Customize or Sell? ser70 commander

[Kingcreek]

Hi Folks. My dilemma:
I've got an almost new, stock pretty blue Colt (with box and papers) series 70 combat commander that I bought (very lightly used) about 20 years ago. I haven't shot it in 15 years. I have other full size 1911s. I like the commander size but don't care for the dinky sights on this one. I'd like to have this one or another configured for carry.
Should I,
A. sell it to someone who appreciates it the way it is? and replace it with a commander sized 1911 from another manufacturor with combat sights and maybe some performance upgrades. (If sell- for how much $$?)
B. surrender my pretty little Colt and a weeks or more pay to a smith for some Novak lo-mounts, trigger and tune, etc., etc.
C. put it back in the safe for another 15 years?
Thanks for your help.

 

[jercamp45]

I vote upgrade!

The Commader is one of the finest CCW weapons ever created...but the 70's version does need reliability work(probably), and decent sights(definately)....a good trigger and whatever add on's you prefer on your 1911 blaster.
Carried a Commander for a decade, LW Officer's for another decade, and now I am carrying a Colt CCO,
My opinion!
Jercamp45

 

[Jim Watson]

I'd get the trigger adjusted, any reliability work needed, and put on some bigger sights that would fit the GI dovetails. I think paying a hundred bucks to remachine the slide for a propietary fixed sight is silly.

 

[Black Snowman]

I think paying a hundred bucks to remachine the slide for a propietary fixed sight is silly

I wouldn't call it silly but it definately wouldn't be my first choice. If the gun runs solid I'd say modify it. If it's not easily made 100% reliable then trade/sell it. You might get lucky and get a more reliable gun on the 2nd try that will require less tweaking.

 

[pogo2]

Collector's Item

If you have an original Series 70 Colt Commander in nearly new condition it has some value to Colt collectors, and would probably fetch a good price. Rather than spending a lot of money to convert it to a carry gun with modern sights and other features, why not sell it and put the money towards something like a Kimber or Springfield with 4-inch barrel, already loaded with the features you want in a carry gun? I think this would be a cheaper alternative.

The various Kimber "Pro" series guns, which have a 4-inch barrel, already have combat sights, beavertail grip safety, extended thumb safety and (usually) the ability to feed hollowpoint ammo reliably. It would cost quite a bit to make your Colt into such a gun.

 

[halvey]

How much extra money would you have left after selling and buying the Kimber? That may be a decent way to go.

 

[Kingcreek]

sounds like 3 B s and an A.
This gun probably hasn't had 300 rounds thru it total by original owner and myself. original owner couldn't find the original grips but I picked up a set of smooth cocobolo with the colt medalion. It has functioned perfectly for me in the limited firing I've done, even with 200gr lead SWCs.
IIRC its a 1972 mfg with nice bluing, matte on the frame radius and slide top and pretty blue on the flats. what might be value of commander, box and papers, orig unused colt mag, and all but the orig grips?
Thanks

 

[middy]

Awww, leave the poor thing alone. Use it or sell it, but don't change it.

Unless you really want to.

 

[DMK]

I've got an almost new, stock pretty blue Colt (with box and papers) series 70 combat commander that I bought (very lightly used) about 20 years ago. I haven't shot it in 15 years.

I also vote for sell it like it is

I like the commander size but don't care for the dinky sights on this one. I'd like to have this one or another configured for carry.

Find a nice Colt CCO or a Kimber Compact with the Officer's sized grip and Commander sized slide. That's the best 1911 configuration for CCW IMO.

 

[stealthmode]

just keep it and take the money you were going to spend on fixing it up and buy a new gun. the colt would make a nice pass down piece to your kids one day.

 

[HSMITH]

Kingcreek, I'm lookin' for just such a gun.........

 

[Serpico]

Daddy?

 

[Gordon]

Don't trade that real Colt for a MIM floozy! Have a gunsmith stake on (properly) a set of King-Tappan sights,work the trigger and ramp-you got the perfect gun!

 

[Zach S]

I'd customize it. I'm guessing its got those puny sights?

After having a dovetail cut up front for a night sight, installing a taller sight in the rear to match, adding a beavertail gripsafety, rubber Kimber grips, having it hardcromed, and testing the reliability, I'd carry it. Those are pretty much my plans for the nickle Commander I've been eyeing at the range, the only problem is the $600 price tag...

I can hear the Colt purists cussing me now... Some of them already aggrevate me about the work I've had done to a 1991A1, which is a dovetailed front night sight, Ed Brown gripsafety, and having it blasted with something other than gravel...

 

[Majic]

Change the sights, but no machine work (keep the slide original for future investment). Tune the action for a 4 pound crisp trigger.
Why get rid of a proven functioning pistol for one that could need work (you never know till you shoot it) and have inferior parts?

 

[C. H. Luke]

"I've got an almost new, stock pretty blue Colt (with box and papers) series 70 combat commander that I bought (very lightly used) about 20 years ago."

In this condition a true Colt fanatic might pay a premium price for your gun?

Have two Colt's that were in good condition mechanicaly that have had extensive work done on including Brown beavertails. Don't reget changing them from their original state as wanted them to be "shooters", and shooters they are! Colt had a reputation for making good barrels. With fitted EGW bushing's both have excellent accuracy.