Another Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity

[fourarmed]

I went to the local GS on Saturday. Saw a few things of interest. I saw a Savage Model 20. It's sort of a controlled-feed Model 7 Rem. stocked for iron sights with a schnabel forend. It was in 250-3000. First one I ever saw. I guess the country wasn't ready for such a thing in the 20's. Pretty neat, but of educational interest only at $550. Then I hit the table that cost me money. Among other interesting Colt's and S&Ws lay a Lightweight .45 Commander. The first thing I noticed about it other than the nice condition and Bianchi holster was the S&W revolver sight that had been put on it. Very retro, I thought. The next thing I noticed was a tiny stamp next to the sight which read "A.D. Swenson, Gardena, Calif." I immediately went into palpitations of every organ. We discussed price. I told him I would think about it, and walked the rest of the tables, but I don't remember anything I saw after that. I went to the car and told Margaret what I had seen. I guess she recognized the signs, and realized that if I passed it up she would be hearing me tell stories of my martyrdom for the rest of our lives, because she said "It's only money, and you know how to make more."

It shoots cast boolits just fine. Anybody have any anecdotes about Armand Swenson? Anybody know where to find dates and serial numbers on Commanders?

[Dutch4122]

Not much in the way of info about Mr. Swenson but I do remember an article about him in a issue of G&A years ago. IIRC they made mention of the fact that he accuracy tested all of his work firing one handed, standing. If memory serves he was capable of shooting one ragged hole groups with his accurized 1911's. They also printed several pics of his test targets in the article. Not sure what distance he was shooting at.

Hope this helps,

[Herb in Pa]

Enjoy the read!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.coolgunsite.com/comm_pistols/custom/swenson/swenson.htm

[floodgate]

fourarmed:

"Anybody know where to find dates and serial numbers on Commanders?"

I've got a list that goes through 1982. The last year they show for the lightweight Commander is 1967, with a serial 49651LW at the beginning of the year. Counting backward, beginning serials are: 1966 - 46951LW; 1965 - 45300LW; 1964 - 44151LW; 1963 - 43000LW; 1962 - 42400LW; 1961 - 42000LW; 1960 - 41501LW; 1959 - 39450LW; 1958 - 39200LW; 1957 - 38450LW; 1956 - 37200LW; 1955 - 34900LW; 1954 - 32200LW; 1952 - 20300LW; 1951 - 6000LW; 1950 - 66LW; 1949 - 001 to 0065 (no LW suffix).

Hope that covers yours.

floodgate

[fourarmed]

Thanks Floodgate, there are lots of places with GM numbers, but I hadn't yet found any for the Commander. Mine has a SN under 1000-LW, so that would put it in 1950. Wonder when Swenson started working on them.

[C1PNR]

fourarmed:

"Anybody know where to find dates and serial numbers on Commanders?"

I've got a list that goes through 1982. The last year they show for the lightweight Commander is 1967, with a serial 49651LW at the beginning of the year. Counting backward, beginning serials are: 1966 - 46951LW; 1965 - 45300LW; 1964 - 44151LW; 1963 - 43000LW; 1962 - 42400LW; 1961 - 42000LW; 1960 - 41501LW; 1959 - 39450LW; 1958 - 39200LW; 1957 - 38450LW; 1956 - 37200LW; 1955 - 34900LW; 1954 - 32200LW; 1952 - 20300LW; 1951 - 6000LW; 1950 - 66LW; 1949 - 001 to 0065 (no LW suffix).

Hope that covers yours.

floodgate
Well, shucks! Don't you know that mine, 273xx-LW, has to be in the numbers in between '52 & '54. I'm going to guess it was built in 1952, if only because they built a TON of them in 1951 (Korean War) and "probably" kept production up in '52. Sure didn't build many in '54. I wonder if they built any in '53? But who knows, just more grist for the mill.:???:

Thanks, Floodgate, for the data.:)

[StarMetal]

I have a Combat Commander with serial # 1XXX but it's not old.

Joe

[floodgate]

4armed:

You're welcome; always knew all them book would come in handy someday!

C1PNR:

Geez! Did I stumble and skip over 1953? Starting number that year was 30100LW, so yours has to be 1952.

Joe:

THe list in the 1911 Colt "Pocket Chronology" has the Combat Commander starting at #70BS01001 in 1970, in "Series 70" configuration. The list ends in 1982 with the blued CC starting at #80BS17665 in blue and "70SC82626 (still a Series 70???) in nickel. I guess the Federal requirement for nine-(or more)-digit serials is responsible for all the funny letters and numbers. Oh, well, back in the early 1900's, Colt actually ran one series of the old "parallel ruler" .38 ACP's BACKWARDS for a few years to fill a serial gap.

flubgate

[StarMetal]

Floodgate,

Mine doesn't fall into that category either. Mine's a special edition.

Joe

[C1PNR]

C1PNR:

Geez! Did I stumble and skip over 1953? Starting number that year was 30100LW, so yours has to be 1952.

Thanks, I do appreciate the information. I'll include it in my database description of the pistol.

[Blackwater]

Herb, excellent article. Thanks.

