Please help fully identify and value this old colt

[hexidismal]

Hi everybody. Thanks for looking.
This colt very clearly is marked as an Officers Model 38. In looking up information on the officers model though, I find that this gun has some unusual characteristics. Mind you I could be wrong and these may be common, and I'm simply not looking in the right places, but all the pictures I can find of officers model 38s do not look like this.
I've tried to provide a good cross section of pictures of the gun, to show specific detail both for identification and to show the gun's condition. Firstly, all the pictures of Officers Model 38s I can find online do not have the 4 inch barrel. The blue book does however list the second production to have been made in 4". Now, the second problem is the sights.I have yet to find any picture of an officer's model with these type of sights, neither front or rear. (see the first 3 pictures). Serial number is 124xx ( intentionally blurred in photos ). The serial is marked in two places, shown in the pics. More difficult to see, is a very bold L , marked above the serial on the frame. Below the same serial is a far more lightly marked 0. Marked on the barrel , in writing to small to get a clear picture of is "COLT'S PT F A MFG CO. HARTFORD CT USA [next line] PAT D AUG 5 1882 JUNE 5 1900 JULY 4 1905 (or 1906, it's hard to read.). Also, on the model name on the barrel, the sort of iron cross or target like symbol seen to the left of "officer's model 38" is also on the right side , but it's faded some and the picture lighting blanked it out a bit. The front of the cylinder is marked with a bold letter J , and a very small star opposite that.

( many pictures and some more text below)











Well, thats about all the detail I can think to give. You guy's wouldn't believe how smooth the action is on this old thing. If you can help me more fully identify it, and possibly let me know what you think it's worth, please let me know !

 

[Jim Watson]

I see the barrel is of higher polish than the frame and cylinder.

I see the front sight blade is pinned in a groove in a base. Is the base integral with the barrel or is it soldered on?

I have a sneaking suspicion you have a WW II Commando with replacement barrel from an Officer's Model, maybe shortened.

 

[hexidismal]

I .. well beleive the front sight base is integral. It looks like it to me, but I'm not really sure what to look for. Ive taken some more pics of the front sight that might be helpful. Also, I've got some more marking pics that I hadn't thought to include before.






Hmm, Jim I think you're right about that ! I looked up some colt commandos, and sure does stack up with this one side by side. If that's true, that this is a commando with a 2nd run officer's model barrel (and very likely officer's model grips).. and I'm leaning toward yes ... what might the value of this gun be ?

 

[hexidismal]

Nobody ?

 

[Lone_Gunman]

If that's true, that this is a commando with a 2nd run officer's model barrel (and very likely officer's model grips).. and I'm leaning toward yes ... what might the value of this gun be ?

There are several 4" Colt Commandos on gunsamerica.com right now.


They range in price from $395 to $899, but the one for $899 is supposedly in mint condition and has the Ordnance Dept Flaming Bomb indicating it was a military gun.

I don't think a Commando bastardized with an Officer barrel will bring a premium, but there are more knowledgeable people here than me. I agree that is what you have though. The barrel of your gun appears to have been blued and the frame looks parkerized.

 

[pete f]

You may find it in your interest to search the internet or the gun show circuits and see if you can find a real commando barrel. Victory model smiths have skyrocketed recently, and so have Commando Colts. WWII stuff is getting outrageous depending on condition, Good condition (which yours seems to be) brings outrageous money, ANIB brings insane money.

I would put your gun at about $350-400 now, make it right, and it might run close to a grand. (I know what the books says, But I saw a marginal commando at a reputable shop that had $850 on it.)

 

[dfariswheel]

You have what appears to be a WWII Colt Commando on which someone has installed a Colt Officer's Model barrel with a modified front sight.

The Officer's Model front sight is double pinned in place, but had a Patridge blade that's undercut to provide a non-glare sight.
Your gun has a blade that's been either reshaped or replaced with a serrated ramp of a type that wasn't used until the post-war days.

The "double triangle" is actually a "VP" in a triangle, which is Colt's "Verified Proof" signifying that the gun passed final inspection and proof.
The letters and numbers on the grip frame are standard Colt inspector's stamps.

The serial number of 124XX falls in the Commando range which ran from #1, to #50617.

The Commando was nothing more than the Colt Official Police as made during the war for faster production.
It was parkerized with reddish plastic grips which had a molded-in Colt Pony emblem.
The Commando was made for both US military use, and for sales to police and defense plant guards.
In other words, anyone needing a pistol that could be filled by a revolver.
Military issue guns will have military inspection stamps, so your's is a civilian issue model.