I've been on a run with Colts lately - a 1903 .32, a Trooper MKIII, and now this Commander.

I went to the shop to get a Walther PP .32, but it wasn't as nice as I remembered and my eyes slid down the case to this LW Commander. Even under those awful Pachys I could see there was potential. I've had some 1911s but never a Commander. Bye-bye Walther, hello Colt.



It has some wear, but no cracks in the frame. It has the dreaded "idiot scratch" which just saves me the trouble of being the idiot.



I got some classy smooth walnut grips from forum pal Lee Barner, and the transformation is started.



I still need to replace that ugly long trigger and the flat mainspring housing with an arched one. Easy peasy.



The sights are small but usable, and the gun just feels great. I can't wait to shoot it.

Any other suggestions? Any other fans?

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

Nice pistol. I'm still waiting for just the right Commander to come into my life...definitely want a steel frame one. Looked at a lot of Combat Commanders. My eyes are larger than my bank balance.

I can't see it in the photos, but it looks as if the MSH might be checkered or something? If so, I'd probably stay with that one...unless you just want an arched one. Only thing I don't like about the trigger is that it isn't blued. Kinda ditto for the hammer, but yeah, the trigger really jumps out at you, doesn't it.

I'd leave the sights alone.

Good choice in pistols, though. Congrats on a nice find.

I wish you well, but recall that Skeeter Skelton shot a LW Commander for endurance, in a ST article. The frame cracked at the hole for the slide release, at about 5500 rounds. But he and his friends were pounding the gun in constant firing, to see how long it'd last. In more normal use, I think it'd have fared better.

Because of that long trigger and the wear, I think this gun was carried a lot and probably shot a lot . I'd assign it light duty in its old age. I'd feel better if it had the steel frame. (Combat Commander.)

I know you're pleased with your old SIG .45, but I think SIG's light alloys are better than Colt used.

Good luck in getting the Walther .32. I had a Model PP that was very accurate. If you locate one that functions reliably, they're nice guns.

Neat Colt,watch out for hammer bite with that short tang!

I like my LW Commander. Although I had convinced myself that a flat housing and long trigger were the way to go, based on target shooting and jamming the gun, held by the left hand, into the right hand, I eventually learned that while this WAS legit for target use (gave me a straight line through my forearm and the axis of the barrel), it did not work for actually drawing a gun from a holster. I now use short triggers and round mainspring housings on my LW CDR, SS Gov't, and Para Ord frame with Colt slide. Bar-Sto barrels on the CDR & P/O, Wilson on the SS. The CDR is VERY accurate, and certainly easy to carry in a Mitch Rosen OWB holster. Believe it or not, with an IWB holster I find the Gov't Model more comfortable than the CDR, but that is surely peculiar to MY body shape. While others may also experience that, I certainly don't put it forth as a rule.

Great gun, light weight. I can't speak from experience about longevity, but it's nice while it lasts.

BTW, that looks like a Pachmayr flat housing. I have heard rumors of funny things happening when that rubber cover works loose. It's probably a good thing that you are replacing it.

The MSH is rubber, no doubt part of the Pachmayr set up. I prefer the arched ones, though I understand most folks feel otherwise.

Its hard to tell in the photos but there was a cheapo mag well funnel as well that I removed.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

I promised my old Sig to my son upon my retirement, which looms large.

I remember that ST article well, and gave this one a good lookover with it in mind. I agree, though, with the idea of light duty for it. I'll shoot it enough to be comfortable carrying it, and not a lot more.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Chuck Taylor reported 30,000 rounds through his LW without damage. Cooper said carry much, shoot little.

Model520fan - it sounds like we've reached the same conclusion about short triggers and arched housings. And you are correct - the housing on it is rubber and will be replaced soon.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

Here is my Commander from about 1963. As far as I am aware, it is stock. In .38 Super. I've shot it a fair ammount, and reload for it. I have never had any problems with hammer bite, but I have slim hands. I am far from an expert on Commanders, but this one has an aluminum frame, but as you see, is not labeled 'lightweight', but simply 'Commander'. Thought you might be interested in seeing that they came with a short trigger, and it is blued on the sides, and has vertical serrations on the face. Also has an arched MS housing with vertical serrations. Great shooter, and conceals fairly well.

Congratulations on your nice looking Commander. I like the walnut grips... Those are simply stunning!!!

