[LuckyDuck]

First off-

In the sake of full disclosure- I have absolutely zero financial or personal interests in sharing this information or how anyone here would respond to making a purchase due to this post whether from the Colt or Sportsman's Warehouse company(s).

With that all out of the way...if you (1) are in the market for a Colt Combat Commander in 45 ACP and (2) you have a Sportsman's Warehouse (SW) storefront near you and/or (3) you aren't opposed to purchasing from SW & having them ship said Colt Combat Commander to a FFL of your choosing...

As of this morning I got an email that SW is selling the blued/carbon steel Colt Combat Commander (steel frame for the uninitiated) in 45 ACP and only 45 ACP for less than $750. Again... nothing to gain personally by sharing this other than to say that I found that to be one of the best deals that I've ever seen offered on a Colt 1911 Commander in at least 20 years.

Doubling down... I'm actually not done yet in what I wanted to share with this... If you are a Veteran or otherwise qualify for the SW military discount... it seems that you can actually "stack" the military discount they give you on top of the (what I would call) fire sale price.

And... I'm still not done... (good lord I really should ask SW for a commission here) but on top of the sale price which is the best I've ever seen offered in 20 years, and on top of the military discount, you ALSO get the reward points from their "loyalty program" or whatever they call it for future credit.

I quite honestly must have played into their hand but... yeah I likely would have purchased it at less than $750 from the get-go but after the military discount and the rewards points... it worked out to purchasing a BNIB Colt Combat Commander for the same price as a Glock or some other comparable "plastic fantastic".

So yeah... suffice to say I've already got mine on order (I don't know if I even made it an hour past notification of the sale when I realized I could stack other discounts) and now that "I've got mine" I just wanted to share that deal with the collective here.

Do with that information as you will-share your thoughts on "this, that, or the other thing" too if you want to keep your wallet shut and your opinions open.

Either way- hope this helps at least somebody here. My only interest is to "pay things forward" and share what I consider to be deals/steals when I see 'em.

Welcome any and all supporting or contrary thoughts/opinions on it.

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

Dang- that didn't take long. I shared this on a few forums and it's already showing as being 'sold out'. Hopefully someone here was able to see/take advantage of the deal and snag one for themselves.

Reckon there's no harm in sharing a link to the deal I was trying to bring attention to now...

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...ndguns/colt-combat-commander-45-auto-acp-425in-blued-pistol-81-rounds/p/1476742

-LD


ETA: I know this looks otherwise "suspect" with it selling out so quickly after my post but I really don't have any personal/financial interests in either company and was just trying to get the "word" out on what I thought was perhaps one of the best deals I'd seen in two decades as a self professed 'Colt Guy'. I really do hope someone here was able to snag one though because of this post.

 

[weisse52]

I saw your post within a couple of minutes of posting and went looking to see sold out.
That was fast.

 

[LuckyDuck]

I saw your post within a couple of minutes of posting and went looking to see sold out.
That was fast.

I hear ya- they must have only had a handful that they were trying to blow out at that price. The 1st Combat Commander I bought was over 15 years ago and even then that was around $1k (and I thought I got it at a fair price)... in fact here she be...

So when I saw the "latest & greatest" being sold in 2025 for less than $750 and allowing discounts to stack on top of that... I just thought that was an absolute steal of a deal and tried to get the word out on the forums I haunt (there should be some minor benefits to participating in forums/listening to me) but I got stuck in an IM conversation with a fella on Reddit shortly after posting there and they were already sold out by that point.

Like I said- I know it looks "suspect" but I really was just trying to share the word and then spent just as much time getting the word out as I did having to immediately follow up on all the posts saying I now look sketchy but they're sold out.

 

[stompah]

Might be clearing out a SKU and you found it at the right time. Good snag and out of stock or not thanks for sharing!

 

[bac1023]

That was a nice deal if you’re in the market for one.

 

[tommyhof]

Yep. oos, but Thanks

 

[Bren]

As of this morning I got an email that SW is selling the blued/carbon steel Colt Combat Commander (steel frame for the uninitiated) in 45 ACP and only 45 ACP for less than $750. Again... nothing to gain personally by sharing this other than to say that I found that to be one of the best deals that I've ever seen offered on a Colt 1911 Commander in at least 20 years.

