Posted: 2/2/2009 7:30:47 AM EDT
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Commander slide on an Officer frame -
Who makes these? Who has made them in the past? Thoughts? |
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There are several that make 4" slides on officer frames, and a few that make 4.25" slides on officer frames. Here's a few:
Sig Compact Kimber compact stainless and compact CDP Wilson CQB Compact Les Baer Stinger Colt CCO (no longer made but still around) Smith & Wesson ES (new for 2009, introdued at SHOT) There may be more. I've been looking into this very thing. I have a line on a Colt Gunsite CCO I am going to buy probably this week. To me the Sigs looked like the absolute best deal for the money. The only negative is the external extractor, but after a lot of research, they seem to edge out the Kimbers in terms of quality and reliability. Just what I've come up with. I don't own one yet so take that with a grain of salt. Everyone that has one seems to rave about them. I originally wanted a Kimber compact CDP after handing one at the gun shop. SWEET is all I can say. The balance seems perfect, the grip size perfect for my medium sized hands, and concealability would appear to be awesome. I think there is increasing demand for these types of "CCO" type guns, so much that S&W is now going to put one out. Do some research on the old Colt CCO's and you'll see a ton of reviews and positive feedback on that type of platform. S&W's ES is supposed to start shiipping in April from what I understand. It's already on their website. |
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I have a Colt CCO that I think dates to 1998. It has a stainless Commander length slide and an Officer's length frame (aluminum).
The pistol came with night sights that resemble Novaks, a true beavertail grip safety and a single sided safety lever. I put some wood stocks on mine, replaced the grip screws, and installed a full length guide rod and put in a shok buff. IIRC I put in a 26lb mainspring. I had an S&A magwell hanging around from an earlier Officer's project, so I installed that too. The mag well made it nicer to load with "full strength" regular 1911 magazines. The CCO is a great compromise. Mine is reliable and I have to say if you are going to carry a 1911 they deserve a good long look. To be honest I carry other firearms now, but for a while it was my daily companion. |
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The size of 1911 you are describing is loosely called a CCO. It is a officer frame and a 4.25 commander slide. Some people people (including myself) make a distinction of a TRUE CCO and LIKE A CCO. A true CCO will have a 4.25 barrel and a barrel bushing. Most "Like" a CCO will have a 4ish inch barrel and the barrel will be bushingless. Colt is the original CCO, the granddaddy.
To answer your question of who makes a 1911 of similar size the list is as follows; STI Guardian- Like a CCO- 4ish inch bull barrel- Very good quality gun- $950ish. Colt CCO- True CCO sized-4.25 barrel- very good quality gun-Discontinued model- somewhat of a collectors item $950++++, if you can find one. Dan Wesson CCO- True CCO(except external extractor)- Discontinued Model- good quality- good luck finding one. DW unveiled a new true CCO with internal extractor at SHOT this year. Fusion.. Bob Serva - True CCO. Very good quality. Fusion is like Wendy's- they built it your way. You want a alloy or stainless or carbon frame. A carbon or SS slide. What sight you want? They are really are more like a custom shop, but also sell kits. 900 to skies are the limit on price. Springfield Armory COMPACT- Older discontinued model, do not be confused with current Ultra or Micro size guns they are not the same- if you can find one they run $750+. good quality. Springfield Armory Custom shop will make you a new CCO, just call them with your Platinum Visa in hand. S&W unveiled a new CCO with their external extractor at SHOT this year. Kimber- Like a CCO, OK quality gun, various models - $750 and up depending on model. Lots of reports of problems, but lots of reports of satisfaction. Be prepares to buy a new recoil spring even on a new gun. Kimber makes a steel frame and a alloy frame LW. Sig 1911 Compact- True CCO (except external extractor) good quality gun- earlier guns have had problems, newer guns have seemed to have no problems- $850+-Sig makes a steel frame ( called the Compact) and a alloy frame LW (called the C3). Les Baer Stinger- True CCO, excellent quality 1911- $1,700+ depending on options. Wilson Combat Compact- Like a CCO, excellent quality 1911- $2200+ depending on model. Nighthawk Custom_ True CCO- excellent quality 1911- $2500+ depending on options. There are full custom shops that will make you a CCO, be prepared to sell at least one of your children on the black market. If they are more I've forgotten, please anyone help me out. |
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Quoted:
Good write-up, caesar! Many thanks to all that have responded. Your welcome, and thank you. I love CCO's and collect them. I carry one everyday. They are for me, the best carry 1911 and the perfect carry pistol. For what it's worth, I carry the Sig Compact 99.99% of the time and I have lots of CCO's to choose from. |
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How hard would it be to take a standard commander sized gun and shorten the grip accordingly? Didn't someone recently do that on this site?
A proven Springfield or Colt Champion/Commander shortened to CCO specs seems like a more financially prudent thing to do at this point, for me... |
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Quoted:
How hard would it be to take a standard commander sized gun and shorten the grip accordingly? Didn't someone recently do that on this site? A proven Springfield or Colt Champion/Commander shortened to CCO specs seems like a more financially prudent thing to do at this point, for me... To do it right????.. More than a used Kimber or Sig costs and maybe a new one. And most good smiths don't want to even try. Buy a used CCO and still have a warranty. Cut a used Commander and the factory will never talk to you again. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
How hard would it be to take a standard commander sized gun and shorten the grip accordingly? Didn't someone recently do that on this site? A proven Springfield or Colt Champion/Commander shortened to CCO specs seems like a more financially prudent thing to do at this point, for me... To do it right????.. More than a used Kimber or Sig costs and maybe a new one. And most good smiths don't want to even try. Buy a used CCO and still have a warranty. Cut a used Commander and the factory will never talk to you again. Warranty issues aside, what makes it so hard to do? Seems like if a guy had some specs to work with, and a new MSH and one of the shorter mags, it wouldn't be too terrible of a conversion if one had a shop to work in. |
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Quoted:
FWIW the new DW CCO that was at SHOT did not have an EE. http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj275/ryanlisewski/01-15-09_1035.jpg When CZ bought out Dan Wesson they switched back to an IE design. (possibly just before the buyout) I've seen Pre-CZ Dans both with and without the EE. You can probably add Fusion to Caesars list. They have both steela nd alloy officer frames, and Bob Serva will billd pretty much anything you like. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
FWIW the new DW CCO that was at SHOT did not have an EE. http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj275/ryanlisewski/01-15-09_1035.jpg When CZ bought out Dan Wesson they switched back to an IE design. (possibly just before the buyout) I've seen Pre-CZ Dans both with and without the EE. You can probably add Fusion to Caesars list. They have both steela nd alloy officer frames, and Bob Serva will billd pretty much anything you like. I know about Fusion, but consider them a custom shop "build it your way". But I will add Fusion to my list. |
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Quoted:
FWIW the new DW CCO that was at SHOT did not have an EE. http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj275/ryanlisewski/01-15-09_1035.jpg Yea , I knew that. I just had EE on the brain. 
I fixed the list. Hey, I have a list too!!!!!!!! Standby for a chart on what's Milspec and what is MIM!! 
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