Super Commander

[squidsix]

Grabbed a great value this week.
A .38 Super Commander mixmaster.
Its a Fed Ord alloy frame and early (pre-series 70/80) .38 Super Combat Commander slide. I swapped a bunch of parts out as I usually do on 1911s with unknown backgrounds:
Drill rod pins, EGW extractor, slide stop, sear, disconnector, and springs.
Top it off with John Culina grips.
Grabbed a dozen metalform mags. And took it to the range for some love.
This was the first five mags out of it after my new parts. Fiocchi 130 grain hardball.
Very pleased!

 

[ars1876]

Good grab. You can never have to many Supers . (4)

 

[.38SuperMan]

Look great! I have a Kimber 5” Eclipse Target and Colt LW Commander in 38 Super. The Colt is nice but I really prefer a steel frame not alloy. Nice pistol you built!

 

[dwh]

A LW commander 38super is a grail gun for me. I’m really thinking about the Dan Wesson with the bobtail frame. Great find.

 

[Valmet]

I really wished I’d picked up a .38 Super Commander back before they cost a fortune. Nice score OP!

 

[fordson]

Nice! The 38SUPER is a great cartridge, especially if you reload your own. I’ve three Supers, two Govtm (Colt and Llama) and one Commander (DW).

 

[stansdds]

Hopefully you have a good one, but Federal Ordnance quickly developed a reputation for poor quality parts. Keep a close eye on that receiver for signs of cracks or excessive wear.

 

[SuperMan]

VERY nice Frankingun...and a great shooter...

The Commander in .38 Super is my favorite semi-auto...have been carrying one daily since 1980... All mine were Colt brand but did manage to pick up a beautifully made Dan Wesson Guardian before the price went NUTZ...just saw one sell for $1800...used...when new they could be had for $1250. The Guardian is the last .38 Super DW is making...but if one has a 9mm all one needs is a barrel and magazine...

Have a great time with that one...is it your first Super?

Bob

 

[AJ]

Hopefully you have a good one, but Federal Ordnance quickly developed a reputation for poor quality parts. Keep a close eye on that receiver for signs of cracks or excessive wear.

I will second the problems with Federal Ordnance parts, especially the M1911 frames. I bought one when I was stationed in Calif. At the time I was building M1911's out of pieces/parts. Had built several when I got the Fed Ord frame. Put it together and it worked just fine. Upon taking it to the range was another story. It fired the first few rounds well, then the trouble started. It doubled, then shot ok. Next mag it doubled and the next shot it tripled. Changed out all the internals and no joy. A friend that was a police officer wanted it, even knowing the problems. Sold it to him for what I had in it. After that fiasco stayed away from anything that had Fed. Ord. as the manufacturer. I will say their store front was a great place to visit and buy military surplus arms and stuff.

 

[squidsix]

Interesting. I am not thrilled with the frame, but the slide is lovely.
I swapped all the internals, and it has shot very well, but I agree frame quality could be better.
I know Fusion used to make a commander slide, but I would want a blued one, or a decent alloy frame.
Any vendors in mind?
And yes, this is my first Super.

 

[AJ]

Interesting. I am not thrilled with the frame, but the slide is lovely.
I swapped all the internals, and it has shot very well, but I agree frame quality could be better.
I know Fusion used to make a commander slide, but I would want a blued one, or a decent alloy frame.
Any vendors in mind?
And yes, this is my first Super.

Others will have other opinions......but I like Caspian frames (and parts) if I can not get older Colt parts. Caspian Arms | Serving the custom pistolsmith since 1983

 

[diyj98]

I will second the problems with Federal Ordnance parts, especially the M1911 frames. I bought one when I was stationed in Calif. At the time I was building M1911's out of pieces/parts. Had built several when I got the Fed Ord frame. Put it together and it worked just fine. Upon taking it to the range was another story. It fired the first few rounds well, then the trouble started. It doubled, then shot ok. Next mag it doubled and the next shot it tripled. Changed out all the internals and no joy. A friend that was a police officer wanted it, even knowing the problems. Sold it to him for what I had in it. After that fiasco stayed away from anything that had Fed. Ord. as the manufacturer. I will say their store front was a great place to visit and buy military surplus arms and stuff.

Yes, Federal Ordnance has a less than stellar reputation for sure.

 

[squidsix]

Ordered a Caspian commander frame just now. Thanks for the tip. I will report when I get it and have it all done.

 

[AJ]

Ordered a Caspian commander frame just now. Thanks for the tip. I will report when I get it and have it all done.

I do believe that you will be very glad you did. Keep us posted, please.

 

[terry_tr6]

here is mine. colt says they made about 800. I had a local 1911 smith do a few upgrades for IPSIC years ago, but nothing that couldn't be reversed. all the original parts are in the colt box

 

[stansdds]

Caspian receivers and slides are usually excellent parts for the 1911 builder.

 

[squidsix]

They just called me. 12 week assumed timeline. Fine with me.

 

[john tyler]

Very nice, That's my favourite !