Need advice on "fake" Colt purchase

[Sackett]

So I started my 10 day wait on a Colt 9mm Commander this weekend. It's very well worn, but looked great for an old gun. I took a couple pictures of it when I payed and dros'ed it. It was on consignment by one of the employees of the shop, but that particular person wasn't working that day.

Today I called Colt with the serial # asking if they could tell me anything about it, It turns out the frame isn't a Colt. But the slide is. And the gentlemen on the phone said the Custom Shop wouldn't work on it. They only service Colts. The sales tag on the pistol reads Colt Commander 9mm. All the paperwork I filled out says Colt. But I didn't actually buy a Colt.

I now feel tricked. The gun store isn't open today or I'd call them. Before I do, do you guys have any advice for me?

If I ask for my money back, am I justified? I paid $800. I really don't want an 800 dollar do it yourself at home project somebody did. I'm trying to see this from all perspectives.... I think the seller knows it isn't a Colt, they work at one of the busiest gun stores in Northern California. I couldn't imagine them never looking up the serial # on an old 9mm Commander.

[Merc1138]

Really depends. Ideally this is something you should have investigated before making the purchase, so the shop would be well within their rights to charge you a cancellation/restocking fee/whatever. However the shop themselves misidentified the pistol and misrepresented it(possibly unintentionally).

Assuming the guy who runs the gun ship isn't a **** head, and you don't immediately start with an attitude, it should be a simple enough matter to resolve(possibly less the DROS fee). However you're going to want to get the actual owner of the shop involved(in a friendly manner), and explain that they can call Colt as well about the S/N to get the same info you did.

[Garv]

You should ask for your money back.

Make sure you have all the paperwork that says Colt Commander on it and a letter from Colt saying it is not.
Small claims court if they object possibly.

[jimx]

I now feel tricked.

You only feel that way because you were.

[machrono]

Today I called Colt with the serial # asking if they could tell me anything about it, It turns out the frame isn't a Colt.

So the frame only has a serial number and no manufacturer markings? Could still be legit if an older Colt frame. Post pics for the 1911 fanboys

[Cody805]

Post pics!!

[2meterB]

Post partial serial num

[-hanko]

Pics of the serial number.

Which gun shop sold you the "commander" ?

[HUTCH 7.62]

Post pics!!

This.


......and

[ZirconJohn]

Post pics!!

Waiting for pics ... of everything ...!

[PolishMike]

Post pics of what it says on the frame. I have had Colt tell me they don't have a serial number on file from a Colt before.

[machrono]

.....I have had Colt tell me they don't have a serial number on file from a Colt before.

That can't be surprising. Here is what the place looks like these days:

[Sackett]

The man at Colt said Commanders always have letters in the serial.

[SkyHawk]

A 4 digit Colt serial on a Commander? Hmmmm. I have seen some early 1950s Commanders with 3 or 4 digits followd by -LW (light weight). And if they DROS it as a Colt and put Colt on the 4473 and in their bound book, but it isn't really a Colt - that sounds like trouble for the FFL.

Sounds like you have plenty of reasons to ask for your money back. This is a $400 gun, that might be a cast frame...

Did you pay by card or cash?

[bsg]

if the frame is not Colt, the pistol is not Colt and whether intentional or not was misrepresented.