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

The LW Commander doesn't have it marked that it has an aluminum frame, because that was the norm. Steel frame ones are marked Combat Commander.

I'd buy the steel one, but if I had one, it'd look just like yours, unless I could find a stainless one.
I see no need for the expensive add-on's that some find essential. But my hand is not fat, so I don't have a problem with the grip safety usual on Colts. The Walther PP doesn't bite me, either.

As for higher sights, they preclude using the GI holster, which I like to do on occasion.

What load do you use in this .38 Super? Congratulations on your photography skills.

I think an accurate .38 Super is an excellent all-round handgun, including most field use.

I have one just like yours, Sigp, minus the long trigger. I carried it off-duty before my department transitioned to semiautomatics in 1991, but they required Colts to be Series 80. I found a new stainless upper/silver anodized aluminum lower from Colt's first batch of same, a limited run gun called a Custom Carry Commander, which were Series 80 guns. After a few years use, the slide broke at the front end while qualifying, sending the plug and bushing downrange. Very strange breaking like that. Colt warrantied it, even putting the same roll markings on the new slide. I was pleased. It was like dealing with S&W!

While waiting, I found another stainless lightweight, which was by then a catalog item. The lightweight guns were by then marked LIGHTWEIGHT COMMANDER on the slides. I carried that until I retired. Still wear it a lot when it is cool outside.

I prefer the stainless as I sweat like a, well, a pig. I like Trijicon night sights, but that is really the only the only modification I felt I needed. All the Colt 1911 guns I have owned had a decent enough trigger out of the box and feed hollowpoints well.

The slide rail breakage on the frame was addressed by Colt when their 10mm Delta Elites started breaking there. Colt addressed the issue by removing that portion of the left slide rail during manufacture. It isn't a problem. I remember Skeeter Skelton's torture test. It didn't stop his gun from working, either.

I like carrying mine in a Milt Sparks Summer Special I bought when Milt was still alive. The holster looks pretty ratty now! Suede and sweat don't age well together.

I remember reading that ST article about the Commander
test. I think Skeeter used factory hardball ammo. I had an
early satin nickel Combat Commander but didn't keep it
very long because it was less accurate than my old Rem
Rand GI model that I traded in. I like the looks and handling
of the Commander so maybe I'll have another one some day
but I'd opt for steel even though I'm sure I'd never put 5,000
rds through it.

Commanders did Not come with walnut wood grips until 1969 when the next version came out and the Combat Commander was also started by Colt. Prior to that time they had what is known as "Coltwood" which is a plastic with a molded in medallion. The only ones in the O frame line which had wood with Gold Medallions were the National Match versions and the .38 Special Match version prior to '69. So yours is not "original." Just for the record, Commanders had a arched mainspring housing which was made of aluminum. All the other O frame guns has steel housings that were arched as well as Gold Cup National Match which were usually fitted with a flat serrated housing that was steel. In late 1969, when the first Combat Commanders were manufactured the Governments and Combat Commanders had a satin nickel short trigger and this continued till around 1975 or so when Colt went back to the blued short trigger for most series 70 guns.

Like S&W, I've learned to never say "never" with Colt. My ca. 1977 Combat Commander in satin nickel has a satin nickel trigger; along with the other controls. This one had been modified, but included all the original parts, which I reinstalled.

Well, flintsghost, no offense taken, i did say "as far as I know". I have not owned the gun since it was new, and the grips must have been changed out. Thanks for the info. I do have a 1970s series Gold Cup which has grips that look a lot like these.

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

This is my EDC. 1959 Commander in .45acp.



I bought this from an old man walking around a gun show some 25 years ago. It wasn't in the best of shape. Back then I was into my "modifying stage" with 1911s. I added a Wilson beavertail and long trigger along with King's Hardball sights. I prefer the long trigger and arched MSH. A few years back I sent it to Colt for a re-finish and while they had it they went through the gun and brought everything back to original specs.
I've put more rounds through this gun than I could ever hope to keep up with. Mostly 230 gr hardball and JHPs. It's never shown any wear or damage to the alloy frame.
Since then I've purchased another Lightweight and two Combat Commanders. The only changes I've made to them is a long trigger and different grips.

As far as your gun goes, I think the only change I would make is to get rid of that extended thumb safety. I've never liked them as they just get in my way. And of course, the arched MSH you already mentioned.

