The Commander!

I have a satin nickel steel frame Commander that I have had for a number of years. I sent it to King's and had the King-Tappan sights installed. I wish they were still in business and I would sent them some more 1911's for these sights.

I had a light weight years ago, but my bil said he needed it for undercover work. I still miss it.
 
usmc2427765 said:
I think XFUZZ will remember this. The department we worked for had a tradition of requiring new officers to carry revolvers for their 6 month probationary period.
Click to expand...

Many "Old Heads" packed the 1911. 9-20-1972
The first Hi Power I ever saw was carried by a veteran
officer in a cigar box on the front seat.

I bought my first Commander at Glen Slades Sporting Goods
on the Gulf Freeway two days before graduation from the academy.
I was in my khaki's and was given a discount.
I got change back from a $100 bill.

Bought my first Government model from a copper that was somewhat
of a rounder.
His wife, chip, truck and boat note were all a month late.
As new 70's series in nickel.....$100.00.
 
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I didn’t have time yesterday to post a photo, but here are my Commanders.

4DA286A3-2213-42C2-A761-A2A5CAD1AF8B.jpg

The Combat Commander in the upper left is an ‘82 in 9 minimeter, all the rest are .45’s. The one in the upper right is a Lightweight Commander where Colt Cerakoted the frame in a “nickel” color.

I can carry a Commander all day, but a 5” Government model starts to grind my upper leg bone. That extra 3/4” makes all the difference. Shooting wise, I can’t tell any difference in recoil between a Commander and a 5” full size model.

Bill
 
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Borderboss said:
Maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment here. I used to own a Series 70 Combat Commander in satin nickel finish. Bought it new in the late '70s. It had a solid bushing, not the collet, as you noted. I sold it off after not too long because it was inaccurate as heck and I was really young (21-22), so didn't know about customizing back then.
Click to expand...

The 1911 family of Colt's, and the other brands, were generally classified as Pre-'70, Series '70, or Series '80. Now days people don't differentiate between Pre-'70's or Series '70, it's just Series '70 or Series '80.

From 1911 up to about 1970 the barrels had no flair at the muzzle and a "solid" bushing (Pre-'70). In 1970 Colt came out with the Accurizer barrel and (collet) bushing (Series '70). Then, in 1983 they switched back to a straight barrel and solid bushing and added the firing pin safety (Series '80).

From their introduction in the '50's until today, the Commanders never made the change to the Accurizer barrel/collet bushing. That's why yours didn't have the collet bushing. Colt skipped over the Series '70 changes that made it a Series '70 gun and went to the Series '80.

The good news is the Commanders of today are far tighter and probably more accurate than anything from the 1970's or 1980's.;)

Bill
 
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I think what confuses people about "Series 70 Commanders" is that the one made starting in 1970 had a serial # starting with the number 70.
 
My first CCW was a satin nickel MK IV series 80 Combat Commander in .45 ACP way back in 1987.
Loved that gun but moved to a nickel Model 59 for the higher magazine capacity.

IMO the Commander length is the best version but didnt it come about with aluminum frame in 9mm to compete in the Army pistol trials of 1954 ?
IIRC its competitor was the Pre Model 39.
 
I've only owned and shot steel 5" 1911s. It's been a while, but from what I can remember the last time I handled a Commander-style 1911 it seemed to feel better balanced than the 5" guns. While I'm not particularly interested in carrying 1911s (never say never, right?), if I were it would probably be some form of Commander, or CCO-style.

While I don't consider myself a 1911 purist (I would actually prefer an external extractor), there are some "traditional" things I prefer, like having a barrel bushing. I probably wouldn't get a Commander-length gun with a bull barrel instead of a bushing.

While I prefer the non-firing-pin-safety models, i.e. "Series 70" guns, I have no problem with a Series 80 firing pin safety. I have one of each, a Series 70 Gold Cup and a Series 80 Government Model. They have different trigger "feels", but neither is bad. Just different. And I can't say if the firing pin safety, or lack thereof, has anything to do with it.
 