That's a good discount if you want a Colt, but I wouldn't pay that for one. I'd still buy the commander-size Springfield Garrison.

 

[Username Taken]

I made a promise to myself not to buy any more toys. But if I were to break that promise I would have jumped on that deal. I’m kind of relieved it’s not available.

 

[sk21]

Dang- that didn't take long. I shared this on a few forums and it's already showing as being 'sold out'. Hopefully someone here was able to see/take advantage of the deal and snag one for themselves.

Reckon there's no harm in sharing a link to the deal I was trying to bring attention to now...

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...ndguns/colt-combat-commander-45-auto-acp-425in-blued-pistol-81-rounds/p/1476742

-LD


ETA: I know this looks otherwise "suspect" with it selling out so quickly after my post but I really don't have any personal/financial interests in either company and was just trying to get the "word" out on what I thought was perhaps one of the best deals I'd seen in two decades as a self professed 'Colt Guy'. I really do hope someone here was able to snag one though because of this post.

Yes, they had two for sale and sold them both.🤣

 

[GotFour]

I'm glad for me they sold out!

 

[LuckyDuck]

Whelp-

I picked up the Commander and I know some folks here tend to "geek out" for this type of stuff so figured I'd try to "earn my keep" and share some pictures of the latest acquisition. I'm a bit apprehensive for tearing this down as much as I did today & fingers crossed I'll be able to put this baby back together but without further ado- here's where we're at...

Unfortunately I got a little too excited and started tearing this bad boy down and didn't get a "before" picture but figured I'd share the parts/"bits & pieces" in a "part by part" detail for those that might get a kick out of this type of thing...

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

Let's start with the "big parts" and focus on the slide first and foremost...

The bluing is even and all looks consistent to my eyes. There's no perceivable tooling marks that I can see and the sharp edges are ever so slightly knocked down. The sides are beautifully polished and the serrations (while a bit "wild" from the traditional Colt style) work well and I'd say are comparable to how the Glock slide serrations "grip" and they're similar in the spacing on the high & low points but the fact that these are angled are noticed and rather nice. I also appreciate that this particular model omitted the front cocking serrations.

So thus far- all positive but I do have a minor (and visceral) nitpick I have to point out with the slide. I was personally & deeply disappointed with the roll mark on this particular model having "Series 80" etched in the lower righthand corner rather than "45 Caliber" and I've spoken on this before and I'd like to expound while I'm on my proverbial soapbox...

I absolutely hate that Colt is doing this. Believe me- I get it- they get to use the same "roll mark" on all their slides regardless of the caliber but... yeah I hate it. I think they're absolutely "cheaping" out... two fold- first they've gone away from traditional roll marks to laser engraving and truth be told- I don't like that too much either but I can live with it. But then Colt essentially "doubles down" and cheapens their product with not only using laser engraving but also standardizing the mark and omitting the caliber... I am only speaking for myself but good lord, come on... the slides are already going to be cut differently for the barrel size differences why in the world do they keep cramming these cost saving measures down the throats of us loyal customers and expect us to accept it?

I know I'm venting on a minor nitpick but I really do hate it. And had I not gotten this pistol at the price I did (I really do think I practically 'stole' it) this roll mark bothers me so much that I never would even consider purchasing a commander with it at regular prices. I really do hate it that much (but again not trying to speak in absolutes and only framing things as my own opinion).

But stepping down from the soapbox... everything else seems to be absolutely flawless on the slide (I just hate that Colt is cheaping out with this Series 80 nonsense rather than properly annotating the caliber on the slide).

-LD

ETA: I forgot to mention the sights. These are true (and marked as such) Novak sights. I dig that and have always been a fan. I know that the new 'hotness' is sights that have a ledge that you can use your belt to rack it one handed and I'm good with that (frankly I love the Heine Straight 8's) but Novak's were always designed to be "snag free" on the draw and I like that too even though that doesn't seem to get as much attention as being beneficial these days.

