Posted: 4/1/2003 6:54:10 PM EDT
| I'm a euro-gun guy (HK, Sig, etc) who is curious about 1911's. What do people think of Colt Commanders? Any comments on quality, reliability or quirks would welcome. What if any "upgrades" are necassary and are there certain years to avoid? When shopping are for a 1911 what should one look for? |
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I don't know too much about the gun, but i can give you my experiences. My dad passed down to me a Colt Combat Commander in .45 and since i shot it as a kid, and up to this day I have not really cleaned it and it works fine. It isn't the most accurate gun but that could be changed with a trip to the range. Hope that helps a little |
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Some think they balance better than the Govt models, I think so too. There's steel or alloy frames as well. They take the 8rd mags, just as their full size brothern. As for upgrades, I don't know of any. The usual polishing of the ramp & chamber to feed HPs, etc. Years to avoid? Not really, AFAIK. You can buy a NIB Kimber or SA or Colt right now & avoid that concern. If you buy used, be aware that the alloy frames **can** be known to be cracked due to slide battering. I'd have 2-3 people that I knew who know what they're doing check out the gun before I bought it. Obviously, a NIB gun doesn't need that. Hope this helps. |
| I've carried a Colt Combat Commander for over 20 years, also with no complaints. My only bitch with Colt these days is the use of plastic parts, the trigger and mainspring housing, but they are easily replaced. Its hard to believe that 3/4 of an inch in barrel and slide length makes a difference, but it does. |
| I think the Commander length 1911's are underated. I've got a 9mm Commander project underway and am pretty excited to get it finished. I like full sized 1911's but the Commander size does seem to be quite a bit smaller for the actual size savings. I've seen a couple of Commander length slides on Officers model frames that make a good carry combination. If it is correctly tuned and running, you cant go wrong with a good .45 1911 in my opinion. Good luck! |
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I have an aluminum .45 Cmdr and a steel 9mm Cmdr. I think they are the most versatile 1911 for any practical purpose. The Government is just a little too long and heavy. My .45 is a 80 or 90's vintage, and a joy to shoot, probably because it's been lightly customized. It's my favorite 1911 at present.  The 9mm was my Dad's, and is a 60 or 70's vintage. I am fond of it from a sentimental perspective, and my wife loves to shoot it due to the mild recoil, but it could stand to be a bit more accurate.  There are no models or years to avoid as far as I am aware. Though I did have a Springfield Champion (their Commander) and got rid of it because it shot horribly. |
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I know that is sounds dumb, but I want a Colt because it just seems more like a real 1911 when colt is written on the side. Since colts don't seem to be inferior in quality or grossly over priced I figure why not. I will probably go the NIB route because many used guns are for sale for a reason. The nice thing about most of the euroguns like glock, hk and sig is that even used ones probably run reliably. 1911's on the other hand are a much more finicky beast and who knows what Bubba-Joe gunsmith has done to it. Does anyone know which model designations have allow frames vs steel or stainless steel? |
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Originally the Commander was only available with an alloy frame. Later the Combat Commander was introduced, with a steel frame. I don't know if Colt still follows these conventions. I know that for a few years the alloy frame was referred to as the LW [lightweight] Commander. |
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Now that I asked, I went to there web page and they do list a Light Weight Commander in their XSE line, what ever that is. What it is, is $950 list, so I think I'll pass. www.colt.com/colt/html/a2c3_xseseries.html |
There are lots of them on the online auction sites. Looks like a stainless NIB one can be had for less than 700 bucks. Not sure what the XSE means, but those are the ones I have my eyes on. Looks like they don't have that crappy plastic trigger. I'd prefer a stainless frame though because I won't be carrying it and heavy guns are better to shoot... http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=8206300 |
| I have both stainless and regular steel Commanders. I actually have the steel one hard chromed now, I like the finish and steel better than the stainless. Stainless is soft and scratches easily. I bead blasted the stainless gun. I couldnt stand the polished "flats". Like I said before, the first thing I do is replace the plastic parts with steel. I like the arched mainspring housing with a lanyard loop and the short trigger, so they would be changed anyway. I dont find either heavy to carry, or the Government Model either, for that matter. Once your used to the weight and have the right holster and belt, its easy. |