In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options

Colt Experts: Nickel Or Stainless

nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,018 ******
edited December 2014 in General Discussion
Did Colt make any Series '80 Combat Commanders in stainless, or is it safe to assume that any of them with a bright finish is nickel plated?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Options
    fideaufideau Member Posts: 11,893 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not an expert but I don't think there were any stainless. There was a matt nickel though. Had one of those I should have kept. I believe if the slide has "Combat Commander" it indicates a steel frame. "Commander" had aluminum alloy frames. I like blue or matt nickel better than the shiny ones.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,018 ******
    edited November -1
    The pistol in question is highly polished, not matte.

    I have seen other Combat Commanders in polished nickel. My trouble is, I can't tell the difference between highly polished nickel and highly polished stainless steel.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    fideaufideau Member Posts: 11,893 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well someone just told me they did make some in stainless. So I am no help at all Nunn. However, I have seen some polished out stainless guns that almost always have scratches. Maybe if you pull the grips you can see a difference. Kind of grey is stainless, nickel will be kind of yellow undertones.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,096 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Far from an expert but 300 series stainless is non magnetic if that helps.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    ruger41ruger41 Member Posts: 14,652 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes Colt did make shiny stainless guns. Just put the words Ultimate Stainless in the search function on the auction side and at least two come up. They made pythons in it too.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,018 ******
    edited November -1
    The gun in question is a .38 Super Combat Commander. On the auction side, I found an ultimate stainless .45 Government. I also noted that the serial number begins with "SS," for stainless steel, I reckon.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,096 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try a magnet?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ruger41
    Yes Colt did make shiny stainless guns. Just put the words Ultimate Stainless in the search function on the auction side and at least two come up. They made pythons in it too.

    Production on the Pythons switched from nickel to Stainless sometime in '76 or '77 still trying to research that one for a fraud claim.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,254 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Try a magnet?


    +1
    RLTW

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 50,964 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ask Colt. He knows all. or almost.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    Don McManusDon McManus Member Posts: 23,499 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Sam06
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Try a magnet?


    +1


    400 series stainless steels, which are commonly used in firearms, are magnetic. Much less so than carbon steel, but they will attract a magnet.

    To be sure, have a carbon steel and the test subject together. If the test subject is noticeably less magnetic than the carbon steel sample, you probably have a stainless pistol.

    If you can't tell the difference, you probably have a nickel plated pistol.
    Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.

    Brad Steele
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    RobOzRobOz Member Posts: 9,523 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Sam06
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Try a magnet?


    +1


    I have never found a SS gun that a magnet won't stick on.

    magnet_zps917a871f.jpg
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    Not nearly as good as carbon steel though,as mentioned.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,969
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Try a magnet?


    -O [B)]
    a magnet sticks to any SS firearm [:0]
    And SS can be polished out to look like bright nickel [^]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Options
    tomh.tomh. Member Posts: 3,822 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    According to catalogs & price lists from the era....
    Series 80 Govt Models debuted in 1983.
    Stainless Govt Models debuted about 1985. SS serial numbers started here in Govt Series.
    Govt Model Bright Stainless debuted in 1986.
    Only Super 38 was still available in Nickel.

    During this time....
    Combat Commander was available in blue or satin nickel, with satin nickel disappearing from the price list by about 1987, leaving only Blue available.
    Stainless Steel Combat Commander debuted in 1990.
    While I realize this doesn't help at all, I sat here sifting through all the catalogs so I figured I'd post the information.
    My vote goes for polished stainless.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.