Colt Commander from 1975, leave it like it or upgrade sights??

Steyrtac

Steyrtac

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
109   0   0
Hello all!

I have this sweet shooting Colt Commander from 1975 in 45 ACP, alloy framed that I really like... Except for the sights!

I this a sacrilege to the greatest gun disigner of all time to put more modern sights on it?

If new sights are kosher, any suggestions for a simple and effective sight setup?

Regards,
Eric

IMG_1628_zps9zonvi9k.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Last edited:
Not sacrilege. Change the sights to something you like. The best homage you can pay to JMB is to shoot it and enjoy it. If you don't enjoy it, you won't shoot it, and that would be a shame. No specific recommendations on sights. Well...I like total black for the rear and FO for the front. Your preferences may vary. Good luck. Enjoy that shooter!
 
If it were me, I would leave the sights alone and replace those tacky grips with a set of high quality checkered walnut ones.

It has survived this long in it's original form, and should remain so.

You can always pick up another 1911A1 already fitted with better sights, such as a Ruger SR1911 and have at it.
 
Lonesome Donkey said:
If it were me, I would leave the sights alone and replace those tacky grips with a set of high quality checkered walnut ones.

It has survived this long in it's original form, and should remain so.

You can always pick up another 1911A1 already fitted with better sights
Click to expand...

Gotta agree with that ^^
But, if you do decide to change sights, I like the Novaks on my LW Commander

100_4789_zpspuqflgg9.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Yesh if it's not like a permanent alteration, just like the Magpul grips that I put to save the original wooden ones.
Is the front sight is integral with the slide?
Nothing to be seen from the inside of the slide...
No dovetail in the fromt end of my pistol.
 
If you do change the sights, it will never return to it's original configuration.

Too many classy old guns are devalued this way.

It's far easier to just buy what you want, and not hack up a 40 year old pistol destined to be collectible.

And, the front sight is staked into place. Removing and replacing it requires special tools.

In any case, the reason why old guns become valuable is because they are somewhat rare.

Most of them end up being fubared through thoughtless modification, neglect or wear.

Kind of a waste of time trying to convince anyone on Gun Nutz of that though.
 
So what are you gonna do...get a different gun, leave this one alone, rarely if ever shoot it, put it away, rarely look at it, so that at some point down the line, it "may" become "more valuable". Then, maybe, a whole buncha years down the line, if it does become a little more valuable (lots of those guns around), whatcha gonna do with it then. Sell it for a few more dollars? Give it to someone you care about? Die with it? Lots of sentimentality floating around here. If you really like shooting it, get a professional job done on the sights so that you enjoy shooting it. If you get a different gun, you sure aren't going to be enjoying shooting this gun any more. Which is fine. There are lots of other guns you might like to shoot as well. However, don't have any illusions about this turning into a "collectible" gun any time soon...especially when you have to compete with guys who have original boxes, hang tags, original cleaning kits, and all that other associated stuff that collectors find desirable. My opinion obviously, not slagging other folks for theirs. Let us know what you decide.
 
Do you want to shoot it or sell it? If the former change the sights. If not sell the thing now and buy a pistol with better sights. Novaks would be my choice for sights.
 
Change the sights. Install sights that use the existing stake on system in the front and the existing dovetail in the back. Save the rear sight. It can be re-installed later, if desired. A new front sight can be installed later that matches the one you take off.

The "special tool" to remove the front sight is called a pliers.
 
If it was a more rare pistol I'd be inclined to keep it as is, but I think a properly-installed nice set of low-profile but higher visibility fixed sights would improve the pistol. I'd also swap the grips out for a nice set of VZ grips if it were me. :)
 
Thanks for your input friends!

It's a old Colt with many handling marks, as for all the guns I had owned, the are intended to be shot and I shoot them! It's not the resale value that bugs me it's that it may be something about those small front sight that eludes me! They are snag proof for sure!
 
You could always pick up a spare slide with better sights already installed. That way you have the original config. if you ever want to sell.
 
NVShooter said:
So what are you gonna do...get a different gun, leave this one alone, rarely if ever shoot it, put it away, rarely look at it, so that at some point down the line, it "may" become "more valuable". Then, maybe, a whole buncha years down the line, if it does become a little more valuable (lots of those guns around), whatcha gonna do with it then. Sell it for a few more dollars? Give it to someone you care about? Die with it? Lots of sentimentality floating around here. If you really like shooting it, get a professional job done on the sights so that you enjoy shooting it. If you get a different gun, you sure aren't going to be enjoying shooting this gun any more. Which is fine. There are lots of other guns you might like to shoot as well. However, don't have any illusions about this turning into a "collectible" gun any time soon...especially when you have to compete with guys who have original boxes, hang tags, original cleaning kits, and all that other associated stuff that collectors find desirable. My opinion obviously, not slagging other folks for theirs. Let us know what you decide.
Click to expand...

Like I said, It's a waste of time trying to convince anyone on Gun Nutz to preserve anything.

They all have the mentality that if it ain't a tacti-kool shooter then it ain't worth nothin'.

A very myopic mindset, to be sure.
 
Some of the best advices I received outside of my familly where from this community. I appreciate your opinion but you judge "anyone" on CGN pretty rapidly...
 
Lonesome Donkey said:
Like I said, It's a waste of time trying to convince anyone on Gun Nutz to preserve anything.

They all have the mentality that if it ain't a tacti-kool shooter then it ain't worth nothin'.

A very myopic mindset, to be sure.
Click to expand...
That's more than a bit of a generalization. The OP has mentioned that the pistol has some wear and the collector value--now or in the future-- is likely not great.

You'll find lots of members here who treasure old firearms and keep them unmodified--just like you'll find members that want to add some utility to a gun that's maybe a little tired and could use some useful refreshing
 
MGW makes sights that will fit the existing rear dovetail and front mortise with no machining required. The narrow tenon front sight is correct for your gun. You can get them from Brownells.

If you decide to cut it, Novak dovetails give you a good selection of options. Another "retro" approach keeping with the vintage of the gun would be to install a S&W K Frame adjustable rear sight. I don't think your gun is so collectible as to preclude modifying it to your needs. If it were something like a numbers-matching GI gun or pre-war commercial, I would keep it as-is or sell it if you want a shooter. Ultimately, it's your call.
 
I bought my first 1911 in the 70s as well, after a trip to the range the factory "Coltwood" grips came off and went into the trash as Pachmyr's rubber grips went on, soon followed with a flat Pachmyr mainspring housing, and a longer trigger. Those were the things I felt competent to change on the gun by myself.

After a few more years I decided to have those terrible little sights replaced with larger fixed sights, a trigger job, and have the feed ramp polished. Those were all done by a gunsmith who regularly attended the OKC Gunshows, I gave him the gun on a Saturday and got it back the next day. I never regretted having the work done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom