The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site

Rio Vista Slim

22nd December 2006, 20:04

While I have fewer Colts than a lot of my colleagues here in the forum, I am just as proud of mine as they are of theirs. Today, I added a brushed stainless all-steel Commander to the herd. A Model 04091U, it features some of the things found on the XSE series (such as a relief cut under the trigger guard, duck-tail grip safety, and rounded combat hammer). It also has rubber grips with the Rampant Colt. In addition, the pistol sports the newest sights from Colt, featuring a large white dot on the front sight.

My blue 04691 Commander might be a tad more aesthetically pleasing, but I'm quite happy with this latest Commander, and I will report on its prowess at the range, shortly.

Without further ado,

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_1375.jpg

swampthang

22nd December 2006, 20:16

Very nice Slim,That noise you hear is the drool splattering off my kneecap :D

Joni Lynn

22nd December 2006, 20:18

Very nice...........and not even covered with fingerprints yet.
I got one last weekend but I haven't taken any pics yet.

OD*

22nd December 2006, 20:21

That's a beauty Slim. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

dakota1911

22nd December 2006, 20:27

Drool.... droooooool. Need I say more? O.K. Very nice gun.

paul45

22nd December 2006, 20:31

Such a beauty!! congrats

Rio Vista Slim

22nd December 2006, 20:55

My sincere appreciation to you all, for your kind comments.

Not trying to over-saturate this thread with photos, but here is one without the annoying glare. (It also shows the cut-out below the trigger guard.)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_1372.jpg

Joni Lynn

22nd December 2006, 20:59

Show off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

larry starling

22nd December 2006, 20:59

Very nice Commander..... :)

jeff1124

22nd December 2006, 21:27

Rio Vista Slim

22nd December 2006, 21:39

Congrats Steve! a fine pistol indeed! I like your taste in weaponry!!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g207/jeff1124/nrm-cmdr3.jpg

Did I mention that I love Commanders!!http://mazeguy.net/romantic/loveatfirstsight.gif
Thanks Jeff.
I do recognize the "family" resemblance! :D I will have to get some more medallion stocks for mine, after the New Year. I much prefer the feel and look of real wood to rubber, but my other Colts won't let me "borrow" theirs.

Lynnie,
I admit that I'm an incorrigible Show-Off. But I promise to refrain from any more photos.............................for a little while. ;)

larry starling

22nd December 2006, 21:45

swampthang

22nd December 2006, 22:01

Very nice also Jeff

Hersh

22nd December 2006, 23:41

Not trying to over-saturate this thread with photos, but here is one without the annoying glare.

Steve,

I think I speak for all the Colt-aholics when I say "there is no such thing as picture over-saturation in a Colt thread!" ;) Beautiful new Commander you've added there!!

Since we're all a bunch of picture pimps here's the ORM version for comparison. Personally I think the NRM is much more pleasing to the eye.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/Hershel_Van/Bob-3.jpg

Hunter

22nd December 2006, 23:50

All right Slim! A fine addition to the collection.
Hersh and Jeff very nice as well. Yall did good.

clughog

23rd December 2006, 00:00

Truly a beautiful Commander, Steve. Absolutely wonderful...Congratulations!

daveohno

23rd December 2006, 05:15

Nice new Commander! As always, pics that are second to none!

carsoni

23rd December 2006, 06:02

I just got the 91U myself. After years of plastic guns with no hammer I finally came home to Colt.

swampthang

23rd December 2006, 07:46

I just got the 91U myself. After years of plastic guns with no hammer I finally came home to Colt.
That would make a good signature line "Come Home To Colt"

Rio Vista Slim

23rd December 2006, 09:16

That would make a good signature line "Come Home To Colt"
In addition to being a GREAT basis for an advertising campaign! :D ;)

OD*

23rd December 2006, 11:36

Beautiful Commander Slim, congratulations!

Yours too Alan!

MLee

23rd December 2006, 11:50

"Very pretty Colonel, but can they fight?" - Lee Marvin, "Dirty Dozen". Very handsome Commander Steve, what's the range report. Congratulations on the new pony.

Mike

Rio Vista Slim

23rd December 2006, 11:55

Beautiful Commander Slim, congratulations!

Yours too Alan!
Thank you to everyone who has positively commented on my newest Colt. I, too, thank Hersh and jeff1124 for the photos of their stainless Commanders. I really enjoy seeing the photographs of the Colt pistols owned by my friends and acquaintances on the forum.

OD*

23rd December 2006, 12:04

I like 'm so much Slim, I posted twice! :o

Rio Vista Slim

23rd December 2006, 12:26

"Very pretty Colonel, but can they fight?" - Lee Marvin, "Dirty Dozen". Very handsome Commander Steve, what's the range report. Congratulations on the new pony.

