Looking for quality "Commander-like" 1911

[petepaaz]

     Am looking for a quality 1911 .45ACP w/standard 4 & 1/4" barrel, GI guide rod (for tooless take-down), night sights, beavertale grip safety and preferably w/ambi slide safety. Needs to be w/in 2.5" at 25 yards, weather resistant finish, and totally reliable. Any suggestions on makers you would trust?

[Mikey]

I would head right toward a Smith and Wesson scandium frame 1911 - I forget exactly what the commander length model is called but it is a excellent choice and one I will replace my aging commander with.  All parts interchange with government 1911s and is advertized at giving you the accuracy you call for.  Next down the line would be a Kimber and then a Baer. 

You do not need a guide rod for tool-less take down.  Guide rods do not enhance accuracy and in my experience only interfere with the effective take down of a 1911.  Everything you need to take down a 1911 for a good cleaning is your fingers.  The only parts you cannot get out of the frame or slide with the standard parts that come with a 1911 are the ejector, which is pinned in, and the mainspring housing retaining pin and you do not need to remove either when cleaning.  HTH.

[Swampman]

I really like the new Remington.  Check it out.

[williamlayton]

IF, and you didn't, put the 1911 in there I would have suggested the Sig P239---weelllll, I just did, didn't I.
How about a Colt Commander.
Blessings

[petepaaz]

    As far as I know, all the commander-style S&W's have a full length guide rod....otherwise I am intrigued by them as being a close copy of an actual Colt Commander. I saw a Colt Commander in a gun shop and the workmanship seemed mediocre and a bit loose. The Smith 1911Sc I've seen was tight.
   

[Basicguy]

I think most any standard 1911 is accurate enough to bench 2.5"@25 yards . I have a run of the mill Llama 4" that hits a 6x8" gong at 50 yards, 5-7 of 7 times handheld. The trigger is not exceptional

[williamlayton]

Guide rods can be changed or eliminated.
I have never seen a NIB Colt that looked mediocre.
I have a beaater that does 2.5"
I like loose with a tight lockup.
The 239 is a heck of a commander.
Blessings

[ShooterToo]

    I saw a Colt Commander in a gun shop and the workmanship seemed mediocre and a bit loose. The Smith 1911Sc I've seen was tight.
   

I have one I bought new in '79.  Fit and finish, even new, was mediocre at best. It bites the web of my hand and rattles like a baby's toy, but it has never failed me and will easily providecombat accuracy.  Now I carry an M&P 40 or Sig 226 40.

[williamlayton]

Look at the new Colts---I think the time era you are discussing was in a downturn era for Colt.
The new ones that I have are very good--the used one I got was not shabby.
The Sigs are very good.
Kimber and Kahr are very good--from my obsevation.
Then there are Wilson's and Baer--but that is a different class.
Blessings

[petepaaz]

    I was looking (and drooling over) the Ed Brown Spcial Forces Carry model and the Nighthawk Talon (both w/4&1/4" barrels and bobtail grip frame)....but they are sure salty. The law of diminishing returns kicks in w/those pieces....and I'm sure something in the $800-$1400 range can be quality enough.
    The idea of rechecking the current Colt Commanders due to better quality is definitely something to consider......would be nice to have something from the original manufacturer.
     BTW....anyone ever shoot a commander sized 1911 w/a bobtailed grip?

[williamlayton]

No difference in the handeling or the recoil.
Main difference touted is in the printing--but I have no conerns with this--even in the government.
Blessings

[aimhard]

S&W 1911pd

[aimhard]

S&W 1911pd

[Lloyd Smale]

my buddy who has more handguns then me and probably any 2 others on here combined carrys one just like that daily. To me that says alot as he has many others to choose from.

S&W 1911pd

[cynergyou]

I had a pair of Kimber Commander sized guns (with a 4" barrel).  They were GREAT guns and very reliable and accurate. However, they came with the full length guide rod and you needed a tool (a paper clip) to disassemble it for cleaning.  that was the one drawback of the Kimbers.  Otherwise, I was super happy with them.  I eventually traded them in and found a nice used Colt Commander instead, but those Kimbers were very reliable, shootable and accurate.

When I owned the Kimber 1911's, I looked into switching out the guide rod for a GI style rod and plug, but for some reason (and I forget why) I discovered that I wasn't able to do this cleanly so I kept the full length guide rods.