Colt Combat Commander .45 ACP Pre-Series 80, 4.25-Inch Blued Steel (1974) with Factory Box & Manual
This 1974 Colt Combat Commander is a Pre-Series 80, steel-frame .45 ACP with the classic 4.25-inch Commander-length barrel and a blued finish. It retains period-correct features throughout and comes with its Colt factory cardboard box and original manual, with a matching end label that confirms the pistol’s configuration. The bore is excellent, adding confidence for both collectors and shooters.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: This firearm is in solid shape and shows scattered cosmetic imperfections, scratches, blemishes, and areas of finish loss.
What’s Included
- Colt factory cardboard box with matching end label (Combat Commander; serial prefix 70BS)
- Original Colt manual
- 1x 7-round single-stack steel magazine with witness holes
The Combat Commander is the steel-frame variant of Colt’s Commander line, chambered here in .45 ACP and built on the 1911 platform. This Pre-Series 80 configuration omits the later firing-pin safety, preserving the earlier Colt fire-control layout that many enthusiasts prefer.
Key period features are present, including a conventional solid barrel bushing, an un-lowered ejection port, and rear vertical slide serrations. The pistol wears a blued finish and a rowel (ring) hammer, with fixed sights consisting of a staked ramp front and a dovetailed low-profile square-notch rear.
Controls include a thumb safety and a grip safety, consistent with the 1911 design. The smooth hardwood grips are inlaid with silver Colt medallions, complementing the traditional look of the steel frame and slide.
Provenance details support originality: the factory cardboard box end label matches the pistol’s finish, caliber, and 4.25-inch barrel, and aligns with the serial number. The bore condition is excellent, while the exterior shows honest handling marks typical of a well-maintained 1970s Colt.