In 1985, an old time local dealer offered me an NOS COLT Combat Commander in .38 Super for the princely sum of $325. At the time I was unfamiliar with the model as well as the caliber. Plus my heart was set upon a full size Government Model in the all American caliber. As the years passed, I of course became aware of the .38 Super and at some point decided I needed a Combat Commander like the one I passed up so many years earlier. Surprisingly, Combat Commanders in .38 Super do not surface with any degree of regularity. When they do, they are often well used or molested. I've casually searched off and on over the years until by chance this one presented itself last week. It's near mint, of the correct vintage and came with the original box and papers. It was nice to set back the hands of time ~35 years though inflation certainly made its presence known. Attached is the obligatory photo. Thanks!

Nice - congrats!

Very nice pistol, It is mint, I had a 9mm one just like it, but that's a combat commander. The Combat commander has a steel frame, and the Commander is an alloy frame.

I was wondering was it steel or aluminum. Thanx Jimmy. Its a fine Colt hjs. Years back I almost bit on a full size and IIRC was marked .38 ACP or .38 Colt Auto. Much older than your Super.

Lovely Pistol!!!!

Looks great!

Plus it is in one of my favorite calibers.

Congratulations it is beautiful! The Combat Commander is a favorite as is the .38 Super.

I found one a couple of years ago, but not quite as nice as yours.

I had a Kart barrel fitted last year, as I was shooting patterns not groups with mine.

My very first real pistol was a 9mm Commander.
Loved the gun but hated the round hammer.

Hubba Hubba

Thanks for sharing, beautiful Colt and in my favorite caliber. Congrats!!!

Beautiful gun. Here is mine, but it has been massaged by Don Williams.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
I was wondering was it steel or aluminum.

Quite understandable. This is certainly one of the more confusing and misunderstood areas of Colt nomenclature. Originally conceived in 1949 as a lightweight 9mm alternative to the full size 1911A1, the COLT Commander was introduced to the commercial market in 1950 after the government decided to shelve the project. In ~1970, an all steel version dubbed the COLT Combat Commander was introduced. To differentiate between the two nearly identical models, the alloy version was renamed COLT "Lightweight Commander". Unfortunately, the names "Commander" and "Combat Commander" stuck with the consumer and are often applied incorrectly to this day. In addition to their respective slide legends, post 1970 Commander models have a 'CLW' serial number prefix while the blue steel version Combat Commander wears a 'BS' serial number prefix. Available calibers for both models in the US were 9mm, .38 Super & .45 auto as well as a limited number of 7.65mm Combat Commanders produced for export.

Looks great, I have wanted a birth year commander in 9mm but I have always been too cheap to jump. Congrats, its definitely a keeper.

I don’t know why but I am really drawn to that gun.

I’m not a 1911 guy so to speak, don’t have anything in .38 super and there is nothing super special on display but there is an understated elegance with that gun. I really dig it.

Nice! I love the 38 Super. If your not getting the accuracy that you should it's because at that time Colt was still using barrels that head spaced on the rim of the case which was always troublesome for accuracy in the 38 Super. IIRC, it wasn't until sometime in the late 80's or 90's that they started head spacing on the mouth of the case which significantly tightens up the accuracy. If needed, Bar-Sto & Kart make & fit excellent barrels to these older 38 Supers.

quote:

Originally posted by Delta-3:
Nice! I love the 38 Super. If your not getting the accuracy that you should it's because at that time Colt was still using barrels that head spaced on the rim of the case which was always troublesome for accuracy in the 38 Super. IIRC, it wasn't until sometime in the late 80's or 90's that they started head spacing on the mouth of the case which significantly tightens up the accuracy. If needed, Bar-Sto & Kart make & fit excellent barrels to these older 38 Supers.

As well as 9mm barrels!!!

I sold mine because the shorter C. Commander grip safety dug right into the web of my hand, that and I like Governments better anyways.

I always thought 38 super was a niche albeit effective cartridge. I have been reading lately about Texas Ranger pistols and it seems some liked the 38 super as it was more effective when dealing with windshields.

Funny how dps went to the 357sig years ago for the same reason.

For anyone looking the Allen Tx Cabelas has 5-8 38 supers in their gun library, pretty much the only pistols they have.

I bought this one last Saturday, hope to try it out this afternoon. Special Combat .38 Super

That is a beautiful Colt!

Really cool piece of 1920s technology there. It's pretty.