without noticable damage at least based on what your photos show. Some call them "Coltwood", but more serious Commando aficionados (as well as Charles Pate in his book) avoid the term to distinguish them from the much thinner, inferior swirly-brown Coltwood stocks that were standard on post-war OP's and DS's from 1946 to 1954 and had a tendency to warp and crack.

It has the flaming bomb ordnance stamp on the frame. There are Commandos with and without, however, there is no correlation between this and the gun's destination; it's not limited to military guns. I have a Commando shipped to Northrop Aircraft Co. that has the mark.

 

[jhnttrpp]

Just a few more. I recognize the Bomb symbol but not the V in front of the trigger. Third photo

 

[824tsv]

The VP is Colt's "Verified Proof" mark.

 

[jhnttrpp]

I noticed a bit of "red dust" around the barrel root; you've likely seen that too, shouldn't be hard to dispose of.

Overall, the gun is really in very nice shape and the finish original without a doubt and shows very little wear.

The brown plastic stocks also seem to be solid and without noticable damage at least based on what your photos show. Some call them "Coltwood", but more serious Commando aficionados (as well as Charles Pate in his book) avoid the term to distinguish them from the much thinner, inferior swirly-brown Coltwood stocks that were standard on post-war OP's and DS's from 1946 to 1954 and had a tendency to warp and crack.

It has the flaming bomb ordnance stamp on the frame. There are Commandos with and without, however, there is no correlation between this and the gun's destination; it's not limited to military guns. I have a Commando shipped to Northrop Aircraft Co. that has the mark.

I looked for the red dust you mentioned. I found some dirt but wiped it off. The paper towel only showed black. I took another photo. Take a look and let me know.

 

[Absalom]

I looked for the red dust you mentioned. I found some dirt but wiped it off. The paper towel only showed black. I took another photo. Take a look and let me know.

Look where the arrow points in my snip from your original photo. That's what I meant. It was pretty blurry.

I don't see any in your new photos.

 

[jhnttrpp]

Ok I'm back with more photos hoping for any comments pertinent to the condition of the gun. I took the grips off and there was what I thought to be a little rust. A little 0000 and Kroil and everything seems clean. I was really afraid to do much other than a little rub. There was an M inside of the grip frame. Does it have any significance. Thanks

 

[jhnttrpp]

Last three. I have zero experience on how to evaluate or grade a gun. I also know you can't do it unless it is in your hands. the eyes can see what the camera can hide. Still if you see anything I need to be aware of please let me know. As I mentioned before I plan to offer it up on our forum and I would like to get a fair price for it. Something good for the buyer and the seller.