Colt Commander

[rick_in_lb]

I am picking up a new to me Colt Commander Wednsday( thats why no pix). My friend said it is a Combat Comander. It is stainless and the sights are dovetailed 3dot sights if that makes a diff. What is the Differance between the Commander and the Combat Commander if any.
Is there a way I can tell by the serial number?

Thanks

[revorg]

I don't know if this is true with the more current examples, But...
A Commander has an aluminum frame and a Combat Commander has a steel frame.

revorg

[Hersh]

In the beginning was the Commander ... and it was good :D Later the Commander was offered with either a steel frame - the "Combat Commander" or an aluminum frame - the "Lightweight Commander" with the slides marked accordingly. The aluminum frame offers several ounces in weight savings and I believe that is the only difference.

Definitely post up some pics when yours arrives!

Hersh

[Phil]

Just bought a NIB SS Commander from out of state - should be here this week. Doesn't look like dovetailed sights. More work for the 'smith, I guess :)

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h102/Murexway/CC/CombatCommander.jpg

[Hunter]

Very nice Commander Phil. That is what I have been looking for if I could just quit buying Gold Cups.

[Phil]

Yeah, I bought this one to go with a GCT that came home last week and an Officer's the week before. I hadn't bought any Colts in 20 years - I was WAY overdue and I'm having fun catching up :D

[Hunter]

I hear you on the catching up. I have one of the Gold Cup Trophys that I shoot more than any of my other Colts. Now I am waiting for my checking account to catch up. :D

[John]

Thank God the pistol in that picture is not showing too much, or else I would need to order another keyboard.

[dakota1911]

Yes, think of the Colt Commander (first in 1949?) as having an Aluminum frame and steel slide. In the early 70s Colt came out with the Combat Commander, which was all steel. Colt started to introduce stainless steel in their guns in 1983?

I may be wrong on my dates, but search through the forum and you can refine them.

[Phil]

I've got "plans" for this one. Beavertail safety, checkered mainspring housing, checkered front strap, low profile night sights, and DD rosewood grips with hex screws. I'll keep the Pachmayrs handy as her "work" clothes ;)

[rick_in_lb]

Ahhhh, picked mine up yesterday and it looks just like Phil's, SS and all. I really like the large front dot, old eyes. Maybe I jumped the gun(hehe) on the dovetail, only the rear is dovetailed. I will post a pic when my son shows me how, later today. My first Colt. Is the clip always a little hard to pop in without pushing in the mag release?

tnx
Rick
aka WA6ES

[bslamb]

Congratulations Rick and Phil on the new combat commanders. It is my favorite of favorites - I am sure they will treat you gentlemen well.

[dakota1911]

Hunter. Not to worry. Colt did make a Gold Cup Commander. They are rare but there has been one at gunsamerica.com for $2K for some time.

[bslamb]

Hunter. Not to worry. Colt did make a Gold Cup Commander. They are rare but there has been one at gunsamerica.com for $2K for some time.


I've been watching that one :D . It has come down a little... $1450. Hunter could have his cake and eat it too!!

[Phil]

Ahhhh, picked mine up yesterday and it looks just like Phil's, SS and all. I really like the large front dot, old eyes. Maybe I jumped the gun(hehe) on the dovetail, only the rear is dovetailed. I will post a pic when my son shows me how, later today. My first Colt. Is the clip always a little hard to pop in without pushing in the mag release?

tnx
Rick
aka WA6ES
I just picked up my new SS Combat Commander yesterday. Roger on the rear dovetail sight - mine too. The white dots are easier on the eyes. I have two 1911's produced in the 1980's and now two from 2005/2006 - a GCT and this Combat Commander.

The first thing I noticed was the really tight magazine catch on the new guns. I thought that the Trophy was defective the first time I tried to re-insert the magazine, but you just have to use more force with the heel of your hand to pop it in. Maybe they've re-designed it since the 80's to make it a more a positive engagement, and thus less likely to accidentally fall right back out at a bad time when you're in a hurry. The magazine catch is MIM on the new guns, but I doubt that has anyting to do with it.

[John]

It has nothing to do with how well the magazine is held inside. It is the top of the magazine that needs to be slightly beveled to facilitate entry. Insert your mag in the gun a few times, and then look at the upper right side of the lips, you will see the spot where the magazine touches the mag catch as it enters the gun. Take a small file and bevel that part of the lip, so that it the mag catch slides over the bevel instead of hitting it completely vertically. Just break the angle a little and you are done.

Oh by the way...

:fp:

[rick_in_lb]

OK John, here it is...I hope

http://usera.imagecave.com/Rick_in_lb/colt/colt4.jpg

YUP it worked.
John is the SV1 what I think it is. Maybe its QRZ time!

[John]

QRZ? The only QRZ I can do these days is ... what is that number we used to designate a phone conversation? 600? Darn, I do not remember. Sorry Rick, all the ham equipment is sold, long time ago. Too many things to do, and not enough time, plus when you do not own a house, taking down and putting up antennas every 2-3 years can be tiresome at my age.

Sometimes I wish I had my TS450 though.

Ans sure enough, another ... "droolable" Commander! I just love these guns!

[Phil]

Thanks John. My 20 year-old mags with my Govt. model are more beveled (worn?). Anyway, I'll "tune" the new ones to match. I KNEW that Gunny would gig me for no pictures of the new Commander. No excuse. But in the meantime just look at the picture that rick_in_lb sent - mine's identical :)

Now that I'm looking at all my mags though, I just noticed that my NIB GCT that I bought a couple of weeks ago came with one 7-round mag and one 8-rounder. All of my others are 7. Anything different about the 8-round mag that I should be aware of?

[rick_in_lb]

Yup just got back from the range. Wow this shoots really nice. As luck would have it I shot the first 2 rounds fast at 12 yards and they were almost on top of each other. I know beginers luck. I really enjoy the pistol and now I have to refine it into my gun. The other is a Springfield Loaded V12, love that one also.
Credit Card time.