Colt Commander Lightweight 4 1/4″ 1911 .45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol 1977

SOLD FOR: $1508

LSB#: 211109PT01

Make: Colt

Model: Lightweight Commander Model, Pre-Series ’80

Serial Number: CLW031865

Year of Manufacture: 1977 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COMMANDER / *MODEL*”, “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / CALIBER .45” and with a Rampant Colt logo. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The right side of the frame is marked “CLW031865”. The barrel at the port is marked “COLT .45 AUTO”. The left-rear of the trigger guard is marked with “VP” in a triangle, the left-front “B”. The right front of the trigger guard is marked “F”.

Barrel Length: 4 ¼”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade with a serrated, ramped face fixed to the front of the barrel. The front sight has been painted orange. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood panels with gold-colored Colt medallions. The right medallion has finish loss and the left medallion has some thining. There are a few tiny spots of finish loss, mostly on the bottom edges. The checkering is mostly sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine Plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Black Alloy Frame

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 92% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. There are some scattered little scuffs, mostly on the matte surfaces. There are a few scattered small nicks through the finish. There are some little spots of light surface oxidation, most noticeable on the right side of the slide at the rear. There is a light scrape on the back corner of the left side of the grip frame. There some little spots of dark discoloration from previous oxidation. There are some spots of dark discoloration from previous oxidation and a few little spots of pinprick erosion on the sides of the hammer. The action shows standard operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has very little play to the frame. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 7-round magazine.

Our Assessment: Introduced by Colt as a lighter-weight version of the 1911, the smaller size of the Commander was popular and soon they were offered in a number of variations including different frame materials and calibers. The original development centered on an aluminum-frame 9mm as a candidate for US Military post-war officer’s pistols, but there were different configurations and chamberings produced. This example is a .45 ACP Commander Light Weight model produced in 1977. The pistol is in Very Good-plus condition with wear consistent with use, a nice bore, and strong mechanics. This will make for a nice carry pistol, but it will also make for a nice addition to a Colt automatic collection. Please see our photos and good luck!