 

[LuckyDuck]

Moving onto the grips that come with it...

From what I can tell, these are VZ G10 grips in black cherry with the magazine scoop & Colt brand between the diamonds. The grips are absolutely fine and I don't have a single complaint to raise with them. They're absolutely high quality but I have a set or two coming in the mail this week that I want to throw on this particular model (assuming I can put it back together properly) just because I purchased this to tinker with.

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

My next "nitpick" as a longtime "Colt Guy"... the magazine...

Yes- these are nothing special, just your 'run of the mill' Colt branded standard 8 round magazines. I'd love to see something like a Wilson or Tripp Research being included but that's not Colt's style and truth be told- despite the ever standing internet wisdom, I really never have had an issue with these magazines. They just seem to "work".

My only gripe is (again) I think Colt is cheaping out by only including one magazine these days but that's just a minor complaint and I knew that much going into this.

It could just be my own memory but I seem to recall this "one magazine" crap harking back to the AWB days where standard capacity magazines over 10 rounds costing something like $80-$100 (in 90's money) and the pistols at the time only shipping with one magazine.

It's very likely just a "me" thing & I get that Colt is far from the only company reducing the magazines that come with their pistol but frankly- I just don't like it and I don't like it at all. I reckon that I've narrowed down "why" I don't like it but still need to air that grievance if I'm being fair.

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

Next up- we've got the barrel....

I'm really not seeing much to gripe about here- truth be told I've always had great luck with Colt factory barrels and am of the opinion that typically they're about as good as they come without having a hand fitted Kart installed (your milage/opinion may vary of course too & that's fine with me).

But yeah- the barrel seems to be fine to my eye- it was absolutely filthy when I first tore it down but it cleaned up nice enough. The feet seem to be properly radiuses, the link seems to be appropriately sized, and the overall finishing seems to be quite smooth. The only thing of note that I found interesting/unexpected with the barrel is this is a new production Colt and the barrel isn't marked as being "national match".

Honestly I'm ok with that because most of my Colts don't have barrels marked as such and frankly I find it to be more grounded in marketing than objectively measurable differences but I was under the impression that all of the new production Colts had barrels marked "NM" and just pointing it out that I found it to be interesting that this was not marked as such.

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

Starting to get into the 'nitty gritty' now...

Moving onto the Sear Spring... Truth be told- if there's something to "look for" as a sign of quality I'm not at the level to recognize it. It appears to be just fine and properly "bent" in all the "right places" but hey here's two pics of it/both sides for grins...

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

Next is the frame itself... similar deal- nothing much to speak of as being out of spec or extraordinarily "in spec" either... just looks good with even bluing and smooth machining. Much like the slide, I can't discern any obvious tool marks either.. It just strikes me as a well executed & finished frame is all... But you be the judge...

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

Getting some minor parts knocked out for the sake of being thorough...

Not much to talk about here... grip screws, mainspring housing pin, hammer pin, sear pin and plunger spring assembly... not sure what to say other than they work and all seem to work as needed.

-LD

 

[LuckyDuck]

This particular model comes with Colt's dual spring recoil assembly... so I want to take a quick "time out" to talk about this part...

First off- it looks fine. Really nothing of any note to speak of outside of what it obviously is. That said- I have a quick comment on the actual/perceivable value of this design as compared to a standard/single spring configuration. I have a few other Colts set up this way and maybe I'm just not that 'cultured' in the art of the 1911 but I really can't say that I've noticed any measurable difference in recoil with the dual recoil spring setup as compared to the single spring.

I "could" be swayed to believe that the dual spring setup would have more longevity... aka round counts between when prudent replacement is necessary but that said-as mentioned previously I plan to just tinker with this model and have an Ed Brown flatware recoil spring assembly that I'm going to try in place of this. We'll see how it works but my previous experience is of a similar mindset- not much to speak of with "recoil reduction performance" as much as it's just a spring set-up that lasts longer is all.

Time will tell but regardless- this is what will come stock and I'm sure it's fine as-is.

-LD