1911 Size? Preferences?

Commander here... but I like the look of that Lt Commander, and always liked the idea of the CCO, so I may have to buy a pair and swap some parts!
 
Another Commander here, it's the perfect balance between carry comfort and function. BTW, I live in an area where the most common breeds of dogs are either Pitts or Rottweilers, so when I'm out waking my 22 lbs cocker mix I have a 45 caliber Commander in my IWB holster.
 
I have found the Commander length 1911 to be a handier size, both in terms of ease of carry and ease of accurate and rapid shooting.
 
I have my dad’s government style Colt Good Cup National Match .45, my Dan Wesson TCP 4” in 9mm, and a Dan Wesson Valor government .45 that will arrive Monday.

I always liked the Gold Cup, but the TCP made me fall in love with the platform. My Gold Cup has the original style hammer and grip safety while my TCP has the beavertail and lightweight hammer, plus a flat trigger, which makes the gun feel and point better for me. I’m psyched about the Valor because it takes design cues from the TCP with the same grips, beavertail and flat trigger.
 
Size Preference

I prefer the Officers slide & barrel on the standard length grip frame
Colt Commanding Officer 9mm, 1 of 500

Auto Ordinance Pitbull 45acp

Colt Silver Stallion 45acp, 1 of 500, bought it new, my EDC for 30+ years

I know it aint a 1911, but a Commander length HI POWER DETECTIVE

That is the ideal size for the HI POWER.

Ned
 
I don't think anything gets smaller than the Cylinder & Slide "Adventurer." Not my preferred size, but this tiny 1911 is still astonishingly accurate even in my wrinkled paws, and although beautifully engineered and perfect for the task, the "Adventurer" has become too valuable to me to carry.

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That adventurer looks to be just a tad smaller than the Llama MiniMax. Looks like the grip is maybe a little shorter. How many does the magazine hold?
 
I've only owned and shot full-size 1911s. While I've never shot one, I've always thought the Commander balanced better in hand. If I were going to buy another 1911, I might lean towards a Commander.

While I've never carried one, I always thought the CCO-style 1911s made a lot of sense.
 
That adventurer looks to be just a tad smaller than the Llama MiniMax. Looks like the grip is maybe a little shorter. How many does the magazine hold?

The Adventurer is in the safe deposit box right now, but I believe it holds 5 in the magazine.
 
I have been carrying my Sig 1911 Ultra Compact in 9mm with a 3.3"barrel. Like the weight and the 9mm in the 1911 platform. Little easier on the hand.

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But have to admit that I would prefer a 1911, 9mm in the commander length. Do own a Sig 4.2" in 45acp that I carry on a rare occasion. Steel frame adds some weight.

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All full-sized here, all the time. I like totin' 'em just fine.

I would love to have an original Colt Commander in .45 ACP or .38 Super to add to the collection and to play with, but am under no illusion that it would offer any advantage to me for carry purposes.
 
I have a number 1911s in 3.5", 4.25", and 5", the majority being 5". My preferred concealed carry gun is a custom Colt LW Wiley Clapp Commander I had built for EDC. For general use and carry when concealment is not as much of an issue I usually grab a Gov't Model. I seldom carry or shoot my 1991A1 Compact, I prefer the larger guns.

My David Clevinger Colt LW WC Commander-
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My current favorite Gov't is this Delta Elite that was worked over by Wilson's way back in 1993-
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My Clark Meltdown Colt Compact-
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Dang!...……..all these posted "shorties" and "long toms". For me there is really only one size.....the original 1911.

Whether Colt, Remington Rand, Ithaca, Argentine (under Colt license), whether 1911 or 1911 A1...these are it.

A 1911A1 made by any of the above US OEM's was my "EDC" while in Uncle Sams finest. Carried as "semi-open carry" in USGI flap holster.:D

However this is still a S&W Forum so I do admit to a sweet little M39-2 single stack 9mm as beginning to creep into my EDC rotation as I (hopefully) gain ability and confidence through practice at the range.

All these others posted are real beauties though, so ya'll got some super nice lookin iron, and if GI web gear ever comes back in fashion....I'll jump in there with those of you who sport them on duty.
 

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I have a great fondness for 1911s that goes back to the 1st Auto-Loader I ever purchased NEW back in 1977. It was a Colt God Cup

Since then I have bought or built quite a few others to be added to my stable.

Like most things, it is the right tool for the job in my mind. I do not think of one over the other as a compromise

Open Carry is easy, I alwasy go for a full size. Sometimes even a double stack :)

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Concealed Carry, I prefer Commanders. Colts and Kimbers are among my favorite

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Hunting, I will have a 6" or 7" longslide with me, usually in 10MM Auto, and yes I do shoot the Javelina

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If I am target shooting, I prefer either a 5" or 6" with great sights and a finly honed trigger

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I have others from the tiny 9MM LS Model from SYI to the HUGE 45 Winchester Magnum Grizzly Long Slide from LAR

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I am not even going to get started on the pretty ones :D

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I do not have a single Smith & Wesson 1911 in the herd. It just seamed wrong, S&Ws should not be 1911s.

Just in case I forget to mention it, I have a fondness for 1911s
You don't know what you are missing! (well, I like mine)
Only have 1 Commander, and it is a .40 S&W. Bob
 

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I'm a 1911 addict and own everything from compacts to long slides. My preferred CCW is a lightweight Commander. This lightly modified 1959 Commander has been my primary carry for about 25 years now.

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When something smaller is called for, I have a great fondness for the Colt Mustang. ;)
 
I have a full size Kimber I carried on duty after the Dept decided they didn't like my 629 anymore. Other than that I have compacts as I'm retired and carry concealed. Anything bigger is too much of a PITA to carry concealed in S, FL.
 
I only have 2 1911s and one 1911ish type gun and all 3 wear a 5" barrel. So I guess I tend to gravitate to a full size 1911.

The first gun was the 1911ish gun, a Coonan Classic. A fun gun to shoot, but throws the cases into the next county, making it hard to recover your brass for reloading.


Next was my first true 1911 type gun, an ATI FX-45 military style 1911. Although a cheap gun, it's build belies the price point as it's been a good one for me. The only problem I've had with it was the ejector sheared the legs off and I had that fixed by my gunsmith for a reasonable price and since I took the following picture I changed out the arched MSH for a straight MSH (personal preference).


After owning the ATI for a year and liking it I decided to give myself a really nice birthday present last year and ordered an Alchemy Custom Weaponry Prime Elite. It was finished up and came in right after my birthday last year and the fit and finish on it are just impeccable. And as sweet shooting as it is good looking.
 
I agree with the OP.
I have a full size Ruger 1911 in 45 and like it well enough to keep it.

Had and sold a RIA Officers size in 9mm ..... that wasn't for me.

My favorite is a Ruger Lightweight Commander in 9mm. I shoot this one often and very well.

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