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For The Love Of The Commander

Talyn

Talyn

Emissary
Founding Member
All my 1911s are full-sized but the Commander keeps trying to draw me into it.

Good article by the author

The Colt Commander may not be the best fighting pistol of all time, but it’s Top 5 for sure and one of the most iconic.​

After World War II, the U.S. Military wanted a lighter and more compact pistol for officers to carry. So, Colt created a 1911 with a 4.25-inch barrel chambered in 9mm Luger that was built on a lightweight aluminum alloy frame. In 1950, Colt began manufacturing that pistol—known as the Commander, and they also offered it chambered for the .38 Super and the .45 Auto.

gundigest.com

For The Love Of The Commander

The Colt Commander may not be the best fighting pistol of all time, but it’s Top 5 for sure and one of the most iconic.
gundigest.com gundigest.com

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After reading that, at least I know I’m not super crazy, occasionally carrying handguns in excess of 30-35 oz in weight 😃.

All three of my single stack 1911s are commander size and in .45, just like my DA/SA are compact size and in 9mm. It’s just this is the size that feels right and balanced (TO ME), both for carry and firing at the range. Of my three SAO double stacks, two of them have 4” barrels (the other a 3.25”).

Over my gun owning lifetime (so far), I have owned a few “true” 5” 1911s in .45 - Wilson Protector, Dan Wesson Valor, Colt Government, now all gone. I didn’t care for the way they carried and they always seemed not quite right on the range (FOR ME).

Again, over my gun owning lifetime (so far), this is just another argument point like .45 vs 9mm, light rail vs no light rail, SAO vs DAO, hammer fired vs striker fired…and the list goes on.

I did enjoy reading the history though! Thanks!
 
I love my full size 1911's, but have always gravitated to Commander sized pistols for concealed carry. Dating back to S&W 669, SIG P228 and P220 Carry, SIG P320 Compact, my Commander, and my current SA TRP CC AOS. They just make sense for me
 

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My first .45 was a Colt Combat Commander. I fell in love with that gun. Unfortunately , I fell on hard times and had to sell it. My next .45 was a Colt Gold Cup. It was a great shooter but just wasn't my cup of tea . I traded it for a Kimber Ultra Tactical II with 3" BBL. I was looking for a Ronin with 4.25" BBL. when I stumbled on to my Garrison. With less then a box of ammo shot through it and less then $600.00 out the door I jumped on it.

I am still looking for that Ronin though. Have to save some money before I can buy another firearm.
 
Talyn said:
All my 1911s are full-sized but the Commander keeps trying to draw me into it.

Good article by the author

The Colt Commander may not be the best fighting pistol of all time, but it’s Top 5 for sure and one of the most iconic.​

After World War II, the U.S. Military wanted a lighter and more compact pistol for officers to carry. So, Colt created a 1911 with a 4.25-inch barrel chambered in 9mm Luger that was built on a lightweight aluminum alloy frame. In 1950, Colt began manufacturing that pistol—known as the Commander, and they also offered it chambered for the .38 Super and the .45 Auto.

gundigest.com

For The Love Of The Commander

The Colt Commander may not be the best fighting pistol of all time, but it’s Top 5 for sure and one of the most iconic.
gundigest.com gundigest.com

View attachment 99408
Click to expand...
My Commander after refinishing. This one is a lightweight.
 

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It’s funny because there was a lot of criticism whem Glock came out with their 19X and model 45 with 4” barrel and full size grip.

And now the Glock 45 is the number 1 best selling police handgun for agency purchase.

Colt knew this size was like Goldy Locks in 1950!

My son just bought a Springfield 4 1/4” TRP Classic and it is the prefect size and balance and a shooter to!
 
Commander Length Slide in a 1911 is as short as I will go. It is a reliability question for me. I have an intense dislike of coned barrels; too muzzle heavy for my taste. So during the Great Collection Sale it left me. A Commander length slide with an Officers Grip Frame is nice; easy to hide but the Kimber I had was a cone barrel and didn't feel right. I would buy a proper Concealed Carry Officer with a straight Commander slide. I have a couple of Commander length 1911's, but frankly since I carried a full size 1911 for so long it is what I gravitate to. With an inside the waistband holster I can't tell a difference. For a Cop with an openly carried firearm, a shorter slide and a full grip for rapid draw makes sense. But since the butt is the hard part to hide, I carry the Government Model.
 
I have tried the Commander. I would certainly not feel handicapped with a Commander over a Government Model. But for me the full size points better, probably due to more practice. What I am saying is, be sure and try both! And if you shoot a striker fired pistol well, you owe it to yourself to buy a nice 1911. The Garrison from Springfield Armory is a great starting point. But once you get used to the trigger of a 1911, nothing else will bring out the best scores on the range you are capable of and you will always begrudge the striker fired trigger.

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Winchester67 said:
But for me the full size points better, probably due to more practice.
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Perhaps the longer sight radius too, depending on how far you’re shooting.

Since I can’t, and probably never will again, see a super focused front sight clear sight picture with irons anyway, sight radius helps me very little and my 3.25”, 4”, 4.25”, and 5” guns become much more pleasant to shoot (with tighter groups) when I add an optic!

Though when I’m shooting without an optic, it’s almost like having built in point shooting practice!
 
The Commander speaks to me like the LOTR Ring of Power whispered to all that it came close to. I have yet to grasp one...

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...since the Commander I would want would have to have the following specs.
  1. Lightweight frame with a black finish,
  2. SS slide with a black finish,
  3. Novak night sites,
  4. fully supported ramped .38 Super barrel,
  5. beavertail grip safety,
  6. extended slide release,
  7. ambi-safety, and
  8. 3-hole adjustable trigger.
So far I haven't seen any currently making one, although a couple are close except for not being .38 Super.

My .02
 
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