Fourarmed, you're gonna' really LIKE that lightwt. gun. My little 4" Lwt. Kimber has alleviated all need or desire for a light 5-shot .38. Carries in an Andrews McDaniel holster as comfortably as a gun can be carried in an IWB holster, which really ain't bad at all, and it doesn't want to sink my pants down around my ankle like all my steel frames have. Never really liked the thought of an aluminum framed .45 until I got this one. I think they'll bury me with it one day. It goes with me everywhere, and is my go to gun because it's so handy, easy and pleasant to carry, and thus, it's just always there. Last thing I shot with it was a big timber rattler (canebreak) and a 185 gr. Cor Bon non +P load, and it removed the entire head, save the lips. Yep. Shot everything away but the "smile!" That kinda' thing really endears a gun to you, ya' know?

[Bret4207]

Blackwater- Sounds like my little Star PD 45. Onlyest other 45 that caught my eye as being even smaller was the Para P-10. almost too small to handle well.

[9.3X62AL]

Those "Commander" platforms are just the right size for me. Full-sized frame for my ham-sized paws, and a slightly shorter slide length that is well-nigh perfect for holstered concealment--but enough sight radius for good shot placement.

I think it is this dimensional "agreement" and aluminum frame lightness that makes the SIG-Sauer "Classic" service pistols (P-220, P-226) so popular for uniform duty and CCW use among my agency's members. We are authorized 250 variants by 8 makers, and more than a third of the pistols carried are SIG-Sauer make. Deputies buy their own sidearms, BTW--and this make is the most expensive option. Glock comes in second-place in popularity, and many of those (Models 17 and 22) fit the same dimensional class--that being full-sized lightweight frame and 4"-4.25" barrel. This platform arrangement does a lot of things right for a lot of people, methinks.

[wills]

Any opinions on the Llama micro .45's?

[Scrounger]

Any opinions on the Llama micro .45's?

Take a look at my little Armscor .45: Here's one for sale on AuctionArms (not mine)

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=7193597

[Bret4207]

Wills, Llama has a so-so rep. Some guys have 'em and they last forever. Other guys toss 'em in the river. IIRC the Llama parts are not ALL interchangable with a "real" 1911, Gun Parts Corp does have a supply of parts. Some parts allegedly interchange with the 1911.

[Poygan]

Wills,
I had a Llama Max-1 for a while. At best, it was OK. Accuracy was comparable to a GI issue .45. Would handle both the .452374 and the Lee
225 TC. One or two of the grip screws came loose frequently, which could have been solved with Loctite. Sold it and got a Sig P-220. Not a twinge of regret.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Are getting a bit tedious for me, I'm staggering from one to the next on my way to the poor house. Of course, now that Winchester is about to close, I'd better grab a Mod 70 and a 94 or two!

[lar45]

I've found the LLama's to be wonderfully accurate. They can be abit rough while breaking in. They used to have the slide release cut at a negative angle, so you had to cam the slide back while pushing on the slide release. I cut them all to 90deg before I sent them out the door. I sold a bunch and shot most of them, they were all very accurate. Try 5gal lid at 180yds off hand with hits 90% of the time. They do not do well with hot loads!! I kept a commander sized one and put the full length guide rod with recoil buffer system in it. I really liked it, but sold it when I was in a bind one time. A friend got one of the Duo tone, chrome slide with black frame. It shot just the same as the others. I never did try the Mini sized one, but wanted to. I think the double stack magazine might be nice to try also.
For the little money you put into them, I think they are a real good buy. Just don't feed them warm loads.
When I first started shooting 45's, I got a load from a buddy. 4.7gn 700x with a 230 LRN that went about 900fps in his tricked out race gun. I picked up a bucket of TZZ brass from the ship and loaded some up with his load and went to the range. Stupid me didn't think about reduceing for military brass. Those were doing 1300fps from my 7" long slide hardballer and almost that from the 4.5" LLama. I went home, pulled all the bullets and started over. I ended up with 4.2gns 700x for 900fps. The Hardballer handled the loads fine, but the LLama was trying to push the barrel bushing out the front of the slide. I had to force it out, then file and polish abit to get things back together. It still shot great afterwards.

So for the guys who want 45 super loads and brass, the TZZ brass worked fine and wasn't bulged or anything. I don't have a clue what the pressure was, but I'm sure it was up there. Quickload doesn't have 700X in it.

[Bret4207]

LLama vs Hi Point. I'll take the LLama.

[StarMetal]

I use to do 1911 pistol smithing, so along the way I've worked on Llama's. Simply put the hardest part in the whole pistol was the sear. The rest of the whole gun, as compared to a Colt...was soft. With that said after I tuned one up it would shoot alongside the best 1911.....but not for as many rounds and as long. Bottom line.....good pistol for the money...if you aren't going to shoot the hell out of it.

Joe

[wills]

Thing is, Academy has the Llamas for about $260, which seems a good price.

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/hunting/handguns&selectedSKU=0357-00877-0600&start=8

[Scrounger]

Thing is, Academy has the Llamas for about $260, which seems a good price.

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/hunting/handguns&selectedSKU=0357-00877-0600&start=8

Probably do fine if you want a small carry gun that you're NOT planning on running 300 rounds a week through it, 50 or so a week shouldn't hurt it. And the price is nice....

[lar45]

Those Highpoints are kind of scary. A friend of mine had one in 45. It shot good for him, but I didn't want to stand behind it and pull the trigger.

[carpetman]

Waksupi Ric---Those Llamas they mention being on sale is a brand name. It aint a sheep like animal. Thought I'd let you know before you going rushing to Acadamy with money in hand. Sorry no cheap date.