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Colt Commando or SW Victory?
- Thread starter BryanJ
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Fessor
Member
All things equal, I would buy the Victory due to the simplicity of lockworks, reliability, available gunsmiths to work on it and I just like the Victories.
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I, too, would prefer the Victory especially if it was Navy stamped or have other unique markings. Plus, I don't really have many non-S&W guns.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
If the prices are similar I’d go for the Colt. There are far fewer Commandos out there than Victories.
Assuming a "reasonable" price on each .....buy BOTH. You can then determine at your leisure which might be the more valuable/collectable. Then you could sell the lesser (if you must). It would be hard to lose money as they are both desirable for S&W, Colt, and U.S. Military collectors.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
From a collecting point of view, the Commando will on average be worth twice as much as a comparable Victory, because only 50,000 or so were made.
On the Victory, it really depends what you‘re comparing. Is it a British Service or US version?
As far as use history, quantities of both went to domestic recipients like police and defense contractors. The military-shipped Victorys (if not British) mostly went to the Navy, the Commandos more Army.
For carrying, the Victory is preferable, because it’s lighter, but the Commando is the better shooter, especially aimed single action, which is really all they practiced back then. Better sights, better trigger, better standard grip (even though plastic).
On the Victory, it really depends what you‘re comparing. Is it a British Service or US version?
As far as use history, quantities of both went to domestic recipients like police and defense contractors. The military-shipped Victorys (if not British) mostly went to the Navy, the Commandos more Army.
For carrying, the Victory is preferable, because it’s lighter, but the Commando is the better shooter, especially aimed single action, which is really all they practiced back then. Better sights, better trigger, better standard grip (even though plastic).
JJEH
Member
I'm with you here.
tenntex32
Member
Get the Colt Commando now if in good condition and priced reasonably enough. There are many more Victory examples out there than Commandos. (Colt only produced 50,000 or so Commando revolvers versus the several hundred thousand 4" 38spl Victory examples S&W produced.)
Of course my gut reaction is to say to buy both if both are in great condition...........
(Probably not very helpful I know.)
Of course my gut reaction is to say to buy both if both are in great condition...........
(Probably not very helpful I know.)
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tenntex32
Member
From a pure numbers standpoint I would say no. To be honest when I bought my Commandos they were priced at or not much more than what the Victory's were. (I have 5 Navy marked examples and two U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. examples.)
I think the "U.S. NAVY" markings tend to command more at times simply from a specific military branch use context.
I have seen the values for VG-excellent condition Victory examples skyrocket and to be honest I can't see the Colt Comandos bringing much more than some of the higher priced Victory's of late.
Maybe I need to research what the Commandos have been selling for lately.
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For some reason, collectors give a premium to S&W Navy revolvers that were stamped at the factory on the top strap. They give a much larger premium to those engraved by the Navy on the left side of the frame and often have paint in the engraving. Probably because there are fewer marked Navy guns than unmarked guns even though most 4" Victories went to the Navy.
tenntex32
Member
How many Navy contract Victory revolvers got the factory "U.S. NAVY" topstrap marking versus say the 50,000 or so total Colt Commandos produced?
I'm certain I've seen the various U.S. Navy Victory contract totals before......but the exact numbers escape me at the moment. I was thinking it would be way over 50,000 though, possibly by a few multiples.
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tenntex32
Member
I paid (trade+some cash) the same amount for my red letter Navy that I paid for my excellent condition condition "U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D.". ($600 for each, but since I bought the red letter Navy a couple of years before the excellent U.S. PROPERTY example it would be fair to say the red letter Navy cost me a tad more if adjusted for inflation.)
I was very happy to have snagged that red letter Navy at that price. I had previously paid around $500 for two Commandos, but IIRC the third very early Commando, with the wood grips, pushed me over the $600 mark with them, closer to $700 as it was purchased more recently.
When I first started buying Victory revolvers $350 was considered a good deal for the 4" .38spl examples and the 5" .38S&W (UK) examples were everywhere at around $250. Typical Commandos were running about $500 average price at that time, with of course a crazy high premium given to those examples found in the original boxes still packed full of grease. I kinda wish I had bought till my fingers bled on those found boxed Commandos even at the premium prices they were bringing back then.
