Colt Lightweight Commander Stainless .38 Super Semi-Automatic Pistol, 2008
SOLD FOR: $2525
LSB#: 211103LG12
Make: Colt
Model: Lightweight Commander Model
Serial Number: CU04883E
Year of Manufacture: 2008 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .38 Super
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COMMANDER / -MODEL-“, “COLT”, “AUTOMATIC / .38 SUPER” and with a Rampant Colt logo behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked “LIGHTWEIGHT COMMANDER MODEL”. The right side of the frame is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.” and “CU04883E”. The barrel at the port is marked “-COLT SUPER 38 AUTO-”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “C”, the right is marked “T”.
Barrel Length: 4 ¼”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade with a white dot dovetailed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch with two white dots dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood with smooth diamonds around the grip screws. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Stainless Slide, Alloy Frame
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion, but there is some stubborn fouling.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. The action shows light operational wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are strong and the markings are clear. Overall, this gun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: This pistol has a tight slide and a crisp trigger. The action functions correctly. This pistol has a firing pin block safety (series ’80). 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 in a black nylon zipper case which has had a patch sewn on with “COLT LWT COM 38SUP” embroidered in yellow with a total of two 9-round magazines and a Mini-Maglite belt-pouch for the second magazine. The magazines have faint operational wear, intact feed lips and strong springs.
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. While the original development centered on an aluminum-frame 9mm as a candidate for US Military post-war officer’s pistols, the design would soon become popular with law enforcement officers and on the commercial market as a self-defense pistol. This Commander is a recent production model with some pretty significant upgrades. Built on an Enhanced frame, the trigger guard is under-cut, the slide has front and rear serrations, the hammer and trigger are skeletonized, the thumb-safety is ambidextrous and the pistol has a more comfortable, reliable extended beavertail grip safety. Chambered for the .38 Super cartridge, it doesn’t sacrifice much power to the larger .45 ACP but is able to accept 9-round flush-fit magazines, giving a significant increase in capacity to the usual 7-rounds of a .45. It would make for a great carry pistol and is in Excellent condition, equally suited to a Colt or 1911 collection. Please see our photos and good luck!