Colt Commando .38 Special WWII E-Frame Revolver, 4-inch, Parkerized, Coltwood Grips
This Colt Commando is a WWII-era, wartime-economy variant of the Official Police built on the Colt E-frame. It features the standard 4-inch barrel, matte parkerized finish, and brown checkered Coltwood grips with Colt medallions. An early-production example in the low 3-digit serial range, it bears the barrel rollmark "COLT COMMANDO .38 SPECIAL" and shows no "U.S. PROPERTY" or ordnance/agency markings observed. Approximately 50,000 were produced from 1942 to 1945, with distribution largely through the Defense Supplies Corporation to plant guards and police.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: This revolver shows minimal markings from prior handling and use. Please refer to the photos for detailed views of surfaces and markings.
What's Included
- Colt Commando .38 Special revolver
Built during WWII for rapid production, the Commando uses a matte phosphate/parkerized gray finish and brown checkered plastic Coltwood grips, reflecting the period’s material and finish choices. The frame, barrel, and cylinder are carbon steel, finished in a uniform matte gray.
The revolver retains the classic E-frame double-action/single-action operation with a smooth trigger and a wide, checkered hammer spur. It uses a six-shot fluted cylinder and an exposed ejector rod with a knurled tip.
Sighting is straightforward and durable: a fixed half-moon front blade paired with a fixed rear notch in the topstrap. The 4-inch round-profile barrel has no under-barrel shroud and carries the correct "COLT COMMANDO .38 SPECIAL" rollmark.
Inspection stamps "N" and "L" are visible on the crane/yoke. Notably, no "U.S. PROPERTY" or ordnance/agency markings are observed on this example. Production ran from 1942 to 1945 with about 50,000 made, and distribution largely routed via the Defense Supplies Corporation to plant guards and police.