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Colt Lightweight Commander question

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January 06, 2020, 10:27 PM
techguy
Colt Lightweight Commander question
Did Colt ever make a lightweight commander with a blue slide and a brightly polished aluminum frame, almost nickel looking? Early 70’s.
January 07, 2020, 12:12 AM
arcwelder
With a blue slide and "white" frame I've seen them, but nothing like a nickel or brightly polished finish. I'm not certain any white/clear anodize of those is factory. Certainly not anything that could be high polish or nickel/chrome in AL, that I've run into. If I did put hands on one I'd have a hard time believing it to be a factory product.


Arc.
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January 07, 2020, 12:12 AM
jimmy123x
Not sure. I know Colt made a two tone commander in 1998 for 1 year.
January 07, 2020, 12:52 AM
hjs157
I have never seen a Colt Commander with a polished aluminum receiver. Even without seeing the pistol in question, I suspect someone removed the factory anodization and polished the receiver bright. Of course, with the anodization removed, the receiver is susceptible to accelerated wear.
January 07, 2020, 01:54 AM
rock185
I owned Commanders, and got to a lot of gun shops and shows back in the day. Never saw a factory original one finished as described. I agree with hjs157.


NRA Life
January 07, 2020, 09:48 AM
techguy
quote:
Originally posted by arcwelder:
With a blue slide and "white" frame I've seen them, but nothing like a nickel or brightly polished finish. I'm not certain any white/clear anodize of those is factory. Certainly not anything that could be high polish or nickel/chrome in AL, that I've run into. If I did put hands on one I'd have a hard time believing it to be a factory product.




It’s definitely a colt frame. If the original finish has been taken off can it be refinished?
January 07, 2020, 12:57 PM
caneau
quote:
Originally posted by techguy:
quote:
Originally posted by arcwelder:
With a blue slide and "white" frame I've seen them, but nothing like a nickel or brightly polished finish. I'm not certain any white/clear anodize of those is factory. Certainly not anything that could be high polish or nickel/chrome in AL, that I've run into. If I did put hands on one I'd have a hard time believing it to be a factory product.




It’s definitely a colt frame. If the original finish has been taken off can it be refinished?


If someone removed the anodizing on an alloy frame that frame is toast. It's out of spec, it'll wear faster, and there's not much that can be done to save it.

However, you can definitely hard chrome over alloy and get the polished look. If that's the case I'd let it be. Chrome over anodizing is just fine.


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January 07, 2020, 05:50 PM
Sunset_Va
quote:
Originally posted by caneau:
quote:
Originally posted by techguy:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by arcwelder:
With a blue slide and "white" frame I've seen them, but nothing like a nickel or brightly polished finish. I'm not certain any white/clear anodize of those is factory. Certainly not anything that could be high polish or nickel/chrome in AL, that I've run into. If I did put hands on one I'd have a hard time believing it to be a factory product.[/QUOT



It’s definitely a colt frame. If the original finish has been taken off can it be refinished?


If someone removed the anodizing on an alloy frame that frame is toast. It's out of spec, it'll wear faster, and there's not much that can be done to save it.

However, you can definitely hard chrome over alloy and get the polished look. If that's the case I'd let it be. Chrome over anodizing is just fine.


I've done that several times, having an aluminum frame hardchromed to enhance durability. Which it did, but it works best on higher quality alloys as used in Colt, SW. I've also had alloy frames from pistols like Star, etc hardchromed , but the alloys aren't as hard to start with.


美しい犬
January 12, 2020, 08:45 PM
Mountain Walker
quote:
Originally posted by hjs157:
I have never seen a Colt Commander with a polished aluminum receiver. Even without seeing the pistol in question, I suspect someone removed the factory anodization and polished the receiver bright. Of course, with the anodization removed, the receiver is susceptible to accelerated wear.
This is the most likely case by far. Some do not understand the importance of the factory anodizing. Home Gunsmithy