COMMANDER?????

[williamlayton]

On the subject of the custom.
I now have to come too terms with the model.
I have traditionally liked the Government.
Someone somewhere suggested a government with a commander grip.
I have also been considering a commander???
I dunnno!
Say something too me that will shake me.
Blessings

[Lloyd Smale]

the goverment and the commander have the same grip only differnce is a 5 inch barrel on the gov. and a 4 inch on the commander. The officers grip frame is the smaller grip frame. One of my favorite ccw guns has allways been the officers grip frame with a commander barrel.

[Matt in AK]

I love my Combat Commander.  Seems to sit better in my hand than a full size Govt model...but Lloyd's right about grip size.

[williamlayton]

Notice the time of posting--coffee was not in effect/affect yet. 
Yes you are right--of course. I dunno, I amsure fond of the 5".
I can't visualize the grip though the Sig 239 would approximate it.
Guess a trip to the store is in order.
Blessings

[Mikey]

williamlayton:  visualize a 1911 with a 4" barrel.  The only difference twixt the government model and the Commander is the length of the barrel and the aluminum frame of the Commander.  Otherwise identical.  Mikey.

[Lloyd Smale]

mikey the comanders are steel too. The lightweight commanders are alloy. Springfield and kimber both make steal and alloy commanders.

[Savage]

Love the Commander size 1911. I have a couple of Commander size 1911s. My favorite is the Kimber Pro Carry. The Commander size just sits better in my hand than my fullsize 1911s, although I love the fullsize as well. Hey, I need to get more of both!
Savage

[williamlayton]

I have a Sig 239 about the size of the commander.
My leaning is for another 5 inch.
I dunno though--well I will make a decision after I get the details of this build in place.
Kinda fun.
Blessings

[Dusty Miller]

I own two 4" 45 ACP semi-auto's.  The Colt Commander sports a laser sight and the Kimber CDP II has glo-in-the-dark three dot sights.  Both guns give me a feeling that in a serious social situation I'd be more than adequately armed. 

[HiPressure]

I'd make a guess that the suggestion was to try a Commander hammer and grip safety. In my case, the 1911A1 safety chews the heck out of my hand, so my GM's have beavertails. Every Commander I've shot is way more comfortable straight out of the box. My current Commander is still stock, but that's only until the Wilson beavertail (ordered yesterday) gets here from Brownells.
Yes, I certainly agree that there seems to be something about the Commander that feels just right in the hand!
HP

[williamlayton]

The government is a easily concealable as the Commander.
All edges will be dehorned and a beavetail is too be installed.
The comfort of a all-day carry goes with the Commander--but that is not a situation with me.
The weight and sight radius goes to the Government.
These are the arguements and thought I have had with myownself--but the Commander is a good looking size.
At this point--well, I don't know--it will turn out to be, I think, a last moment "I feel" thing and then i probably will second guess myself---I just hope I can overcome the urge to "GET BOTH". 
I have feelings about this thought also.
Blessings

[44 Man]

And just what is wrong with owning both?  Or even three!  Sounds like a great idea to me!  44 Man  Here's the family;

[williamlayton]

Get behind me satan--I am trying to resist this urge. 
Blessings

[tpdtom]

First there's the Government size, full size frame and a 5" barrel. Next is the Commander, with a full sized frame and a 4 1/4" barrel. The Lightweight Commander has an alloy frame and the Combat Commander has a steel frame. Then there is a Compact or CCO, an Officers frame with a Commander length barrel (one less round in the mag, my personal favorite especially with an aluminum frame) , then an Officer's Model, a 3 1/2" barrel and the smaller frame (steel or aluminum) , and then the Micros, with 3" barrels and an Officer's sized frame (Colt Defender, Springfield,  and Kimber Ultra).

There are more variations such as a Government Model on an alloy frame, full sixed Kimber CDP and others. The modification limitations are endless. Aren't we lucky ? What's your choice ? ...Tom

[slave]

.44 MAN,

NOTICED THE HAMMERS WERE RACKED ON TWO OF THE THREE IN YOUR PICS. EXPECTING COMPANY?

GREAT LOOKING SET.

[williamlayton]

Well I do know the differences but the government with an officers sized grip was not something I had considered--now the commander does deserve some thought--OH WELL.
I have found an engraver and he is a Texas boy---J R French. I like his work.
Things are progressing pretty well.
Blessings
 

[Lloyd Smale]

dectonics makes a full sized 5 inch gun with a officers grip frame. Actually there grip frame is even smaller then an officers

[S.B.]

Bill, with the amazing amount of bells and whistles for the .45 ACP Colt now on the market, it's hard to advise you on this question. I currently own a stock series 70 Government model complete with a Colt conversion kit and a series 70 Government model fully customized by R. Heinie but, I've always had a fancy for a Combat Commander? As far as the Officers model, I never had a desire for one simply because it's a later series gun than the two I currently own. Now if I could only find a full custom Armen Swenson commander, and still be able to afford it, I would be a happy man?
Yes, I like the commander.

Heinie's handywork with all the bells and whistles of the time:



Box stock Colt .45:



Sorry no commanders, I keep looking for a satin nickel Combat Commander at gun show?

[williamlayton]

Good looking Heinie.
Blessings

[Lloyd Smale]

beautiful gun S.B. i want details!!!!

[S.B.]

The box stock one, all I've done is put a long steel trigger in it.
 At the time I had the custom one built I think he was putting two differnent comps on them, A(1" long) and B(1&1/2" long) comps? On this gun, he shorten the slide by an inch ( to speed the time to eject and recharge the chamber) and he used a tapered barrel like what's on the officers guns, checkered the front strap, main spring housing, back of the slide, squared and checkered the front of trigger guard, lowered and beveled ejection port, put a enlarged mag release button and one of his springs in it, beveled mag. well, fitted slide to frame, milled for BoMar sights, hard chrome plated the frame, did a custom trigger job(actually breaks at 2&1/4#, and I have trouble picking up that weight and I've never had a hammer follow down), rounds all the edges and reblued the slide, mill the top of the slide flat and serrate. Probably, something else but, it's been about 20 years since I had the work done?

[44 Man]

NOTICED THE HAMMERS WERE RACKED ON TWO OF THE THREE IN YOUR PICS. EXPECTING COMPANY? 

Slave; the Defender is the carry gun and the Commander is the house gun.  They are both cocked and locked all the time.  The engraved Gov't resides in the safe chamber empty, hammer down (but with a full magazine) until I bring it out to play.  It's had lots of rounds through it and I have carried it a few times just to say I did, but I don't want a lot of holster wear on that one.  Both of the smaller guns are real shooters!  I have been extremely satisfied with my Colts.  44 Man

[williamlayton]

These are great examples of why we play with guns.
Lots of good work shown here and the very reason I am going ahead with my own ideas of MY gun.
Good ideas and help for me.
Thanx &
Blessings