Colt Commando Special Questions

[farscott]

I have a few questions about this model. As I understand it, the Commando Special is mechanically a mid-1980's Detective Special with a less polished finish. It was either a cost-reduced product or a way to get guns out the door during a labor dispute between Colt and the UAW. The questions:

1) Is the finish matte bluing or a Parkerized variant?

2) Is $350 a fair price for one of these in essentially new condition?

 

[461]

Far as I recall and I am by no means an expert, there were two different Commando versions. The original was from WWII era and was used by flight crews and such and was parkerized, the later one was a dull finish but not sure if it was parkerizing or something else. Both would be considered interesting at least and would add to the value of a standard Detective Special. I rarely see "Dick Specials" around so I would consider it a fairly rare revolver.

Someone will probably come along with a "Book value" but as for me I'd consider $350.00 a very good deal for a detective special in new condition and the added cache of a limited edition would only enhance it.

 

[Majic]

The D-frame Commando has a matte finish (was quicker and easier to produce) and $350 is not a bad price for one.
Don't confuse it with the larger E-frame Commando (which was parkerized) which will command a premium price.

 

[kellver]

bought the same weapon

I purchased recently at .38 special colt commando from Bob's Gunshop in Norfolk, VA. The place has been there for decades and is considered fair in pricing. I paid $350.00 for mine. It has seen it's fair share of use, but was well maintained and in excellent condition. It did not take me long at all to get the feel of it and I shoot it very acurrately at ranges up to 25 yards. I would venture to say that $350 is a fair to good deal for this weapon. I've also tried to find info about it, but with little success. Most of the info seems to be for the dectective special, of which the Commando, like the Cobra, seems to be a variant of. If anyone has more info let me know!

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt said the Commando Special finish was matte blue.

During the Big Strike, Colt didn't have enough polishers to keep up with production, so they put the available people on the premium guns like the 1911 and the Python, and brought out a series of unpolished matte black pistols.

This series included the Peacekeeper which was a matte Trooper Mark V, the Commando Special version of the Detective Special, and a matte Cobra and Agent.

For unexplained reasons, Colt didn't give the matte finished Cobra and Agent different names.

Internally, the guns had the same fit and finish as the bright polished versions.

These matte finished guns were not popular with most buyers, who preferred the bright blued versions.
Although they were great deals and sold well, as soon as the strike was over Colt discontinued them.

The Commando Special was only produced from 1984 to 1986.