WW-2 Colt 'Commando' .38 special, 4 in. barrel revolver

The listing by the Alabama Dealer, Damon Mills, who acquired the revolvers from the Marion Military Institute museum

"We have obtained a quantity of Military Colt Commando Revolvers which were produced about 1943. These .38 Special Revolvers are all new, unfired, in the grease. They are still in the original Kraft shipping boxes with paraphernalia. The serial number range on these guns is from 31870 to 32502. They are in military finish, usually referred to as Parkerizing, which is actually a sandblast under blue. They have Colt Wood brown plastic military grips. Each one is U. S. Ordnance inspected and stamped GHD over an ordnance bomb on the upper left frame. The barrel of each gun is marked "Colt Commando .38 Special." We have cleaned the grease off the outside of each gun and left it on the internal parts. No gun shows any signs of ever having been fired. They are as new as you can get. The total production on WWII Colt Commando Revolvers is about 50.000, not to be compared to the virtually unlimited production of the Smith & Wesson Victory Model .38.

Early in WWII the U. S. Army withdrew the .45 Automatics from the Alabama National Guard. There was a shortage and I'm sure many other state's 1911's were also withdrawn. The Alabama National Guard immediately placed an order for Colt Commandos to replace the .45 Automatics. We don't know exactly how many, but perhaps 200. Before the Colt Commandos were delivered, Army Ordnance re-issued the state national guards with .45 Automatics. When the Colt Commandos were delivered, they were placed in storage and never issued. They remained in storage for 68 years, from about 1943 to March of 2011. They were then donated the the Marion Military Institute museum here in the state of Alabama. The museum has de-accessioned them and you now find them presented here.

Each gun is accompanied by its original Kraft box with the serial number penciled on the lid, Colt parts brochure, bore brush, etc. Each gun is also accompanied by a statement of the above history with the serial number of the gun, addressed "To Whom It may Concern" and is printed on Marion Military Museum letterhead."  See letter below: