How many 1911 carriers out there?
- Thread starter rchance
- Start date
This has been my experience as well. I have read lots of references to the fact that a 3" bbl'd 1911 is darned hard to get to run reliably. I had a Colt Officers and it was inaccurate, unreliable, and one day at the range the staked front sight just fell off! I have carried and shot Commander-sized 1911s for decades and they are reliable. Sounds like Sportsterguy just got a lemon, or purchased a SA at a bad time for them (just like my early 90s Officers was from a low point in Colt's history). I've seen several older Colt Commanders (Combat and LW), Kimbers, SAs, and my new Smith all work without a hiccup.
tac803
Member
Not a S&W, but still able to protect and serve.
Edmo
US Veteran
My Colt MK IV Series 80 full sized Government Model (circa 1983) alternates with my Glock 23 in .40 S&W for carry.
Edmo
Edmo
Does a Colt Double Eagle Combat Commander count? If so, then yes I sometimes carry a 1911, allbeit a hybrid of the original.
Class III
Class III
oddjob
Member
1911 carry
I carry a lt wt .45 Commander for work (plain clothes assignment). A S.A. TRP as a raid gun. A S&W 640 for off duty.
I carry a lt wt .45 Commander for work (plain clothes assignment). A S.A. TRP as a raid gun. A S&W 640 for off duty.
tom turner
US Veteran
I carried one for several years. Actually, I finally shot the thing loose with tens of thousands of rounds in practice and in competitions. Great gun and also a real beauty.
The 5" steel guns with 7 or 8 round mags carry quite snugly and comfortably in a decent belt holster so I suspect the original poster will be quite pleased with an aluminum-framed one.
Currently I've got the 3" barreled, high dollar Kimber CDP Ultra that I traded in the Combat Elite for back about nine years ago when the original CDP Ultra version first came out. It's an aluminum framed gun and it is super compact and comfortable to carry. It has never had a hickup with full-power ammo.
Sometimes I combine it with my pocket revolver, a 1971 Model 37 Airweight.
On the heavy side, I've got a high cap., 5" Para Ordinance steel framed 1911 now. Maybe I've gotten used to carrying much less weight in a handgun, but I'm not wild about carrying a 5" high cap. with 14 rounds inside it. Frankly, I don't feel I need that much firepower based on my lifestyle and locale. Revolvers are my favorite carry guns now.
I think you'll like the lightweight 5" though. It is a lot of gun in a light, thin package!
oddjob
Member
As a side note I'm retiring in Dec 2009. Since I'll be "permanently off duty" I'll be carrying a H&K USP Compact in 9mm or a S&W 442 (soon as I buy one). The Commander will be a relief pitcher. I like the smaller size of the H&K. To be honest the 442 will be my carry gun 99% of the time.
Vulcan Bob
Member
When I feel insecure about the bitty gun I will carry a Kimber Pro Carry .45 ACP (think Colt lightweight Commander) in a Leather Arsenal IWB, behind the hip strong side with a spare mag on the weak side.
feldspar13
Member
I carry my series 70 colt
Mickey D
Member
This is the rotation, 642, 696 or Colt Officer's ACP.
Frizzman
US Veteran
I have carried 1911's off and on for 35+ years. The first off duty pistol I ever bought back in the 70's was a Colt Combat Commander .45 acp with a satin nickel finish. I carried it extensively in a Bianchi Pistol Pocket. I tend to favor Commander sized 1911's with alloy frames. I have had pretty good luck with a couple of 3" 1911's though. I had a Defender that was very reliable and quite accurate. I still carry a 5" 1911 once in a while but it is a heavy piece to carry concealed all day in all sorts of weather. In the area where I live, it better be corrosion resistant because of the humidity and salt air from the ocean.
buckeyeshooter1
Member
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If carrying an auto, its a world war II era government model with lots of blue wear, but shoots great! If not the colt, then a 3 inch 29 nickel.
SuperMan
Member
Carried the same 1952 .38 Super Commander every day from 1980 to 2007.
It is now the backup to a second 1952 Commander that has all the same upgrades as the original gun with addition of night sights and hard chrome finish.
