[brown10]

Could any of you fellas tell me anything about a Commander I just bought? I'm not concerned with the value as much as when it might have been produced. While i've had a Springfield full size 1911 for some time, I bought my 1st Colt yesterday. I really like it. It seems a little unusual and I wondered if you might tell me any thing about it.

The stainless slide is marked "Commader Model" COLT Automatic Caliber .45. The frame seems to be aluminum with a serial # of 1368x-LW. It has had some after market items added to it. I assume it's a light weight combat commander but that's about all i know.

Thanks for the help.

jerry

 

[dfariswheel]

Your Commander was produced after 1985, which is when the publicly known serial number and production data ends.

Your best bet is to call the Colt factory.
They will usually give you a production date over the phone.

For the phone number see: http://www.colt.com

 

[brown10]

Thanks for the help.

jerry

 

[stans]

The "LW" in the serial number indicates that it is an aluminum frame. Colt now calls these pistols "lightweight commander". Originally they were just called "commander" and the steel frame version was the "combat commander". Some have reported that agressive hollowpoint ammo can chew away at the aluminum frame feed ramp, but round nose ammo should not bother it at all. Aluminum frames also do not have the longevity of steel frames, some have reported frame cracking in as little as 5000 rounds, but most seem to go 15,000 or more.