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Any thoughts on a pre-series 80 Combat Commander for a custom build? For what it's worth, I didn't even know these existed until a few days ago. The commander in question has all of the characteristics of a series 70 (no holes in the frame for the firing pin block, series 70 rollmarks, etc) but a serial number starting with 80BS. Any reason to stay away from this? Quite franly, the lines are reasonably good as is the slide to frame fit, rollmarks, etc. Seems like it would make a great base gun for a commander to compliment my recently acquired GM. Thanks in advance.

Based on what you wrote if it's going to be a builder gun I can't see any reason to stay away so long as the gun has not already been messed with. From what I've seen there's not much "wrong" that Colt ever did that can't be fixed.

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Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

Thanks Jason. The little Colt is still as new as far as I can tell. It will be on its way out to you guys after I take delivery and put it through its paces once or twice to see what kind of a shooter it is in stock form.

I did not know, but am reading that there actually are no series 70 Commanders and that any all-steel Commanders (whether 70BS or 80BS prefix) are actually all pre-series 80s.

Learn something new everyday.

Dad....try giving Colt a call..if you can try and get ahold of a lady named Kathy Grega, and ask them to check when the pistol was made..they have done this over the phone for me several times and have always been fantastic (and no charge for this either). It may help you establish the birthdate of this baby. Best of luck!--John

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee

+1 to Mr. Munsey's comments.

Colt Customer Service has always been very helpful to me. You can reach them at 1-800-962-2658. Your 80BSxxxxx serial number is what some call "transition" in that the serial # begins with 80 as the 80 series did, but the pistol does not include the firing pin block.

They're not called "70 Series" Commanders because the 70 Series Government Models had the collet bushing, whereas the Commanders did not, so they're known as "pre-80" series Commanders.

I have one from 1976 that's all original, and very, very tight. It will be going out in the next few months to be upgraded (among other things my old eyes hate the tiny sights). Commanders are often outstanding platforms, in my way-less-than expert opinion. Mine have been terrific.

Good luck!

Ed

I have an 80 Serial numbered, Pre-80 Series Combat Commander. Mine was meticulously re-worked by Dave Erickson of Condition One Pistolsmithing (http://www.conditionone.us). There is no reason to stay away from this one. If the price is right, snatch it up. Mine is serial numbered: 80BS105XX. When I called Colt's, they told me that they knew that the 80 Series was coming, and they ran out of 70 series serial numbers, so they just started in on the 80's. Sounds weird to me, but that's what they said. Mine was made in 1981, and has no FPS or holes in the frame or slide. Great gun all the way around. It is the prize of my collection, thanks to Dave. Good luck!

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A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
~ George Bernard Shaw