Mike
I'll post something later today, Mike. The last series of pistol tests completely exhausted my supply of .45 ACP ammunition! :scared:

I've got to go into town and pick some up.

MLee

23rd December 2006, 12:35

I'll post something later today, Mike. The last series of pistol tests completely exhausted my supply of .45 ACP ammunition! :scared:

I've got to go into town and pick some up.

I'm envious Steve, I've got to go excercise my ponies more often. :sd:

Mike

Rio Vista Slim

23rd December 2006, 20:02

Wisely deciding to avoid the crowds at Wally World, I ran into town and picked up a couple of 50 round boxes of .45 ACP 230 gr. FMJ to test fire my new Commander. The gun store only had one box of Federal American Eagle, but several of the Independence.

This photo shows the last 8 rounds of the day, fired in rapidly fading light, at 12 yards, from a standing modified Weaver stance. The Colt Commander (needless to say) performed flawlessly. Wish I could say the same for the shooter! ;)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_1383.jpg

swampthang

23rd December 2006, 20:15

Very nice, I almost feel like you should be giving out cigars to celebrate the new arrival.

Rio Vista Slim

23rd December 2006, 20:44

:D Very nice, I almost feel like you should be giving out cigars to celebrate the new arrival. :D

swampthang,
If we lived closer together, I might consider that! ;)

As long as I didn't have to fight the "last minute" Christmas shoppers to acquire the necessary cigars! :scared:

swampthang

23rd December 2006, 20:48

Well Ill just light up a marlboro and toast ya with an ice cold can of Bud :D

Rio Vista Slim

23rd December 2006, 20:58

Well Ill just light up a marlboro and toast ya with an ice cold can of Bud :D
Sounds like a plan, swampthang!
Here's to YOU, and Merry Christmas!

EchoBravoKilo

23rd December 2006, 22:38

Very nice Commander! Makes me think I need another, too...

OD*

23rd December 2006, 23:30

To bad those junk Colt's can't shoot, eh Slim? ;)

Rio Vista Slim

24th December 2006, 00:15

To bad those junk Colt's can't shoot, eh Slim? ;)
Yeah, OD*. I'm thinking about having a garage sale next week...............................................................................................................................................................NOT! ;)

daveohno

24th December 2006, 00:54

Nice shooting, Steve.

OD, I see you have a new "handle" here...........

OD*

24th December 2006, 00:57

;)

...........

TattooPaul

24th December 2006, 10:31

Those Commanders are darn beautiful pistols!!! I never really took notice of the fact that the XSE of mine has that relief under the trigger guard. Something new everyday... After checking 'em out on Colt's website and looking at the whole 1991 line-up it's interesting to see the beavertail, & combat hammer on the Commanders and the trigger guard relief on the Combat Comm. only (as best as I can see on their woefully small pics...). I've been contemplating a non-frt serrated option to my XSE and just may have seen it! Seems kinda like an updated version of the old ones but much truer to previous form than the XSE. I love my XSE but will always be open to more horses in the stable (incl. the WWI Replica)!

Rio Vista Slim

25th December 2006, 00:15

I am truly not trying to beat a dead horse ( ;) ), but this final photo shows the new Commander with some double-diamond grips supplied with one of my other Colts. While I'm deciding on exactly which type of medallion grips to put on this beauty, these will suffice.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_1388.jpg

swampthang

25th December 2006, 00:29

Looking at that I feel like a kid before Christmas, hey it is Christmas, but I aint no kid no-more !

Jeffrey

25th December 2006, 00:30

I am truly not trying to beat a dead horse ( ;) )
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/RioVistaSlim/IMG_1388.jpg

Beat that dead horse as much as you like Rio! That is one sweet looking Commander.

daveohno

25th December 2006, 01:17

The sharpness of your photos are always first rate, Steve.

zenner22

25th December 2006, 02:04

Very nice stainless Commander. The pics are outstanding as well. They definitely would've inspired me to get one, if I didn't already have one! They are great shooters.

jlh2600

25th December 2006, 07:35

Do the blue standard commanders also have the relief cut out under the trigger guard, or just the stainless?

Great choice, great shooting, great pics. Congrats.

TattooPaul

25th December 2006, 08:07

Do the blue standard commanders also have the relief cut out under the trigger guard, or just the stainless?

Great choice, great shooting, great pics. Congrats.
I have found some larger pics on auction sites and it appears that the blue does not share that feature. It didn't look like it on Colt's web site and larger images prove this. Here's one link: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=57112292

Rio Vista Slim

25th December 2006, 09:04

jlh2600,
My stainless LW XSE Commander, and the stainless 04091U both have the relief cut under the trigger guard. My blue 04691 does not. As TattooPaul points out, I haven't seen any of the blued guns that have that feature.

