I have a finish question.

[Steelharp]

I am in the process of trading for a 1955 Colt LW Commander. (Same year I was born, and my great uncle was in the factory building them, so just maybe he had his mitts on this one.) The finish originally was nickle for the slide and small parts, and a blued frame. It's the goldish tinted Colt nickle. Somewhere along the way, somebody did a home nickleing job on the frame (the color doesn't match the slide); the inside is still blued. The nickle up near the rear sight is starting to show some flaking, I think. (Best as I can tell from the slightly blurry pics I've received.)

I would like to get it put back to it's original finish. Is this possible, and who would be good to consult with about doing it? Colt? Or someone outside?

Thanks...

 

[dfariswheel]

One caution: Around 1955 it's VERY unlikely Colt produced any blue-nickel Commanders, and even more unlikely to have produced a Commander with small parts nickeled with a blue frame.

I'd suggest a STRONG possibility that this one is a put-together, especially considering the home-done frame nickel.

Colt no longer does their own in-house plating, but still take care of refinishing it to factory standards.
They'd be the people I'd contact for a factory-type refinish.
Price and turn-around will be very competitive, and workmanship will be high.

 

[Steelharp]

Thanks, d... I've e-mailed my friend Cindy at Colt... I'm going to try to find out as much about this before I do it as I can... I would suspect, though, that they won't release any info about one particular firearm without a substantial fee attached...

 

[Steelharp]

Here are the pics I have...

 

[gamachinist]

Steelharp,
Is that an alloy framed gun?
If Irc,
The early plated alloy framed guns had this problem,and were discontinued in nickle until a steel framed Commander was introduced later.

 

[Steelharp]

The ser # is 352XX-LW, so it must be an alloy frame; the current owner says it's blued on the inside of the dust cover and under the grips. That's what leads me to believe at least the frame was a home job. Can anyone confirm year of manufacture for me from the ser #?

Thanks...

 

[gamachinist]

It was made in 1955 as you were told.
It will be an alloy frame.
What is being described as bluing inside the frame areas is actually anodizing,because you can't blue aluminum with traditional methods.

 

[Steelharp]

Well, I heard from my friend, Cindy, at Colt today... nickel and blue was a standard finish in 1955... surprised me. She couldn't tell me about this gun in particular, she didn't have access to the records. But... that's at least some news.

 

[BluesBear]

This thread need to be merged with the other one.
It's getting confusing.

 

[Steelharp]

The deal is off... I feel better now... sorry about winding up with two threads...