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The Colt Double Diamond Set
In 1986, Colt celebrated 150 years in business by issuing the Double Diamond commemorative set. The set paired a bright stainless Python .357 revolver with a bright stainless Officers Model .45 ACP.
Colt produced 1,000 Double Diamond sets. The Officers Model was still new to the Colt lineup, having appeared in the mid-1980s as a compact version of the 1911 with a shorter barrel and shortened grip frame. From a marketing standpoint, placing that new compact .45 beside the Python was a strong way to elevate the model immediately.
The complete set sold new for about $1,575 in 1986. Today, complete commemorative sets appeal to a different kind of collector than a shooter-grade individual gun. Condition, original box, papers, medallions, case, and all original accessories matter greatly.
Why This One Was Different
I had admired these guns for years, but using a pistol from a complete commemorative set always felt wrong. Then I found an example that had already been separated from its original set. That changed the equation. It was still collectible, but it was no longer a pristine two-gun presentation package.
I paid $2,100 for this pistol at auction in August 2020, including shipping, transfer fee, and credit card surcharge. It was not a theoretical Blue Book number. It was the real number required to buy the gun I wanted.
Commemorative Gun or Shooter?
For a Colt commemorative, special edition, or limited-edition firearm to command its highest value, it usually needs to remain pristine, unfired, and complete with all original packaging and accessories. That is not the way I collect. My rule has always been simple: no safe queens.
That is why this pistol works for me. I can appreciate the anniversary history, the bright stainless finish, and the unusual place it holds in the Colt story, while still taking it to the range and enjoying it as a firearm.
The Officers Model Context
The compact 1911 idea did not begin as a fashion accessory. It grew from the desire for a shorter, more portable .45 ACP pistol. The Officers Model brought that concept into Colt's commercial lineup and helped make compact 1911s a lasting category.
Finish, Details, and the Medallion
Ordinarily, I am not drawn to bright stainless pistols. In this case, I make an exception. The finish suits the anniversary purpose, and the compact Officers Model proportions make the pistol feel different from a full-size presentation gun.
The grip medallion is part of the story. The Double Diamond medallion shows a special 150th anniversary treatment rather than a standard Colt medallion. Details like that are why collector-grade photographs matter.
Recommended Reading
Collectors interested in Colt commemoratives may want to look for reference books such as The Colt Commemoratives 1961-1986 Paid link and older works on Colt commemorative firearms. Printed references can be especially useful because limited editions, special editions, and commemoratives often require details that do not always appear in general price guides.
Final Word
I like this gun precisely because it crosses categories. It is a commemorative, but not a complete pristine set. It is a compact 1911, but not a plain carry gun. It is bright stainless, which I usually avoid, but here the finish gives the pistol its identity. It is a firearm I probably should not like as much as I do — and that is exactly why it became a favorite.
About Greg Cook
Greg Cook writes about firearms collecting, personal history, and the stories behind interesting guns. His Army MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and he brings that practical background to his collector articles.