Posted: 9/19/2012 7:32:41 AM EDT
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The other night, when looking at my Delta Elite, my brother came up with this bizarre idea. I told him I didn't think it would work, but I thought I'd run it past you guys to see what you thought.
He likes Commander sized 1911's more than the full sized ones. His idea, that made me face-palm, was to take a Delta Elite, and cut the slide & barrel down to Commander size. Then machine the end of the slide to accept a bushing. His thought / reasoning was that you would retain the full size frame, and, most importantly, keep the Colt "Delta Elite" roll-stamp on the slide. Seeing as Colt never made a Delta Elite in Commander size, this seems like the only way it would work. I have doubts that it can be done, but he insists he has seen it done before. I mean, I'm sure with enough metal-working and machining that it could work, but i don't think it's as simple as "cut the barrel & slide, and re-machine the grove for the bushing" as he insists. Obviously sights would have to be dealt with (as the old one would be chopped off), and a new "Commander" sized bushing & recoil spring stop, recoil spring etc. The gun would have to be converted to a single recoil spring, as the stock double spring set-up probably wouldn't work. My concern though, is that the lower portion of the slide (where the recoil spring sits) would be wrong, as well as the longer dust-cover. I do not know enough about the frame design to know if there are any differences between a "Government" and "Commander" style guns. The other thing is the fit of the bushing to the barrel. If you just chop off the end of the barrel, wouldn't you loose the "flare" at the end that mates with the bushing? So you would either have to add material to the barrel to fit the bushing, or fit a new barrel all-together. And just for the record, no, it is not gonna happen with my gun, even if it is possible. So, what say you guys? |
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Q: What is the difference between a commander model and government size frame?
A: The dustcover is shorter on a commander. Also, the area where the recoil spring guide sits as well as the rails are cut back .078 on a commander receiver. Both frames take full size Government magazines. NOTE: You shouldn't put a commander slide on a government frame. A true commander slide will have different slide stop notch location to accommodate the shorter cycle. From the Caspian website. I would leave the Delta Elite alone. |
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It was done by a member here, and came out quite nicely. I'll see if I can find the thread.
Here is the archived thread. |
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It was done by a member here, and came out quite nicely. I'll see if I can find the thread. Here is the archived thread. That's pretty cool. However, that looks like it was a Bull Barrel, the Delta Elite has a typical Bushing Barrel. |
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It was done by a member here, and came out quite nicely. I'll see if I can find the thread. Here is the archived thread. That's pretty cool. However, that looks like it was a Bull Barrel, the Delta Elite has a typical Bushing Barrel. True, and while it isn't quite as simple as "cut the barrel & slide, and re-machine the grove for the bushing", it isn't that much more complicated. Other than fitting the bushing, the process that your brother proposes would be pretty much the same. |
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It was done by a member here, and came out quite nicely. I'll see if I can find the thread. Here is the archived thread. That's pretty cool. However, that looks like it was a Bull Barrel, the Delta Elite has a typical Bushing Barrel. im always fascinated by what an ingenious mind and some tools can accomplish. that is amazing! |
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Considering the shorter length slide, a bull barrel on a 10mm Commander clone makes a lot of sense. Some times I wish I had a bull barrel on my full size Delta Elite.
The project is possible, but I would rather build a 10mm Commander from the frame up than cut down a Delta Elite. Of course, if you take that path, you won't have Delta Elite markings. Doesn't mean much to me, but it might to some people. |
| As I recall Austin Behlert used to do this frequently back in the 70's with regular government models. It seems I saw a picture of a five gallon bucket of cutoff ends of 5" goverments models. There was one model called a Bobcat which had the barrel/slide AND the grip shortened. I am sure others did this also. |
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It was done by a member here, and came out quite nicely. I'll see if I can find the thread. Here is the archived thread. That's pretty cool. However, that looks like it was a Bull Barrel, the Delta Elite has a typical Bushing Barrel. im always fascinated by what an ingenious mind and some tools can accomplish. that is amazing! I don't know if taking a hacksaw to a $1000 pistol is ingenious or insane, but it is certainly interesting. 
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If the OP wants to dive into the project, post pics!
Personally though, I would put the work into a frame and slide set and then end up with 2 pistols. As I said before, the project is not going to happen. I am not cutting down my Delta Elite. As to the frame, I see your previous post about the recoil spring section and the rails, make it sounds like the frame would have to be modified as well, but I could be wrong. Or is that only if a true commander slide is put onto the frame? |
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If the OP wants to dive into the project, post pics!
Personally though, I would put the work into a frame and slide set and then end up with 2 pistols. As I said before, the project is not going to happen. I am not cutting down my Delta Elite. As to the frame, I see your previous post about the recoil spring section and the rails, make it sounds like the frame would have to be modified as well, but I could be wrong. Or is that only if a true commander slide is put onto the frame? Another reason not to cut it down is because a commander size 1911 is not as reliable as a 5 inch gun in general. if you buy one factory built and have problems, it will have a warranty, but if you chop it and it don't work,it's yours. |