COLT COMBAT COMMANDER – not so favorite pawnshop

[4D5]

Last Saturday I was at one of my less favorite pawn shops and they have a Colt Combat Commander, actually 2, one if which just came off layaway.

Price tag says $849.95. It’s a nice gun, blueing is really pretty good but the wood shows some wear and it appears to be all original. I asked what they would take for it, pause… “Lowest would be $800.

Last night I checked prices on gunbroker and auction arms and for 6 guns, the prices for the same gun/condition ranged $400 - $600.

Went back today with 6 pictures of Ben Franklin thinking I’d be willing to go $600.

Check the gun out again. We start the bargaining, and I present the prices I found. She checks them out and pretty much found what I found, however “oh there’s one that sold for $800. So I said I’ll split the difference and offer $500, half way between $400 - $600. Figured I’d low ball since I’ve nothing to loose and I’d start at the opposite end of their price range.

She says ok and didn’t hesitate too much but did say “the manager really likes his Colt’s, I’ll go talk to him and see. “Manager says we can go down to $800”. I said thanks for checking but I’ll be back in a few months and see if the price has come down.

 

[jakk280rem]

appears to be all original

,

blueing is really pretty good

,

“Lowest would be $800.

. if it were an original series 70 circa 1970's it would be worth it. if it were a run of the mill series 80, its overpriced by $200.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

For $850 you can buy a brand new in the box 1991 Commander, plus ammo.

I wouldn't bother to go back.

 

[XavierBreath]

Depending on your part of the country, and whether the pistol was a Series 80 or a Combat Commander from the time before there was such a thing as a Series 80, the price may have been fair at $800. If it was a Series 80 or a M1991A1 Commander, then the price was high.

Chances are, if it is a Combat Commander as you describe, it will sell for near what they are asking if they get enough traffic in the shop. They always have the option of auctioning it off online, or lowering their price later.

 

[Gordon]

I think $800 is a bit high- wait and you will be rewarded. You can have the satisfaction of going to the dorky place once a month with $600 in your fist with the bills hanging out as you check if it's still there!

 

[Scott Skawronska]

So then,

What's a factory nickel Series 70 Commander (Not Combat Commander -- the lightweight) going for these days?

Just askin'

S

 

[XavierBreath]

What's a factory nickel Series 70 Commander (Not Combat Commander -- the lightweight) going for these days?

Just askin'

In 2006, I traded a nice E-nickel Kahr K40 and $200 for this one. The seller's original price was $675.

Later that year, I gave $475 for this one. At that price, I couldn't pass. It wasn't that I gave too much for the first pistol, it's that the second was priced below market value.

Note both of these are Combat Commanders. A Lightweight Commander generally brings around $800-900 in my area in a private sale, if it sells.

The Blue Book is only a guide, and is already out of date when published. This year the prices may be different, or they may be different simply because of trends in your area. Prices vary across the country. There are no set prices on used guns, just as there are no set prices on new guns. If you see a gun you want, and the price is affordable, buy it. If the price is to high, and you can not negotiate it lower, pass on it and keep looking.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

She says ok and didn’t hesitate too much but did say “the manager really likes his Colt’s, I’ll go talk to him and see. “Manager says we can go down to $800”. I said thanks for checking but I’ll be back in a few months and see if the price has come down.

That is the beauty of the pawn business. If they have room for the inventory, then they have time on their side and quite likely will manage to sell the gun at a solid price.

 

[capttom]

Xavier Breath, those are two great weapons. I had a Series 70 satin nickel 'way back in the day and if there's any single gun I regret letting go more than any other, it's that one.
It's a fortunate man who has a brace of them.

 

[VegasOPM]

The question needs to be "what is it worth to YOU?" It is obviously worth $800 to them- or a least that is what they have decided the going rate is.

 

[keyboard commando]

Please...............

There is no such thing as a 70 series Commander (or Combat Commander).

 

[krs]

I've posted this before but for the topic....http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_141/products_id/36335

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Please...............
There is no such thing as a 70 series Commander (or Combat Commander).

Are you sure?
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/Commander_evolution.htm
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=110561477
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=110677268

 

[onebigelf]

The link KRS posted is for a BRAND NEW commander for $695.

 

[AK103K]

I must of got rid of the ones I did at a good time (about 5 or 6 years ago now).

I got right around $1000 each, for two 70 Series Government models and a Combat Commander model, all blued, and all in real good shape.

They were only in the shop for a couple of days too. No haggling either.

 

[XavierBreath]

$695. That's a good price from Buds if what you want is a Series 80 Commander (and they are great guns!)

I think the Series 70 designation is being used in this case (as it often is) to differentiate between a Series 80 pistol and a pistol with no firing pin safety. While it is true that technically there is no such thing as a Series 70 Combat Commander, the serial numbers do start with a 70 prefix, and many were produced concurrently with the Series 80 pistol. In addition to the 70 serial prefix, they are easily recognized by the short spur grip safety as opposed to the upturned hook of the Series 80 Commander, an arched mainspring housing, and a short trigger.

For clarity of discussion, shooters commonly refer to guns lacking the firing pin safety as Series 70 guns, and those with the firing pin safety as Series 80 or 90 guns. Historically, the "Series 70" designator was coined to differentiate between the two after the Series 80 firing pin safety was adopted. Then Colt, in response to shooters not wanting the firing pin safety, introduced the Series 70 Government Model. This causes some folks to declare there are no Series 70 Commanders because Colt never named them such. The "Series 70" reference is being used as shorthand to illustrate the lack of a firing pin safety, however. Truth is, Colt adopted a nomenclature that was already in common use for the Series 70 Government Model presently on the market.

What is commonly known as a Combat Commander is in opposition to a Lightweight Commander, ie. a forged steel frame versus an alloy frame.

At present, Colt is not producing a Commander without a firing pin safety, regardless of whether you call it a Combat Commander or a Series 70 Commander. If you want a new Colt Commander, it will be a Series 80 pistol. If you want a Commander without a firing pin safety, it will be a used pistol, or at best, one that is "like new." Just because it is used, does not mean the price will be, or should be less than the Series 80 Commander.

 

[keyboard commando]

Mk Iv Series 70

Series 70 Colt Government models were so marked on the left hand flat of the slide. Apart from being so marked,Series 70 models had a unique collet type barrel bushing. Commanders and Combat Commanders were never produced with the Series 70 three fingered collet bushing.

 

[BlindJustice]

Search for completed sales in gunbroker
they can advertise them for whatever they want
to but only sales count.

Jeez, come on guys...

70 series Colt Goverment Model and shortly
after some Gold Cups are the one and onlies
Actually Mk IV the Commander line didn't get
the 70 series collet bushing.

Today - the Colt re-issue models, including the
'70 Series, WWII, and WWI etc. have a commonality
of parts with '80 Series and later 1911 Colt Variations
in that the internals of the slide have the machining
for the firing pin block but the parts aren't installed, the
firing pins have the notch for the FP block so it makes it
easier parts inventory for Colt.

Randall