Colt Commando

[Bacarnal]

While Colt has put the "Commando" name on several products, this was the first.  This pistol has been in my family since WWII.  My Grandfather was a civilian electronics technician at Stapleton Army Airfield in WWII and worked on B17's, B29's and P61's.  How he ended up with this pistol I don't know, but my Father inherited it when my grandfather passed in 1951 (while my Father was attending Marine Basic Training at San Diego) .  Having received it from my Fathers Estate when he passed, I sent the serial to Colt and they verified that the pistol was part of a shipment sent to the Denver Police Department on June 22, 1943.  The pistol does have an Ordnance Acceptance stamp on the left of the bridge.   
As far as I know, the grips are original to the pistol since they have been on it since I can remember.  One of the few weapons I own that will never be sold.  Cheers, Bruce.

[Phosphorus32]

Very cool    Great looking pistol and nice family connection

I've been looking at those. There were far fewer made than the S&W Victory models.

[Bob_The_Student]

Very nice, Bruce!

[astronut]

Very nice!  What is the finish on it?

[carls sks]

very cool and neat story. great to have a family heirloom. 

[Bacarnal]

Thanks, all.  Astronut, the finish is the original parkerization.   

[astronut]

Thanks, all.  Astronut, the finish is the original parkerization.

Okay, thanks, nice firearm!

[Larry D.]

Wow!
Hardly ever see one that nice.

[martin08]

Grip at that time would have been the brown checkered plastic style called Coltwood.






As shown, the hard rubber grips would have been from an older Official Police or Army Special

[Bacarnal]

Roger that, M08.  I took the grips off and the are a different serial than the pistol.  I don't know if my Grandfather replaced them or the Denver PD, but I know that my Father said the pistol was as he got it.  I like them better with the Vulcanite grips than the Coltwood, anyway.  Thanks, Bruce.

[Larry D.]

Roger that, M08.  I took the grips off and the are a different serial than the pistol.  I don't know if my Grandfather replaced them or the Denver PD, but I know that my Father said the pistol was as he got it.  I like them better with the Vulcanite grips than the Coltwood, anyway.  Thanks, Bruce.

I'm with you on the grips. The black ones look better to me.

Either way, we got photo's of 2 beautiful examples. Some outstanding pistola's.
Well done, gentlemen.

[larm]

here is a pic of my colt commado with some other colt pistols.

i keep them in ammo cans tuck in a safe, so i didnt break it out for a photo for this thread.

it does shoot fine but i have no emotional attactment to it.

the only gun i wouldnt sell is a browning auto 5 passed down to me from my pops.

[Witchywoman]

Old post but I have read somewhere that a lot of police handguns were donated to troops overseas for them to carry in the field and this happened all over the nation during the war. My grandfather had a local PD donate a S&W to him and he carried it into Bastogne in 44 (was a 32-20 and my cousin has it now since my uncle passed in the original worn holster). It might explain why yours was traced back to a police department in 1943. Very cool back story for sure!