Comanche II-A 4"

This gives me a reason to link to Jim March's epic comments on them...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=294956

I had a late 80's Llama Comanche in .357 magnum. It was a good revolver. Not as good as a S&W but as a young geologist just starting out I couldn't afford a S&W.

You have one of the best revolvers made--a GP-100--and you're considering such a junk gun???

Sergei Mosin

Thanks for the link to Jim March's "comments"! Really funny to read first thing in the morning!


bullseye308

Back in the day when money was tight and S&W revolvers in .357 were in relative short supply there was the then new Ruger Security Six, Astra Cadix, and Llama Comanche revolvers as an affordable option. The Ruger was a great buy for the money, the Astra was decent enough though not as nicely finished as the Ruger, and the Llama came in a pretty distant third place. Very rough in terms of it's overall fit and finish and the bluing (if you can call it that), also came up way short of the mark compared to just about any other manufacturer. If this "new" Comanche II is anything like the old one it is definitely a gun you would want to avoid. You would be much better off picking up a used S&W K frame or Ruger Security Six if you want something to shoot .38 Specials with.

Glad I could help entertain! Jim does have a certain way with words...

I agree though, a gently-used K-frame or Six is the way to go if you want a dedicated .38-only revolver.

I have to disagree with one of the posters who commented on the Windicator in the thread that was linked to. The .357 version is steel and has a very tight lockup. They're made by Weirach, a pretty well respected company that, in my experience with their guns when they were branded Arminius, never produced junk guns. Mine is great. Not sure if I'd trust the zamak framed .38 special for much use but the steel guns are solid.

No experience with the Commanche. I haven't even seen one in person but looking at them online...well they look kinda rough. I also didn't know that they were still being imported.

They also have "do not use +p" on the side pretty plainly. Not something I'd ever consider partly because of this.

I don't think this is even the same company. It just says "Comanche" in the ad, never "Llama".

My understanding is that Llama made some decent guns back in the day. I believe that this is some other company trying to cash in on the name of one of Llama's old models.

If this is the same "Comanche" company, I bought one of their single-shot pistols a year or two ago. It was super cheap, and I thought it might be fun. It was a total piece of junk.

for no more than it costs I belive I would try one

If I wanted an inexpensive...well "cheap" 38, I'd give it a try. I've wasted $200.00 bucks on worse purchases. It's ugly, but then so is a lot of stuff coming out of Smith & Wesson and Ruger these days IMHO.

It has no connection with the Llama Comanche. Llama has been out of business for years. Llama was made in Spain. This is made in Argentina. Argentina has made some really good guns in the past...Mausers, Colts, Brownings, and most recently Bersa.

What's the worst thing that can happen? It won't work right? Then I'd send it back, sell it, bust it up with a hammer, or just keep it for a paper or trotline weight and have a good laugh at myself. It's not a life altering purchase.

RIA/Armscor sells a 2" or 4" 38 for about the same price that is a pretty good revolver, similar to the old Colts.

The EAA Windicator is also inexpensive and said to be good quality.

RIA/Armscor sells a 2" or 4" 38 for about the same price that is a pretty good revolver, similar to the old Colts.

The EAA Windicator is also inexpensive and said to be good quality.

Click to expand...

And not too long ago, on this very forum, people were calling both of them "junk."

CajunBass said:

And not too long ago, on this very forum, people were calling both of them "junk."

Click to expand...

Difference is, the Armscor and Windicator are both covered by a lifetime warranty and are steel (the .357 Windicator and all Armscor revolvers) whereas the Commanche's frame looks a lot like zamak and I haven't seen any in stock in so long I have to wonder if they're even in business anymore.

Like I said in the thread about FMK firearms, there is absolutely no reason to buy a gun from a company with lukewarm reviews over one that is well respected in it's price range. The majority of the complaints I've seen about the Armscor are the same as my main complaint, which is that the finish could be better.

While stationed in Spain in CC'd one regularly. .357 model. Reliable, accurate. Not as smooth as a Smith or Colt. But I figured I could give the ETA a reasonably hard target if push came to shove.