Colt Commander Lightweight .45 ACP, 1951 Production — Alloy LW-Frame, 4.25 in Barrel, Pre-Series 70
This 1951 Colt Commander Lightweight is an early alloy-frame variant identifiable by its -LW serial suffix. It pairs a blued slide with a hard-anodized aluminum-alloy frame and retains classic pre-Series 70/80 internals. The pistol features Commander-length 4.25 inch configuration, fixed GI-style sights, and aftermarket white plastic "stag-style" grip panels, with Colt Hartford, Connecticut address rollmarks.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific condition notes: The pistol does not cycle all the way; the slide does not complete a full cycle when manually pulled to the rear. It was able to cycle snap caps but cannot be manually locked to the rear. Scratches and blemishes are present throughout, with areas of pitting. The bore is clean and shiny.
What’s Included
- Colt Commander Lightweight .45 ACP pistol
- 7x 7-round 1911-pattern single-stack steel magazines
- U.S. GI leather shoulder holster (US-stamped)
The Lightweight Commander format delivers a compact 1911 platform with a 4.25 inch barrel and slide, chambered in .45 ACP with a 7+1 capacity. It uses a single-action, short-recoil tilting-barrel system and standard left-side magazine release. Safeties include a left-side thumb safety and a grip safety, with a short 1911A1-type trigger and a rowel (ring) hammer. An arched A1 mainspring housing is retained.
The alloy frame reduces weight and is hard-anodized, while the slide is blued with rear-only vertical serrations. Sights are fixed GI-style, with a small blade front and a square-notch rear, matching the period-correct Commander setup.
Manufactured in 1951, this example predates Series 70 and Series 80 changes. It has an inertial firing pin and no passive firing-pin safety, and bears Colt Hartford, Connecticut rollmarks. The -LW serial suffix confirms the original alloy frame configuration.
The pistol wears aftermarket white plastic "stag-style" grip panels; the grips are plastic. Seven 7-round steel magazines are included, as well as a U.S.-stamped GI leather shoulder holster.