New to me 1956 Commander

[oysterer]

Went to my LGS and he spied an old looking 1911 in the back on a shelf to the side. What's that. Oh it's broken, maybe the springs, the slide does not return. Me: Maybe I can fix it, sell it to me. ...ok! I have a unfortunate addictive attraction to 9mm 1911s I had to have the daddy of them all. 1956 built Commander. It only came w aluminum frame in that period and was called simply Commander. Not yet lightweight commander although the serial number ends in LW.

Gun was gunked up, nothing a swim in trans fluid/solvent won't fix. Changed all coil springs and the gun runs flawless, sweet trigger, solid bushing, well fit, no slop. Loving it. It came with flawless brown plastic pony Gi type grips. I put an old set off Colt wood on...looks good I think.

 

[marinevet]

You didn't list a price, but if it was reasonable.........I would have been all over it.......looks like you did well........

 

[Benton Quest]

Those have gone through the roof lately.

Nice find.

Sent from my SM-A025V using Tapatalk

 

[DWalt]

When I was in high school, my best friend had one of those, probably from about the same time period. I did fire it a few times, not a lot. Ammo was too expensive to shoot it much.

 

[max]

That is very nice. I have the Combat Commander, but would like to have an original also.

 

[M29since14]

If the brown plastic grips are the originals from Colt maybe you better put them back on the gun. They seem to shrink over time. The next time you try to install them they might not fit. I had that happen with my late 60s Commander because I didn't know about it. They were off the gun for a long time, probably more than 10 years. When I tried to reinstall them it was a no go. Hole-centers had changed enough they could not be mounted - maybe 0.030-0.040" or so. I was surprised they would move that much.

That's a nice old Commander you've got there. A little gold mine, these days. Congratulations on finding that one, and giving it a little attention.

 

[stansdds]

Nice find! I don't think Commanders chambered in 9x19mm are really common items. Most of the ones I have seen, both original and later Combat Commander and Lightweight Commanders that I have seen were in 45 ACP. I know the early Commanders developed a reputation for the receiver's dust cover cracking where it meets the recoil impact surfaces, not sure if that was just limited to those in 45 ACP or not. I think the frequent recoil spring replacement should reduce any tendency for crack formation.

 

[oysterer]

If the brown plastic grips are the originals from Colt maybe you better put them back on the gun. They seem to shrink over time. The next time you try to install them they might not fit. I had that happen with my late 60s Commander because I didn't know about it. They were off the gun for a long time, probably more than 10 years. When I tried to reinstall them it was a no go. Hole-centers had changed enough they could not be mounted - maybe 0.030-0.040" or so. I was surprised they would move that much.

Thanks for the advice, putting right back on

 

[ZGrand]

I wouldn't want plastic grips on it if you intend on shooting it. Perhaps you could mount them to a block of wood to keep them from shrinking if they have value for originality.

 

[oysterer]

I wouldn't want plastic grips on it if you intend on shooting it. Perhaps you could mount them to a block of wood to keep them from shrinking if they have value for originality.

This won't be a shooter. Maybe on special occasion

 

[Benton Quest]

I second the good advice on the original grips. They shrink like crazy.

From a shooting standpoint, they feel about the same as the wood.

There is something special about Commanders made prior to 1970.

My dad carried a fifties-era one in 45 from '68 to '72 when he was working narcotics. People don't understand how rare that was. I was just a wee lad at the time, but I thought that was cool as could be.

He traded the LW off in 1976 and I wish I knew where it is today...the serial number is unknown.

Sent from my SM-A025V using Tapatalk

 

[NFrameFred]

I'd have been on that like a chicken on a June bug . . .

 

[tmd17]

I love rescue stories on these old Colt's. And yeah, take care of the original plastic stocks, they add value to the gun for sure. How about at hint at what you paid ?

 

[quikdraw67]

Thanks for the advice, putting right back on

How about a pic with the original grips?

 

[arjay]

Early-mid 50s grips were pretty stable. Later 50s through the 60s shrunk. I've found that gently heating shrunken grips with a hair dryer while putting them on the gun usually works.

 

[Jocko-44]

Nice find! Congrats

 

[Eddietruett]

Went to my LGS and he spied an old looking 1911 in the back on a shelf to the side. What's that. Oh it's broken, maybe the springs, the slide does not return. Me: Maybe I can fix it, sell it to me. ...ok! I have a unfortunate addictive attraction to 9mm 1911s I had to have the daddy of them all. 1956 built Commander. It only came w aluminum frame in that period and was called simply Commander. Not yet lightweight commander although the serial number ends in LW.

Gun was gunked up, nothing a swim in trans fluid/solvent won't fix. Changed all coil springs and the gun runs flawless, sweet trigger, solid bushing, well fit, no slop. Loving it. It came with flawless brown plastic pony Gi type grips. I put an old set off Colt wood on...looks good I think.

I have a LW Commander in 45 and 9mm along with a LW Government model in 45. My favorite 1911's for sure

 

[Valmet]

Nice score OP! As others have mentioned Commanders (esp pre-Series 70 LWs) have gone crazy lately. I paid $650 for my 1968 LW Commander .45 back in 2002 and thought I was paying too much.

 

[K Frame Keith]

Nice save!

 

[31FordA]

Congrats, that's a nice pistol. I'd like to find a vintage .38 Super Commander that I could afford, but the prices are going up faster than my salary.