I have a serious attraction to S&W semi autos, revolvers too, but I do love 4" 1911's(does that avoid the argument of what is and is not a Commander?). My first is a steel Colt, then a 38 super Colt steel frame, then two Kimber Pro Carry stainless with alloy frame, then a 38 super Colt alloy frame with stainless top, then a S&W alloy frame with a stainless top(probably my favorite and maybe the most accurate), then an S&W with a 6 round alloy frame and 4" stainless top, then a S&W PC that is way cool!

Scored a SIG 4" Nightmare when I was in Tulsa in April. Have not had time to pull the trigger, but expect it to be as fine as all my other SIG's.

I think I have even more 5" 1911's, plus some 3" versions that I played with as carry guns. 4" is my favorite to carry, hands down.

One day I will figure out how to post pictures........
 
I have always preferred the Commander length slide/barrel over the government model. My first ever handgun was an old model Ruger Blackhawk Convertible .45 Colt/.45 ACP. My second handgun not long afterward was an alloy frame Series 70 Commander. I paid $200 out the door for it, new in the box. This was about 1977.

I presently have two commander length 1911s, both Ruger SRs; one is an alloy frame the other is all steel. I like them very well so far.
 
Not a Colt but went with a Commander-length pistol for my first 1911.

rOReCg0.jpg


I think I'd like a Government Model, and probably a Colt, next.
 
We have a Colt and a Kimber . The colt was a real steal thanks to our local shop owner . He found a long misplaced WC lw commander , a 04840wc so its sort of a mix of parts , GI thumb safety safety , brass bead thin front sight novac style rear series 70 trigger group alloy framed blued slide and some grips I do like and I got it out the door for just under a grand . My wife has a Kimber stainless n 9mm that cost719 dollars rom the same dealer but they are 35 to 40 bucks higher today so guys paying higher prices for Kimber wake up , you may be paying for the window dressing . Kimber optic model is also well price or can be bought right as fit & internal parts are the same .

Both pistols have a short ed brown over sized trigger fit to there frame opening with the bow radiused and polished . Moly dry lube as used on the trigger group parts and sear springs tuned for a nice 3.5lb pull . Both are carry guns so minimal take up or over travel does not matter .I have had "1911" guys shot both then ask if they had gunsmith work done , upgraded trigger groups . Nope . Kimbers front sight has a dot of testers met. gold paint on it and thin grips for my wife but that's it . Both are good shooters and dependable . The Kimber still has its safety block trigger but its so smooth supposed high end 1911 guys don't even notice the Swartz system is in the pistol . My wife carrys her Kimber as her EDC and I carry my colt 30% of the time

.
 
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I always heard the 70 series guns had the best trigger. The Desert Eagle would be considered a Colt 70 series style but technically the Desert Eagle is its own design. The trigger on that Desert Eagle is SWEET! However the original 80 series Colt Commander pictured above has pretty much the same trigger with very little noticeable difference.

The biggest noticeable difference in the two pistols is that the DE has a bushingless bull barrel and the Colt has a regular bushing barrel. I am going to see if there is any difference in the two barrels comparatively on the shooting range. I heard the bushingless system is more accurate but I have shot the Colt more and its pretty dang accurate so I dont think there is going to be any difference in the two.
 
CA Escapee said:
I didn’t have time yesterday to post a photo, but here are my Commanders.

View attachment 407909

The Combat Commander in the upper left is an ‘82 in 9 minimeter, all the rest are .45’s. The one in the upper right is a Lightweight Commander where Colt Cerakoted the frame in a “nickel” color.

I can carry a Commander all day, but a 5” Government model starts to grind my upper leg bone. That extra 3/4” makes all the difference. Shooting wise, I can’t tell any difference in recoil between a Commander and a 5” full size model.

Bill
Click to expand...

I would like to hear more about the Smith and Wesson Commander E Series you have pictured there. Sadly I dont have any S&W 1911s and would like to hear more about peoples experience with them. Ive heard ALL good things so far!
 
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