I was very happy to have snagged that red letter Navy at that price. I had previously paid around $500 for two Commandos, but IIRC the third very early Commando, with the wood grips, pushed me over the $600 mark with them, closer to $700 as it was purchased more recently.
When I first started buying Victory revolvers $350 was considered a good deal for the 4" .38spl examples and the 5" .38S&W (UK) examples were everywhere at around $250. Typical Commandos were running about $500 average price at that time, with of course a crazy high premium given to those examples found in the original boxes still packed full of grease. I kinda wish I had bought till my fingers bled on those found boxed Commandos even at the premium prices they were bringing back then.
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tenntex32
Member
Just poking around on the GB sold items search function I see where typical Commandos are bringing $800-$900 now. A rather excellent example had a much higher price but with no bids offered.
That being said I ran across this example...............
Colt Commando .38 spl OSS Shipped WW2 1943 mfg. Factory Letter NO RES. - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 882204129
One of my Commando examples is relatively close in s/n (and in nicer condition)...........maybe I should get it lettered some day considering there were 1000 units in the shipment.
addendum: further perusing of the GB sold items search function also turned up relatively normal Commandos being sold at much higher prices than even $900 ............one even sold at close to $1400. Wow. Another had an opening bid of $1500.........no bidders on that one though.
So it seems not only are prices all over the map for what folks are pricing them at but also all over the map for what folks are willing to pay for them.
It also looks like folks are paying more for 4" .38spl Victory examples nowadays too.......with several $800-$1000 relatively normal examples actually being sold recently.
Seems a bit high to me but maybe I am always on the lookout for a good deal. (Or I could just be cheap!)
That being said I ran across this example...............
Colt Commando .38 spl OSS Shipped WW2 1943 mfg. Factory Letter NO RES. - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 882204129
One of my Commando examples is relatively close in s/n (and in nicer condition)...........maybe I should get it lettered some day considering there were 1000 units in the shipment.
addendum: further perusing of the GB sold items search function also turned up relatively normal Commandos being sold at much higher prices than even $900 ............one even sold at close to $1400. Wow. Another had an opening bid of $1500.........no bidders on that one though.
So it seems not only are prices all over the map for what folks are pricing them at but also all over the map for what folks are willing to pay for them.
It also looks like folks are paying more for 4" .38spl Victory examples nowadays too.......with several $800-$1000 relatively normal examples actually being sold recently.
Seems a bit high to me but maybe I am always on the lookout for a good deal. (Or I could just be cheap!)
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Well, hmmm. Don’t know, but I’ll post photos when I decide. I got rid of most of my milsurp years ago and only hung on to my 5 or 6 favorites. Told myself I was done buying. It would be easier to cure COVID than to cure the milsurp bug.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Colt barrels often need turning a bit to get sights in line. Askins did that to most he bought for USBP.
I once almost failed USAF qualification with an Official Police. Swapped for a Vic. and managed Sharpshooter.
It's not all about collector values, fellows.
I once almost failed USAF qualification with an Official Police. Swapped for a Vic. and managed Sharpshooter.
It's not all about collector values, fellows.
tenntex32
Member
I do feel your pain.
dmthomp32
Member
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I went with the Colt because at the time I mostly had colts. Now I own both Colts and Smith's, and if both were on the table for a reasonable price, id try to go for both. Just cause I don't see them for sale locally ever. If I had to pick, go with one speaks to you or is closer to the condition you prefer. I think we get hung up too often on the numbers and prospected value. Most of us won't live long enough to really gain much from our firearms other than the joy of collecting and shooting.
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I appreciate the info from you guys. We had a local auction here last week. There were probably 7-8 Victory’s and about the same number of Commandos, two which were 2” barrels. There were several nice Victory’s that sold in the $550 range, there were two Navy’s that went for about $850. Based on the order that the guns fell during the auction, I ended up getting one of the Commandos. I’ve also sent off to Colt for the authentication letter. But, there will be a Victory in my future.
cowboy4evr
Member
Glad to see you picked the Colt Commando . That would of been my pick as well . As far as turning the barrels on Colts ? I have 2 Colts and both are " spot on " for accuracy , just the way they are . My next Colt will be either a Detective Special or a Colt New Service . Regards Paul
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