Does anyone make an all steel compact?  I really want a 1911 3-3 1/2" barrel but dont want an aluminum frame.  I cannot seem to find anything without an aluminum frame.  Is an all steel compact like chasing a unicorn?  Oh can you make it stainless too?

Colt, Kimber and Springfield all have made or still make all steel compact models, and Kimber and Springfield still make stainless ones.

I don't think they get any prettier or functional than the Ulta Compact.

I am just as accurate if not more so than my mil spec (not pictured)





With my new checkered cocobolo grips.

Quoted: Colt, Kimber and Springfield all have made or still make all steel compact models, and Kimber and Springfield still make stainless ones.

I have the 06 Kimber Catalog and there is nothing small without an aluminum frame.  So Springfield uses a Stainless frame as well as slide?  I will look into the Springfield.

You didn't specify what you meant by small, but he Kimber Compact Stainless II is what I was thinking about.  It has a 4" barrel with an Officer's sized frame (the grip is shortened by .400", or one round).   This is the gun that USMC MARSOC DET-1 had in their inventory for their covert operatives.  

Kimber Compact page

Springfield has the stainless Champion.  It has a 4" barrel and the Commander sized frame (stock length, or one round longer in the grip than the Kimber Compact Stainless II).  They also have the above mentioned and pictured Ultra Compact in stainless.

Stainless Champion
Stainless Ultra Compact
Springfield 1911 page

There are thousands of used Colt Officer's ACPs and 1911 Compacts in stainless out there if you want a Colt.  

216.219.244.51/guns/976329089.htm
216.219.244.51/guns/976361981.htm
216.219.244.51/guns/976329097.htm
216.219.244.51/guns/976688625.htm
216.219.244.51/guns/976688947.htm
216.219.244.51/guns/976627819.htm
216.219.244.51/guns/976642250.htm

If you want to go high end semi-custom, both Wilson and Ed Brown make stianless 1911s in the shorter grip frame with 4" barrels.  Nighthawk has their Talon IV, which is as small as a Colt Officer's ACP.  I know it comes in all steel, and I think they will build it in stainless.  I hope this helps a little.  Can you tell I have too much time on my hands today?

Thanks for the links.  I cant find any documentation to verif the Springfield has a Steel frame, they say forgrd but dont specify forged aluminum of steel.  I am going to drop them a line and see what they write back.  I would like a Colt but I believe all the guns wirh 3" barrels they have made also had aluminum frame..

The two Springfields above are steel framed.  They have stainless steel frames and slides.  Not only do I know this from seeing both models numerous times and working on both, but the guns out there with lightweight frames and stainless slides have a plating on the frame that is a slightly different color.  Plated frames do not have bead blasted rounds and brushed flats like the ones in the pictures above do.

As for Colt 3" guns, they are alloy framed.  There was never a steel framed 3" Colt gun, that I'm aware of, though the 3.5" Officer's ACPs can be had in carbon steel, alloy, and stainless frames.  I would never go below a 3.5" barrel, personally, but that's just my opinion, YMMV.