In the late '70s I had a LW Commander, a Combat Commander and a Government Model. I carried the Gov model on my belt and one or the other of the Commanders in my boot. The LW was easier to carry but the Combat shot better for me. They were all stock except that I put long triggers on them with heavier than factory recoil springs. The Gov Model was the best shooter of the three.

Very nice!! Glad it found a good home.....

Just the changes you already suggested. Great old Colt!

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John
S&WCA Life Member

SigP220....enjoying a trip down memory lane with this thread......as a 20 something in the late 70s a .45 was a Colt. For about 10 years I owned one Colt 1911 or another or two...... Gold Cup, Commander and LW Commander Govt. Model....but carried a 4" Diamondback and later a DOA 3" 65.........

About 1988 I got a W. German Sig 220........light ,the size of a Commander, DA/SA for carry, would shoot clover-leafs at 50 ft. Later followed by a Sig 245 and an Ernest Langdon Model 220.

The Colts got traded away and I didn't have a 1911 pattern gun for about 20 years...... but everyone needs one...... about 2 years ago came across a used Sig C3 ...... Commander length slide on an Officers frame......IMHO the perfect carry 1911...... and .......

The 1911 I wanted at the end of the 80s but you had to build your own back then!!!!!

I like the long trigger myself and the short trigger too. Here's my newly purchased Combat 45acp.

Attached Images

IMG_20160127_122538_614.jpg (106.9 KB, 33 views)

A short story about a Colt Lightweight Commander. I think the year
was 1968 that my brother was getting ready to leave for Viet Nam. He
told me he wanted to buy a handgun to take with him and asked for
my advice. I told him that because of magazine, ammo and parts
availability he should buy a Colt 1911. We went to a LGS together
and he bought a new Colt .45 Commander. After he returned from Nam
he figured he didn't need the Colt any more and traded it off for a
rifle. I don't know how much he fired it but from what he told me it
never left his side partly because of the stupid rivalries between the
different factions of US troops that made up the American force there.
The Colt did have some finish loss and some freckling but otherwise
was fine and I'm sure that he would have sold it to me if I had only
asked. But I didn't. As I said above if I was going to buy a new
Commander it would be a steel frame model but if a vintage light
weight model showed up at a decent price I would jump on it.

Thanks to Amazon, Youtube, and an assist from Ernest and Julio Gallo, I managed to swap out the trigger for a new short one and the flat mainspring housing for a Hogue aluminum arched one.





I also discovered the slide stop was busted - it just pushed out from any position. That was an easy fix.

I may put a standard thumb safety on it if I find one cheap, but the one on it works fine and doesn't bug me.

Its off to the range where my kitchen table gunsmithery may result in a slide to the forehead.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

I carried one for a few years in the mid-70s,plainclothes. Stock, except for higher fixed sights and ivories. Regs allowed it, but management weenies determined that I had not been sufficiently trained to handle such a high tech weapon of mass destruction. So I became a revolver person for many years.

Shot it a lot, and it too finally cracked at the slide stop hole.

Ruger recently came out with a LW Commander, and I grabbed one of the first ones. I probably won't use it all that much now, but dagnab it, it's mine. I do prefer the old Colt's looks, though. All business.

Much Better!!!!

I concur with Medic15al!... Much better!!! That looks like a real winner. As you say, it would be nice to finish the restoration with a standard thumb safety, but that is not a big deal. By the way, I found out the hard way that both Colt and Kimber are using PLASTIC main spring housings on current production 1911 style guns. I bought a newly made, brand new steel framed Commander a couple or three years ago, and noticed after I got it home that the MS housing was plastic. Not a big deal, as I ended up selling the gun to a friend of the family, and he didn't care about it. Then I picked up a brand new Kimber Ultra CDP II, and found that the mainspring housing on it (at over a thousand dollars) was plastic. I changed it out for a nice checkered aluminum housing with a matching finish that I ordered from... Can't remember, but either Brownell's or Midway. I wasn't real happy with the stocks either, though made of really pretty rosewood or some other nice wood, and nicely checkered, the looked like they had been dipped in clear plastic. They were replaced also. I'm now happy with the result, but when you pay that kind of money for a gun, you would hope not to have to start modifying it right away.

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Nice Colt ~ luv the new grips!

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John
S&WCA Life Member