WWII U.S. Colt Commando Model 2″ Parkerized .38 Special Revolver, 1943 C&R
Sold For: $2996
LSB#: 201215FH39
Make: Colt
Model: Commando
Serial Number: 16082
Year of Manufacture: 1943 (Colt Letter)
Caliber: .38 Special
Action Type: 6-Shot, Double Action / Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver.
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT COMMANDO / .38 SPECIAL”, the right is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD. CONN U.S.A.”. The left-front of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle, the left-rear with a “T”. The top-rear of the frame on the left has a flaming bomb ordnance mark. The crane and crane cut are each marked with the serial number, the crane cut is also marked “YLT”. The left side of the grip frame has inspection marks.
Barrel Length: 2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch in the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered coltwood with molded Colt medallions and smooth borders. The grips have some light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined with only light rub wear. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There are one or two very small spots of light erosion by the forcing cone.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 93% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at the edges. There are a few spots of finish loss from previous oxidation, most noticeable on the side plate behind the cylinder release and on the cylinder towards the rear. The cylinder has a thin turn-line. There is some scattered discoloration from oxidation and some that is fresh. There are a few little marks under the finish and a few tiny spots of thinning, most noticeable on the right of the frame. The hammer and trigger show light operational wear. The screw heads range from lightly worn to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with no play on four chambers with the trigger depressed and barely perceptible movement on the other two. The double-action trigger is smooth, the single action is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a Colt letter.
Our Assessment: As the United States entered World War II, demand for all things military strained even the massive industrial capacity of America. Front-line arms were prioritized for front-line units, but there was also a need to arm law enforcement, guards at factories and other sites with strategic importance, the Maritime Commission and various other non-combat roles which still required arms. To help fill this demand, Colt produced a variation of their Official Police revolver with specifications determined by the US Government. The result was the Commando revolver, roughly equivalent to Smith & Wesson’s Victory model, with 50,617 produced from 1942-1945. This example is in nice shape, retaining much of its original finish, a nice bore and strong mechanics. This one comes with a Colt letter stating that it was one of 500 shipped to the U.S. Army Consolidating station in 1943 for use by a transportation officer at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation. This revolver should make a great addition to a Colt or WWII small arms collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!