Thinking about a colt

[Najord]

I was considering buying a colt. I am looking for a 4-4 1/4 barrel. Light weight. conceleled carry. bull barrel. any suggestions. Want rugged durable and no problems when at range and shooting 300 plus rounds.
thanks everyone.

[Hunter]

It sounds like a Colt Commander would fit the bill perfect. You can get them in an alloy frame (lightweight) or all steel frame (Combat Commander). They are excellent pistols and I feel sure you would be well pleased with a Colt. You can get them brand new from a dealer but the new ones are steel frame.
http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/1991.asp (last two listed in the chart at the bottom of the page)
You could also look into the Colt Defender.http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/Defender.asp
If you are looking used there are usually deals to be had at gunshows or online gun auctions (like gunbroker or listings like gunsamerica)

[Najord]

Defender is to small. Like the look of the commander, New ones are steel frame only? what is the diff between commander and combat and the mark IV models? What about the xse series ?
thanks

[Hunter]

The Mark IV are basically the same as the new 1991A1s like at the Colt site. The Combat Commander will have a steel frame (a little heavier than the alloy frame but not much) and will stand up to a little more abuse than an alloy frame. Either way is fine but if you plan on this being your primary range gun I think I would go with a steel frame. I carry a full size Colt Gold Cup Trophy as my constant carry pistol and with a good carry rig you won't notice the weight.

[Najord]

In the 1991 what is the difference between the commander and the comat?
what is the difference in the 1991's and the xse models ? read the website but this is real new to me so not exactly sure what all the info means. I have been considering the xse series commander, which is better 1991's and the xse ? Help !
thank you
nathan

[Bruce Foreman]

In the 1911 what is the difference between the commander and the comat?
what is the difference in the 1911's and the xse models ? read the website but this is real new to me so not exactly sure what all the info means.
thank you
nathan

Commander should be pretty much any 4.25 inch barrel/slide on a standard full size grip frame. Original Commander was on an aluminum alloy frame and some worried about the durability (mostly unfounded worry) so an all steel version came out marked Combat Commander. The subsequent aluminum alloy frame production was marked Lightweight Commander Model.

From pictures I've seen current XSE series show "enhanced" frame features such as an undercut at the rear of the trigger guard to allow the hand to grip a bit higher on the frame and I think current Lightweight Commander Models are on XSE frames.

The current NRM Commander is all steel and the frame does not appear to have the "enhanced" frame modifications, but more closely emulates the first all steel Combat Commander. See the picture posted in the "My NRM Commander" thread and compare with this "nasty" worn Combat Commander.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k97/biforeman/CombatCmdrLeftSide.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k97/biforeman/CombatCmdrRtSide.jpg

Hope this helps.

Bruce Foreman

[Najord]

what is difference between the nrm(stand for)commander. 1991 commander and the xse (stand for) commander ? do not see the nrm on the website. nor do i see the combat commander,which series is this ?
thank you
nathan

[John]

The Commanders have always been the alloy frame model. The Combat Commanders have a steel frame.

[Hunter]

what is difference between the nrm(stand for)commander. 1991 commander and the xse (stand for) commander ? do not see the nrm on the website. nor do i see the combat commander,which series is this ?
thank you
nathan
NRM stands for new rollmark (the first 1991A1 were orm original roll mark and the markings on the slide know as the rollmark were much larger). Colt went back to the smaller rollmark on the newer produced 1991A1 so they came to be know as nrm.
I don't think XSE has a worded meaning but that just designates a model in this case the XSE are an enhanced line.