Has there ever been a LW Government Model?

[Sry0fcr]

Seems like a natural thing to do at some point...

[JustinTime]

Seems like a natural thing to do at some point...

It does to me as well. Although I've never heard of one. I thought about making one out of my XSE LTW commander frame and Gold Cup complete upper reciever I found on Gunbroker but ended up selling the XSE instead.

[Barry in IN]

I'd like to try one out.

I usually like guns as originally designed, and think the farther we get from that design, the more we are asking for trouble. In the 1911's case that means I think they are at their best with a 5" barrel, 45ACP caliber, and steel frame...but I have gotten a little flexible on these things.

I'm still a little shy of barrels/slides shorter than 5", but I like the 38 Super (at least it's been used in the gun for almost 80 years), and could see the benefit of an alum alloy frame at times (I haven't worked my real job in six years due to a back condition/injury, so might could appreciate a lighter gun).

I got a Springfield Lightweight Full-Size Loaded Bi-Tone Loaded Gee-Whiz gun a couple of years ago in order to give the idea a try. It did OK after some initial stutters caused by some roughness left in a couple of places, but I never did carry it much.
This is MY experience, so take it for that, but- I didn't find the weight difference made it that much more "comfortable" on the "average" day. I was probably expecting too much, and set myself up for disappointment. It was 38.25 ounces loaded, compared to 45 oz for the steel frame gun I usually carry. Almost seven ounces didn't matter as much to me as I thought it would. I would notice the weight difference right away after holstering the gun, but it faded after about 20 minutes. At the end of each day, I didn't say- "Whew, I'm glad I was carrying the alloy frame gun".

BUT-
While I may not see that much gain on an ordinary day, not every day is ordinary. On days when my back is especially bad, I appreciate every ounce saved. Also, after the surgeries that seem to come roughly once a year, a light gun would be a great asset during the recovery period.

If nothing else, maybe the weight savings would allow me to carry something else in addition like more ammo or another small gun.

[John]

Springfield has some, didn't we test an MC Lightweight Operator in the E-zine a while ago?

[dakota1911]

From Colt? I do not think so. Other 1911 makers have produced them.

[Brian D.]

There's a Springfield ltwt. Gov't size (Loaded Series) on my hip fairly often. It's the earlier mono-tone flat finish. Runs perfectly.

Some time back a local 'smith was clearing out a couple project guns he hadn't finished up, wanted the dough for some new venture. Anyhow he sold me a 5" ltwt. 'half-breed'. Top end is Series '70 Colt, frame is a Caspian alloy in alumichrome finish, or whatever they call it. Kind of a Combat Elite lookalike, save the fiber optic front sight on this one.

Both these guns weigh enough less than an all steel model that I notice the difference after a day's worth of toting.