Value of Colt Combat Commander 9mm Series 70

[Mac Attack]

About two years I was fortunate to purchase a near mint Series 70 Colt Combat Commander in 9mm. I purchased this Combat Commander from a widow who did not want the gun in the house and just wanted to sell it. She was a family friend so she gave me an unbelievable price .

Anyways, she told me that her deceased husband had purchased his Commander in the 70's and had only shot it once. When she sold me the gun it had the original box and paperwork from Colt, 100 rounds of ammo, and a receipt for 200 rounds of ammo matching the 100 she provided. She said that her husband purchased the Commander, shot it, cleaned it and stored it away.

What I received as a near mint HG which had 100 rounds or less down the barrel and not a mark on it. The slide and frame rails still contain the original factory bluing, the barrel hood is not scratched from firing, and the two Colt magazines which came with it are not scratched from inserting and removing from the frame. All in all this is as near mint as possible.

Colt Combat Commander in 9mm Luger.
Serial number is 70bs19xx6.

I have read that S70 Colt Combat Commanders in 9mm are relatively rare and the ones which are sold command a premium. Not that I plan to sell it but given the information above, what is the value of this gun? I was thinking of upgrading it with a beavertail and better sights so I could use it as a shooter but am not sure if I should keep it original.

Thanks for you help.

 

[Todesengel]

I saw 2 9mm combat commanders at last weekends gun show; excellent condition $700, good condition $600.

 

[HSMITH]

It isn't a common gun. Box, papers and all add $100 or so for most collectors. I would start at $800 if it was me, and sell at the first offer of $750 or better. I have no use for a 9mm 1911 or I would probably stick it out and try to get a little more money for it. You might be able to get $800 or a little better for it if it is still pristine and absolutely original.

If you want use it and keep it by all means customize it, but don't do it just to do it. You will drop the value of the gun by $200 or more INSTANTLY by the very best professional installation of a beavertail and sights. In this case I would advise you to trade this gun for the one you envision, plus some cash for ammo.

Just one more opinion. Hope it helps.

 

[goste]

9mm commander

Hi,
I hope someone will correct me if i'm wrong. (probably, I am ). But I was under the impression, that there was no such thing as a series 70 Commander.

 

[Mac Attack]

Hi,
I hope someone will correct me if i'm wrong. (probably, I am ). But I was under the impression, that there was no such thing as a series 70 Commander.

Nope Mine says Series 70 on the slide and has a serial number starting with 70.

 

[Ala Dan]

I agree with my friend HSMITH, as I think $750 is a reasonable offer.

*FootNote- Colt Satin Combat Commanders in 9m/m, are even more rare
than their .45 ACP counterparts. The last of which I saw at one of the
old Woolco stores here locally. Price then was $125.00; but you gotta
remember that was way back in the 70's.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[russlate]

Good Luck, as the two I had about two or three years apart were never reliable. The 9mm is a high pressure round and they did not throat the barrels like the 45's which could take a larger unsupported throat.

The guns came gimmicked up to try to get them to work. I put them back to stock to try to get them to work. Problem may have been with magazines, but I really think it was that barely beveled barrel. That was in the 70's or 80's, in Northern Nevada and we didn't have a specialty gunsmith availlabe then.

We now have Terry Tussey who I've never tried but has been written up well, on Red Rock road in Moundhouse just over the line from Ormsby County ( Carson City ). I lived in Tahoe at the time and tires covered with red dust was a tipoff someone had been to see the girls at the "guest" ranches. Ranches with names like Moonlight Ranch, Starlite Ranch, Kit Kat Ranch, etc.

 

[farscott]

While having a Series '70 serial number, the Commanders, Combat and otherwise, were never truly Series '70 pistols since they were never fit with the collet "Accurizer" bushing. Other than the rollmarks and serial numbers, there is no real difference between the Commanders from 1949 to when the Series '80 pistols were introduced.

One thing to do before assessing value is to remove the slide from the pistol and look for lightening cuts near the disconnector rail. I have a .45 ACP Series '70 Combat Commander from 1974 with the cuts. The original Commander (alloy frame) pistols came with the cuts, and the first Combat Commanders used the Commander slides. In 9x19, the cuts would allow a bit faster slide velocity, so cycle time would be less. Many people complain that five-inch 9x19 1911 slides cycle slowly, and the Commander is better in this regard due to the lighter weight. For this reason, the lighter slides are sought after for those people making 9x19 game guns.

To make a long story short, 9x19 Combat Commanders are scarce. $750 is a fair price, but I have seen them go for as much as $900. The pistols are not so scarce as to preclude modifying them. I would suggest using a Yost-Bonitz retro rear sight since it fits in the factory dovetail and staking a new MGW front sight. This way you get functional high-visibility sights without making changes to the pistol that cannot be reversed. I used these sights on a Series '70 pistol, and I am very pleased with them.

If you do have a beavetail fit to the frame, the pistol will lose any collector's value it has because the frame will be cut and need to be refinished. It will be just another Colt pistol that has been worked over by a smith. I would shoot it with the current grip safety. You might be surprised by how well it fits and shoots. If you have reliability issues, a good smith can fix it without wrecking the value.

If you do change sights and/or want the pistol checked or modified, I highly suggest contacting John Harrison of Precision Gunworks in Canton. He will treat you right, and his work is second to none.

 

[BigG]

Macattack:

Farscott is correct, even though they have a 70 in the serial no, they are not marked Series 70 on the slide. Series 70 referred to a spring bushing used only on the 5" models. Commanders used a solid shorter skirt bushing.

On the other hand, if Colt the pooch and actually mismarked a Commander Series 70 you may have a rare collectors item that I would agressively market. YMMV

 

[Browns Fan]

I saw one for sale at the local gun show for sale at 98% with satin nickel finish for $1200. The sad part of the story is, I bought one a long time ago from an old army buddy, and sold it. :banghead:

 

[slyfox]

Colt combat Commander 70 series

I own a Colt combat commander, that I think is a 70 series. It is in satin nickel finish and is 9MM. the serial nr is 70sc8222,, I have sent it to colt for a complete refinish and to be accurized, and tuned. also to have a new beavertail and the trigger pull set at 3.5 lbs. My question is "Is this a 70 series weapon?"

 

[Oro]

First, we have to mention this:



This thread is close to six years old. It's good and impressive you used the search funxtion to try to get your question answered. Many people are far too lazy to do that. But when a thread is that old, it's best to just start fresh with a new post. It saves readers much time and.

To answer your question, not, it is not a '70 Series gun. The serial number on all Colts got switched to starting with 70 in 1970 (mid year for the GMs, not sure about Commanders). The actual '70 Series was a barrel bushing re-design that was implemented on Government Models only, and they are stamped on the slide as such. Your gun does not say Series '70 on it anywhere, or have the modifications. The post by BigG above is correct. The best way to describe these is as a "pre-80" Commander; they were altered to the Series 80 specs starting in 1983.