Thanks to all for the compliments on the photos. I am continually experimenting with lighting, angles, and such for the reviews that I do. Perhaps someday I can get competent enough to start adding some props for contrast. One thing that I personally can't abide is a blurry photo. :D

MLee

25th December 2006, 12:26

Very nice range test Steve, definitely a keeper.

Mike

jlh2600

26th December 2006, 01:52

jlh2600,
My stainless LW XSE Commander, and the stainless 04091U both have the relief cut under the trigger guard. My blue 04691 does not. As TattooPaul points out, I haven't seen any of the blued guns that have that feature.

BTW Steve, your blue commander- did it too come with the rubber grips shown on your stainless in the op? I see it listed as such in the product description, but shows the double diamond in the pic. I actually kind of like the rubber.

Rio Vista Slim

26th December 2006, 05:49

BTW Steve, your blue commander- did it too come with the rubber grips shown on your stainless in the op? I see it listed as such in the product description, but shows the double diamond in the pic. I actually kind of like the rubber.
jlh2600,
Actually, all four of my previous Colts came from the factory with the Chip McCormick double diamond rosewood grips, similar to the ones pictured on the stainless Commander in the last posted photograph. I usually replace those with the medallion grips shown on the pistols in "My Guns", viewed by clicking the camera icon to the upper right.

The rubber grips feel rather nice, but they also hang on certain fabrics when carrying concealed. I just happen to prefer wood stocks on my pistols.

jlh2600

26th December 2006, 06:33

Good point. Rubber + fabric = friction. Wood is nice.

jlh2600

26th December 2006, 07:16

I have found some larger pics on auction sites and it appears that the blue does not share that feature. It didn't look like it on Colt's web site and larger images prove this. Here's one link: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=57112292

lol thanks paul that just answered some q's.

TattooPaul

26th December 2006, 10:25

daveohno

26th December 2006, 18:04

TattooPaul

26th December 2006, 18:38

I have a dealer lined up for the transfer and it'll ship tomorrow. I wish patience was one of my vitues! I'm working on my photographic techniques to minimze glare (tracing paper over the flash if you can't use just daylight is a good starting point, for the rest of you trying as me to refine it) so I can post it with my XSE and '70's Python when it finally gets to me. I have heard, too, that they shoot well for not being a tuned piece. From what I've read Colt really did some serious re-tooling to put this thing out and while some small things are not 100% it's way more than a retro wrapping on new innards. Kudos (yet again) to Colt for the effort on this one, not to mention all of 'em...

Rio Vista Slim

26th December 2006, 19:46

I really wish you could click on the pics at Colt's site and see a larger view of each. Then I could spend even more time there sizing 'em all up... Well, time to go find a dealer with an FFL to recieve the WW1 Replica I came across yesterday!
With the utmost respect to Colt's web-master, I think that the pictures available on THIS site (Pictures of your Colts), or any of the specialized threads, are head and shoulders better than Colt's. Just take a look at some of them, and I think you will agree!

TattooPaul

26th December 2006, 20:20

With the utmost respect to Colt's web-master, I think that the pictures available on THIS site (Pictures of your Colts), or any of the specialized threads, are head and shoulders better than Colt's. Just take a look at some of them, and I think you will agree!
Been on that thread a bunch and I agree. I was just thinking in terms of comparing when on their site looking quickly between current models. The variety on the picture thread here is awesome...

Rio Vista Slim

26th December 2006, 20:47

Been on that thread a bunch and I agree. I was just thinking in terms of comparing when on their site looking quickly between current models. The variety on the picture thread here is awesome...
I agree that Colt's site leaves a great deal to be desired. I was lucky to be on this forum before I ordered my 04691 Commander. Otherwise, I might have ended up with something unexpected. My biggest problem with our pictures on this site, is my dad-burned dial-up. But, when you live just slightly south of the sticks, those things come with the territory. :D :D :D

TattooPaul

26th December 2006, 20:55

Dial-up with all those pics? Yikes!!! I've got broadband/cable and it's a drag just waiting for the thread to scroll all of 'em open even with that. I get spoiled with things just popping open and anything less than instant gratification gets noticed... (still, great thread...)

vashooter

26th December 2006, 21:24

On the matter of Colts pictures on their website.....I am still trying to see if their Defender has a lowered ,flared ejection port ....You guys pictures of Defenders are LOADS better than the website . Hmmmm I sense a job offer from Colt for Rio Vista Slim?? :lm: Floyd