Colt Commando trivia question!

[PALADIN85020]

This is the WWII Colt Commando revolver, Colt's counterpart to the S&W Victory Model. It's estimated that over 48,000 were produced during the war.

Trivia question for the day: It has been reported that one prominent U.S. general officer in particular had one for his personal defense during World War Two.

Who was that general?

 

[therevjay]

Macarthur? I know it wasn't Patton. (SAA & .357 S&W)

 

[DeadAye]

The only General that I can find referenced to one is Eisenhower.
I went to his grade school in Lansing, IL

He built a nice grade school, btw.......

 

[mkk41]

Ike!

World War II Commando Revolver Article

 

[PALADIN85020]

Ike!

World War II Commando Revolver Article

Correct! You and DeadAye got it! Just can't stump the jury here, can I?

John

 

[10-12]

For what it is worth, I seem to recall I was issued the Colt Commando instead of the S&W Victory when I was a USAF aviator during the Cuban Missle Crisis. We were at Hurlburt Field in West Florida with a stick of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne awaiting orders to drop over Cuba. Happily, the order never came. We would have been sitting ducks.

Bill

 

[Texas Star]

For what it is worth, I seem to recall I was issued the Colt Commando instead of the S&W Victory when I was a USAF aviator during the Cuban Missle Crisis. We were at Hurlburt Field in West Florida with a stick of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne awaiting orders to drop over Cuba. Happily, the order never came. We would have been sitting ducks.

Bill

You could well have had one. I was also in the USAF then, and we had both the Colt and S&W WWII revolvers and some new Combat Masterpieces.

Gen. Wm. Donovan of the OSS probably had a Colt Official Police or Commando, and he gave one to a British Naval Intelligence officer named Ian Fleming. Fleming later posed with it for articles and book covers.

Ike also had a Detective Spcl. , an early one with a square butt. Patton also had one of those, and Colt and Remington .380's.

Photos that I've seen of other generals, like Omar Bradley, Matthew Ridgeway, James Gavin, and the like, only had the usual .45 autos. They seem to have preferred shoulder holsters. Gavin carried a Randall Model One knife, too.

T-Star

 

[Fishslayer]

Patton and a .380??

 

[PALADIN85020]

Patton and a .380??

Yep, the right grip (black) was emblazoned with his general's stars. I think he wore it only on formal occasions when his Colt or his 357 might have been a bit ostentatious. I know, I know.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The Colt M1908 in .380 ACP was the issued handgun for Army generals in WWII.
What became of Eisenhower's revolver-was it preserved?

 

[redneckemt]

What's a Colt Commando worth these days?

 

[PALADIN85020]

What's a Colt Commando worth these days?

As always, depends on condition and where you are. Here in Arizona, I paid $375 for the one pictured in the original post; that was in 2008. I suspect that one with a better finish would be worth more, in 90% condition, today, I'd guesstimate about $450 for one with a 4" barrel, today, here. After the war, a number of them destined for long-term storage were dipped in Cosmoline, wrapped in heavy paper and re-packed in craft boxes. These would be worth a lot more in the box and Cosmoline. If as new in the original craft box with the twisted wire bristle brush and instruction sheet, you could probably name your price if you had one. 3,450 were originally made with 2" barrels, and if found, those would merit a premium price. Several thousand Commandos with 4" barrels were fitted after the war with newer 2" barrels. These have a ramped rather than "half moon" front sight, and warrant no premium price. Interestingly, over 7,000 of these revolvers went to the OSS (forerunner of the CIA), and over 1,800 went to the U.S. Navy. In all, over 16,000 were used by our armed services, not counting maritime shipments, of which there were nearly 9,000. Still, most were utilized, like the S&W Victory Model, for defense plant guard duty stateside.

Hope this helps a bit.

John