COMMANDO!

[RalphK22]

OK, I haven't posted anything for awhile and am getting prompted to participate in a conversion or ask a question, etc. I visit here almost every day and learn a lot.
I bought a few guns this year, but no S&Ws, with perhaps the exception of a beater .32 Regulation Police, that I may have bought in January. I have been having some fun with it. I am at the point in my gun buying career where there is nothing I really "need" so I look for things I think are "under priced" or unique. I am not a collector, but enjoy quality firearms I can shoot and enjoy and I guess I should add afford. I don't buy on line often, so I search local shops an shows, and there has been an absence of S&Ws let alone nice or affordable ones. I keep hoping I run across a model 57 I can afford, but they seem to be scarce as hens teeth.
Anyway, I bought this yesterday, not a Smith, but hope you enjoy some pictures and I did my duty and submitted a post. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

 

[Texas Star]

If more of us participated, the board woud have more useful input, I'm sure, As-is, maybe 20 of us keep things going on a daily basis.

I do recognize the Colt Commando, a rougher miitary version of the Official Police .38. The British bought many in their .38-200 caliber, as they did with S&W's.

One of the British ones, maybe a commercial Official Police version, was mentioned by Ian MacHorton in his book, "The Hundred Days of Lt. MacHorton", describing his trek through the Burmese jungle with Japanese troops in pursuit. Last name may be spelled, "MacHorten." Been years since I read it.

I occasionally carried a Commando or the OP model in the USAF in the 1960's, before we had enough S&W M-15's to meet the need. I had trouble qualifying with an OP one session and switched to a Victory Model S&W, which shot much closer to the sights. Most Colts need the barrel turned slightly to get the sights on target. I tried to avoid them.

 

[DWalt]

The Colt Forum contains a lot of postings about the Commando and you can probably find more detailed information about them there. They are becoming quite popular. While some saw US military service during WWII, most were destined for usage as arms for defense plant guards, etc.

 

[RalphK22]

I have joined the Colt forum earlier this year when I bought my second Colt, a finished challenged 1933 Officer Model 22 Long Rifle, my first being a1991 A1 officer model. I was lead to an article on the Commando that was very informative. I have a fair amount of S&Ws and Rugers,but was never been bitten by the Colt bug and am now trying to educate myself about them.

Bought this one because it is unique and the only "military" firearm I own. I think it was a good buy for 4 bills, at least I hope so.

 

[rags]

If more of us participated, the board woud have more useful input, I'm sure, As-is, maybeI do recognize the Colt Commando, a rougher miitary version of the Official Police .38. The British bought many in their .38-200 caliber, as they did with S&W's.

One of the British ones, maybe a commercial Official Police version, was mentioned by Ian MacHorton in his book, "The Hundred Days of Lt. MacHorton", describing his trek through the Burmese jungle with Japanese troops in pursuit. Last name may be spelled, "MacHorten." Been years since I read it.

I occasionally carried a Commando or the OP model in the USAF in the 1960's, before we had enough S&W M-15's to meet the need. I had trouble qualifying with an OP one session and switched to a Victory Model S&W, which shot much closer to the sights. Most Colts need the barrel turned slightly to get the sights on target. I tried to avoid them.

" ...20 of us keep things going on a daily basis..."

Sorry, I should participate more often... Nice Pony Ralph.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Whew!!! Thank God it's about a handgun. I was afraid you were telling all of us you were giving up on wearing underwear, permanently. Nice Colt, by the way.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Gunslinger808]

Whew!!! Thank God it's about a handgun. I was afraid you were telling all of us you were giving up on wearing underwear

My first thought as well!
w00t!
All kidding aside Ralph, you don't want to post, or feel the need that you must, then don't.
Heck, some of my best and smartest friends speak very little, and initiate even fewer conversations.
I won't think any less of you for reading rather than posting.
Heck, if they had it, I'd probably be prompted to post less.
BTW, nice find!

 

[kennyb]

very nice...i like!

 

[GatorFarmer]

Texas Star brings up an interesting point about encountering a few of them post WW2 in the USAF. I vaguely recall reading that some of the Colts were issued as aircrew weapons. I think it was in the Pacific. Being in the post war USAF inventeoy would suggest that. Does anyone recall the details of their wartime use outside of CONUS?

 

[chud333]

Very nice Colt sir.
Don't be afraid to chime in and by all means keep posting
pictures of your guns on here. We all like the pictures.
Not a thing wrong with the Colts and i have a few to keep
my Smiths company. Welcome aboard !!

Chuck

 

[BUFF]

I read the thread title and thought that this might be a discussion of Norton's Isolastic motorcycle.

You found and bought a pretty nice sixgun. I don't see very many of them around here.

 

[sureshotbob]

Ralph that commando is in very nice condition and you got it for a great deal at $400.00. I've been watching for one for a few years as I collect military firearms. In my neck of the woods they normally go for $800.00 -$500.00. A shop I go to has had one for over a year that started out at over $700.00 and is now at $500.00 it's about a 90% gun with some slight spotting to the finish. If I was working it would be in my safe keeping all my S&W Victory's company.

 

[Iggy]

I was issued one of those when I went on the Highway Patrol. Kept it in the trunk of the car for an emergency backup. Never fired it in th 10 years I was on the Patrol.

When the Patrol issued 66's we were able to buy our old guns. I paid $40 for mine and traded it off on something I don't have.

Where is the icon for smacking one's self in the head for stupidity?

 

[29aholic]

Whew!!! Thank God it's about a handgun. I was afraid you were telling all of us you were giving up on wearing underwear, permanently. Nice Colt, by the way.

Regards,

Dave

Beat me to it

 

[DCWilson]

Nice gun, great condition, fantastic price. Congratulations.

There is something about a plain wrap wartime revolver that demands to be appreciated. I have a couple of Commandos to keep company with that many Victories (or maybe one more), and I like them a lot. There is even a wartime Webley in the safe, ugly as a warthog and absolutely as reliable as any of the other two makes.

The wartime Commando is an interesting gun, because Colt was angling for some of the revolver business that S&W was getting from the government. When the company finally got the per-unit cost down to a level the government would consider, they got orders for only about 50,000 of them. S&W was shipping that many Victories every two months, so Colt certainly didn't feel the love. A lot of surviving Commandos seem to be in pretty good shape, indicating that a significant number of them may have been warehoused by the receiving agency and not distributed for service.

About 15 percent of total Commando production came with two-inch barrels. Like the two-inch Victory, these are much in demand and not seen as often as the four-inch revolvers. Still, about ten times as many two-inch Commandos were produced as two-inch Victories, so you can actually find a snubnose Commando every so often.