Commemoratives are just that - something to be set aside and displayed as examples of a distant time.
That said, however - there are many who say that if they can't shoot it or otherwise use it - then they won't buy it, so they buy with the express idea of using whatever it is they've purchased, and some do so to rub others noses in the fact that 'they' just don't care.
Then it could be that this individual couldn't believe that Colt would indeed make more...
Every production run of different Commemoratives has seen re-issues of less-engraved/less-plated weapons made up from the initial parts run - when those things get built is anyone's guess - but they 'do' get built and those are the 'Shooter Edition', so to speak.
In the '70's and '80's - there were a myriad of odd Colts and Winchesters made up using 'Commemorative' parts and/or wood, and that's where you see some true oddities as the factories were pushing out product.
Though not built as a 'Commemorative' per-se, Smith & Wesson's first run of their beautiful new Schofield featured an Oak display case, a Schofield 'coin', and all sorts of printed material.
However - that made for a pretty pricy revolver, and S&W wanted to sell some guns in order to cover all the R&D and marketing costs, so they switched to a cardboard box and even lopped off the long barrels of some of the 'Cavalry' models to provide the shorter 'Wells Fargo' barrels in hope that they'd sell.
Those were essentially the 'Shooter Edition' - and sales did pick up, but not by a whole helluva lot.
Another reason Commemoratives get to see the shooting range is that quite often - they're underpriced in comparison, since the common belief is that they'll never get shot and they have a very limited interest, so they have attractive pricing.
Never know...
If the piece is clean and well-cared-for, it 'will' be saleable - it just won't garner as much as an un-fired set right now - 'but' it will rise in value, because of the limited production.
Personally - I would not buy a 'Commemorative' - much preferring relatively plain pieces as they were originally supplied by the factory.
If I 'wanted' engraving - I'd special order it.
Vaya,
Scouts Out!