The Commander!

[arjay]

My only commander,an early 70s cc that I found at a gun show 15 yrs ago

 

[dandyrandy]

I have owned and carried full size, Commander, Combat Commander and Officer length Colt and customs over the years. I only own one full size complete custom now. Of all of them, I like the Commander length the best and for carry I prefer a Commander.
If any of you get American Handgunner, there is an article about a custom that I came up with the idea for while visiting with C.T. Brian in his shop one day. See Mar/April 2006 issue. I came up with the perfect 1911 combo pistol that has a Commander length 4.25 slide with two complete lowers.A steel frame for more weight and control for shooting, duty use etc and a Titanium Officer lower for concealment and lighter weight for carry. Just change out the slide.All controls were exactly the same.
Tim built the gun for the upcoming American Handgunner article and offered the gun to me when completed. I did not feel I could afford it at the time so he took it to Shot Show and sold it immediately. I am in the article and was given full credit for the idea by American Handgunner. Looking back on it now, I wish I had purchased the pistol.

For light weight Commander framed guns I stick to 9mm. Reason being is they are usually always a ramped barrel. I dont care for aluminum alloy ramps on 45 acp handguns. Just my personal preference.

 

[dandyrandy]

My only commander,an early 70s cc that I found at a gun show 15 yrs ago

Original or not dont make any difference to me I stay away from Colts these days or from ANY time of manufacture mainly because of the machining marks I find inside them. I find that unacceptable for what one would pay for one. When my cheap Philippine and Turk guns look better than the Colts that cost 3 to 4 times more we have a problem folks! When I ask Colt about it they pretty much give me the attitude that they dont care so why would I EVER stand with a product were they dont stand behind there own product or care at all about what they are making??? Therefore Colt is a big NO in my book. I stick to Dan Wessons for this very reason. Why buy a Colt when I could pay just a 100 bucks more and have a gun thats a MILLION times better?

 

[dandyrandy]

Early 90's combat commander tweaked by Bain & Davis and dressed up and refinished by Virgil Tripp.

Cool gun but I stay away from 80 series guns these days that I plan on doing stuff to. Mostly because it gets old fidgeting with the firing pin safety components all the time putting them back in and out. It gets old quick.

 

[dandyrandy]

IMG_0730 by Dandy Randy, on Flickr

After messing with all these different "Commanders" of all different types this Dan Wesson CCO is still the winner chicken dinner! The gun exhibits perfection in just about every attribute I can think of. Only short coming of the gun is the hammers tend to rust on this gun. Im aware of the problem and keep the gun oiled and never had a problem from one of my own but it is something to watch out for. Other than that it performs the best out of all the Commanders I messed with. Good luck tryin to find one though its gonna be tough for ya these days!

 

[dandyrandy]

Dan Wesson has a range of Compact Commanders like my PM-C 9mm. Love it. Tight, accurate and beautiful.

The DWs are top of the line in my book tip of the spear for mass PRODUCTION made 1911s. The accuracy and craftsmanship out of all mine is unheard of these days in a production pistol. Everyone thinks they are too much for some reason and buy a Colt or Springfield Armory instead for cheaper however why would you do that when you can pay just a few hundred dollars more and have a gun that is SOOOO much better in so many ways. I mean it makes sense to me??? My Dan Wesson Heritage was about $1200 bucks... Theres Colts that are more expensive than that and coudnt even touch how nice this Heritage 45 is!

 

[ladder13]

If you could only have one, Colt. Blah blah blah blah.

 

[dandyrandy]

First M1911 that I ever bought was a Colt Combat Commander. I bought it and never really warmed up to it. It cost $175 OTD in 1974. Sold it and bought a S&W M29-2. Still do not have another Commander, but have owned about 50 M1911's over the years.

I would much rather have the S&W model 29 so you did good there.

 

[dandyrandy]

If you could only have one, Colt. Blah blah blah blah.

The original Colt 1911 is probably the most overrated gun in the history of the gun market on planet Earth. I consider Colt 1911s to be "ok" guns and would probably rather have a Springfield Armory 1911 for the same price point (that Ronin Commander is lookin pretty sweet) or pay a little more to have something nicer to be honest.

 

[dandyrandy]

SAF...I have a TALO Commander that has extra barrels in 9mm and 9x23 Winchester.

Also just bought a SIG Nightmare Carry in .357 SIG and added a .38 Super barrel to. It was impressive enough that 10mm and .40 S&W barrels will be added this year....and maybe even 9mm. But it is a steel framed gun...

Looking into somehow converting the DW Guardian into 10mm...I think the easiest way would be finding a 10/.40 slide assembly instead of having the breechface opened up...

Bob

10 mm Commander pistols are hard to find. DW did make one but good luck trying to find one and its going to be expensive if you do!

 

[dandyrandy]

Bob,

During my 10mm phase, I lusted after a Dan Wesson CBOB in 10mm. I never found one priced reasonably, and only had govt size Colts.

I spoke to Bob Serva about making one for me, but he was twice what the most expensive CBOB would have cost at the time.

I think a multi-caliber Commander would be just the thing for SHTF as I can still find 38 Super and 10mm on the shelves

You should of bought the 10mm DW Commander while you had the chance. They are worth twice as much now.