Before these two I carried a 1911 made in 1914 from 1975-1980 and a 1969 vintage .38 Super Government Model from 1980-81 before going over to the Commander full time and just shooting IPSC and combat matches with the GM...
Bob
It is now the backup to a second 1952 Commander that has all the same upgrades as the original gun with addition of night sights and hard chrome finish.
Before these two I carried a 1911 made in 1914 from 1975-1980 and a 1969 vintage .38 Super Government Model from 1980-81 before going over to the Commander full time and just shooting IPSC and combat matches with the GM...
Bob
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Pointman_FL
Member
Add me to the list. Got started in the Army in 1972, bought my first commercial Colt (Mk IV Series 70) at Fort Hood in 1973 - still have it, although it's been customized by Jim Stroh since then.
Daily carry is a stainless Series 70 Government Model built by Bob Rodgers. Am fortunate enough to own a Yost LW Commander custom and a couple of Les Baers, but the Rodgers Colt is my EDC. As long as I had to wait for it, I'm going to get my use out of it!
Daily carry is a stainless Series 70 Government Model built by Bob Rodgers. Am fortunate enough to own a Yost LW Commander custom and a couple of Les Baers, but the Rodgers Colt is my EDC. As long as I had to wait for it, I'm going to get my use out of it!
CW Spook
US Veteran
Depends on where I'm going and what I'm wearing...either a '642CT in the pocket or a Springfield MilSpec 1911 in a Yaqui slide.
GRIZZLYBEAR
US Veteran
My companion is a Colt Delta Elite housed in K.L. Null Leather
grizz
grizz
elcruisr
US Veteran
Usually carry a Commander or a Micro in the winter, love my 1911's.
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
This thread is interesting to me, in terms of the comments about reliability concerns in short 1911-types. I've used and carried 5", 4 1/4", 4" and 3" guns, in .45, 10mm, .38 Super and 9x23. I learned long ago that the shorter guns, especially the 4" and less ones, are much more sensitive to limp-wristing and to spring set than are the longer ones. Having learned that, as well as a little gunsmithing trick I caught onto when building 9x23s and small 10mms, I've found that the shorties can be just as reliable as the 5" guns. I'm just sure to replace mag springs and recoil springs when they need it, and my 9x23s and 10mms all get an EGW flat-bottom firing pin stop installed.
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
Bob, it's about 99 in the shade here today, and I'm carrying my 9x23 "Super-Ultra Aegis" in a K&D tuckable holster, under a lightweight cotton seersucker shirt. Cool, comfortable, and as best I can tell, nobody's "made" me yet. That fat-butted Para, however, would be a challenge...
reerc
Member
41Rem
Member
Colt officers LW OWB in a Galco w/thumb break.
RightWinger
Member
Ya'll have some really great looking 1911's, thanks for the pictures. Years ago I had my heart set on a Wilson CQB. I liked the 2 tone OD green with the black slide, but I wasn't willing to spend 2500 bucks on one, so I had a gunsmith friend of mine build me one using a Caspian frame and slide. I chose the slide that was cut flat on top with serrations to cut down on glare, and front and rear serrations to assist in chambering a round. I also had the frame made with 20 LPI checkering and a custom serial number on it. I used the best parts money could buy. It has a light rail and many other "bells and whistles". I finished the gun with OD green and black coating from robar. I also had the Gunner grips installed on it that are similar to the ones Kimber uses on its Warrior model.......after buying a nice Galco rig for the gun, and a double mag pouch, a handcuff pouch, and a surefire light for the rail I had spent nearly 3200 bucks......I don't regret building this gun at all and am more happy with it than I would of been with a Wilson just because it was custom made for me, but I guess the point I am making is that sometimes when you try to save money it doesn't always work out as planned. The reason I originally was having this gun built was to be able to carry while on the SWAT team.....shortly after the gun was built our chief put an axe to the 1911's and said all SWAT operators would carry Glock 22's, the same as patrol officers and everyone else in the department. Unfortunately since then, I have rarely carried it. My wife loves to keep it in her nightstand with the light on it but the majority of the time its not feasable to carry it off duty.
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