WWII U.S. Colt Commando Model 2″ Parkerized .38 Special Revolver, 1942 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1331
LSB#: 220420JR016
Make: Colt
Model: Commando
Serial Number: 11454
Year of Manufacture: 1942 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
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 “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.
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” plastic with rampant colt logos at the top of each panel. The left panel has a repaired chip-loss at the bottom-front corner across the hole for the frame’s indexing pin. The right panel has a minor crack on the inside at the same location, not visible on the exterior. There are a few other scattered light marks. The checkering is well defined, generally sharp. Overall, the grips are in about Good-plus condition as repaired.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished, we suspect this revolver was arsenal refurbished.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its current metal finish. There is very little in the way of wear in or through the finish, but there are some scattered spots of light surface erosion under the finish. The left-side barrel markings are shallow to incomplete, otherwise markings are fairly clear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. Overall, this revolver is in about Fine condition as refinished and would rate Fine-Excellent but for the repaired chip in the grip.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with no play on each chamber with the trigger depressed. 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: This revolver comes with a black nylon zipper case.
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 appears to have been refinished since being produced in 1942, likely arsenal refurbished. It retains about 98% of its current metal finish with a great bore and strong mechanics. It should make a great addition to a Colt or WWII small arms collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!