Intro & My Colt Commander

[nmetzinger]

Hi,

I just introduced myself in the Norinco forum. I also wanted to intro myself here. I just acquired this commander. I don't care for the sights and the trigger is a little scratchy. I plan to do some minor mods, Houge finger grip and some type of low profile sight. It came with the huge front blade, go figure.

I think this is a great forum. I look forward to reading future post.

I am still leaning about the modern M1911A. I have not found much to explain all the changes/enhancements.

pic: \http://www.dfwremodeling.com/Colt.jpg

Regards,
Nick

[SMMAssociates]

Nick:

Welcome to the zoo....

Hogue, Pachmayr, and Pearce (and, I'm sure, a few others) make some fine aftermarket grips for the 1911 that should do what you need. I've got Pachmayr's on mine....

My condolences on the sights on that thing, though....

You can find low-profile sights similar to the rear set you have. They'd use a more ordinary front sight. It looks like you'll have to pay to swap the front one....

Brownells has a nice drop-in beavertail grip safety for about $35 that will help the "feel" of the piece a bit. I screwed it up and ended up paying a friend to order a new one :eek: but figure another $20-$30 to install it if you can't do it yourself. Hint: Just take off about the thickness of the paint....

Have a read of the board here - there are a lot of good articles on the 1911 and some of the problems you may find with them.

I'm kind of new to 'em, too. I've had a Commander for a couple of years (inherited it from a friend), but really didn't get involved with it until earlier this year. Learned a lot more than I really wanted to :D , but it's not been a waste.

I also have a Para Tac-Four, which is essentially a double-stack Commander with their "LDA" - "Light Double Action". Not to start an argument, but it's a DAO that feels like an SA. A little safer, IMHO, than "Condition One", although the trigger pull is actually a little lighter, and it doesn't look quite as agressive when carried. It's also essentially the same size as a Commander, and share's it's leather. (If I had that do to do over again, I'd avoid the double-stack designs. Magazine problems....) The little avatar you see is it.... I added Pearce grips and an arched mainspring housing.

[nmetzinger]

Stu,

Again, thanks for reply. I only paid $420 for the commander, kinda helps a little. Why they installed the sights, I will never understand. Over the years I have done minor mods myself. This is my third 1911, not counting my two Firestars. It is in like new condition and needs 500+ rounds run through it. I am new to this forum, however I been into 1911s and shooting pistols for almost twenty years. I am still a Houge wrap around, finger grove man. I like some of the wood finger groves. Have you tried any of these?

This forum is tame for some of the zoos I have visited over the years. I plan to be around awhile. Thanks for the advice.

Regards,
Nick

[SMMAssociates]

Nick:

Sounds like you know what you're doing!

My buddy's 1911 has the finger-groove grips on it now. He did the beavertail, too. I forget who made the grips, though, but they are the ones with a wood insert. Real nice looking, and it handles well.

As you can see from the avatar, my Para's got Pearce finger-groove grips on it. Probably because this is my first use of such a grip (can't recall whether my buddy did his 1911 before or after I put 'em on the Para), I don't find much real advantage to the finger grooves.

Probably because the Pachmayr's have a rather large "swell" on each side - kinda like a thumb rest on the one side, and a bulk-up in your palm. The result is pretty much the same - when you grab the thing, you tend to fall into place automatically. The grooved Pearce's don't have nearly the "swell" effect, but the overall function seems to be the same. Grab it and it sets itself into place....

I added the arched housing to the Para (the Commander already had one) because I found the Para was shooting a few inches low if I didn't compensate for the straight housing. (Which seems to be the reason why the M1911A1 got the arched housing in the first place.) This way the Para, the Commander, and an ancient S&W M39 (Pachmayr's, too) all more or less point to the same place when gripped. (I still use the sights - this just helps getting "on", as well as avoiding pulling the thing a bit.)

You did OK on that Commander. Getting the trigger happy shouldn't be a big deal if you know what you're doing (or can find somebody), and the rest is just cosmetic.

This, meantime, seems to be a great group.

[John]

Someone wanted to transform that lovely Commander to a circus clown. Those Milletts are the worst solution for an adjustable sight. Get rid of them and file that front one accordingly, after you have a decent rear sight installed.

Rgds

[stumbler]

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you are into tweaking.


Holler if we can help

[nmetzinger]

Did somebody say tweaking? Why, yes I am. I keep my vintage stuff stock. I love the goverment model almost stock. I still have my eyes (middle age), so sights have never been an issue. Reliablity, grip and trigger are my points of interest.


Nick