 

[SuperMan]

DR...I did look at the DW 10mm Combat Commander but for whatever reason just never did pull the trigger. At the time I had a RIA TAC II that was their version of a Combat Commander in 10mm. Paid $505 for it. Bobbled the first round and never failed to cycle gain. Accuracy was excellent...just as good as the guns I had that cost three times as much. Sold it only because I hated the nose heavy balance that the bull barrel caused. Put it on GB last fall and it sold for almost $900.

A year ago I found a .38 Super Colt Competition in stainless. It was NIB but someone at the gun store had put an idiot scratch on the frame and I got it for $830.00. Couldn't be happier with the gun. Dropped a Colt made 9x23 barrel in it and heavier springs and it really hums...

But you are correct, the best 1911 on the market for the money is the Dan Wesson. I'm wondering what will happen with Colt if CZ buys them...hopefully the first thing they will do is move them out of Connectistan...

Bob

 

[bunkie12]

Yes, in 1970 they introduced the Combat Commander with a steel frame.
I have a satin finish Combat Commander, when I was in the National Guard an NCO had a Commander. We let people fire both, everyone said they liked mine better.

I, too, have a satin nickel finish Combat Commander, mine manufactured in 1974. Much nicer to shoot than a friend's Commander.

 

[ogso]

My very first pistol was a 9mm commander from 1981. Added a 9mm government a few years later and it became my competition gun... all the while taking flack from the “real” pistol gunners. No one has mentioned magazines. I have only used Colt 9mm mags and never ever have had an issue with either of my pistols. The govt is a lesser used safe queen but the commander still gets carried and used.

 

[bunkie12]

I think I'd like a Government Model, and probably a Colt, next.

I have a Colt Rail Gun with added Wilson Combat 10-round magazines that, among other guns, I use for home defense. Might be worth considering as your Colt Government Model unless you want a classic.

 

[CDL357]

I have a S&W 1911 pd gunsight edition, it’s the best 1911 I have ever owned. And there have been a lot.

 

[Chubbo]

My 2¢ worth.

I've lost my ability to operate my computer efficiently, and consequently don't try to post pictures of my firearms, or show my ignorance, by posting often, and stupidly setting myself up to recieve infractions.

That being said, my favorite length Colt auto' pistole is their commander length Pistols. To me, for a carry pistol they are the best balanced, best lookin pistols made. They fall in the same category as the 3.5" Mod. 27 revolvers do in the revolver class. I have only two Colt pistols that qualify for this discussion, a SS, Gold cup Commander, and a .38 Super Commander, and regard them very highly, with only one dislike. I detest Colts use of plastic triggers. I hate with a passion, anything used in the construction of a firearm made of plastic.

Chubbo

 

[AJ]

I've lost my ability to operate my computer efficiently, and consequently don't try to post pictures of my firearms, or show my ignorance, by posting often, and stupidly setting myself up to recieve infractions.

That being said, my favorite length Colt auto' pistole is their commander length Pistols. To me, for a carry pistol they are the best balanced, best lookin pistols made. They fall in the same category as the 3.5" Mod. 27 revolvers do in the revolver class. I have only two Colt pistols that qualify for this discussion, a SS, Gold cup Commander, and a .38 Super Commander, and regard them very highly, with only one dislike. I detest Colts use of plastic triggers. I hate with a passion, anything used in the construction of a firearm made of plastic.

Chubbo

Chubbo,

If you don't like the plastic triggers, then change them out. It is not rocket science to do. In fact it is pretty easy.

AJ

 

[.357magger]

The original Colt 1911 is probably the most overrated gun in the history of the gun market on planet Earth. I consider Colt 1911s to be "ok" guns and would probably rather have a Springfield Armory 1911 for the same price point (that Ronin Commander is lookin pretty sweet) or pay a little more to have something nicer to be honest.

This is about the 3rd time you've made this statement, or something similar, in this thread.

The firearms market for the last 20 years would disagree with you.

If you will only own one, everyone is entitled to their opinion. You do your research, and make your choice. But many people, like me, will own, shoot for awhile, then sell/trade for something else that catches their fancy. I've owned Colts (everything from Officers to GMs in multiple calibers), Sigs, SAs, DWs, Rugers, and Wilson Combat. Imo, Colt does a more than adequate job in their production, will be able to outshoot anyone not named Ransom Rest, and is easily tweaked into whatever configuration strikes your fancy. Their products from 2001 thru 2015 or so were OUTSTANDING and noted for being so.

Rightly or wrongly, "The Pony " will resell 9 times out of 10 for higher than what you paid a couple of years earlier. Other production brands lose money the minute you drive them off the lot. Not always, but quite often.

That's the reality of the marketplace. And that's one main reason many will choose The Original.

Again, we're all entitled to our opinions. This is mine.

 

[shell627]

I have a S&W 1911 pd gunsight edition, it’s the best 1911 I have ever owned. And there have been a lot.

The gunsite edition s&w 1911 is my current off duty carry.Shoots better than I do.Carry’s like a dream and has never bobbled with anything I shoot out of it.