Officer or Commander for CCW?

[Detpack]

Hi, i'm new to the forums and was looking into purchasing a 1911 for concealed carry and just wondering if there is really a difference between an officer and commander in CCW use. Does the size difference really make a difference for lets say while wearing t-shirt and jeans. Also just was wondering what others carry for CCW use. Thanks.

[stans]

The Commander has a 4 1/4 inch barrel and a full length grip, the Officers has a 3 1/2 inch barrel and the grip is about 1/2" shorter. Not a huge difference, but the grip is the hardest part to conceal. I will say that 1911 pattern pistols with barrels shorter than 4 inches tend to be harder to make reliable.

[SMMAssociates]

What Stans said....

I lately carry a 70's Commander most of the time.

(Not right now - it's been acting up.)

Alternatively, a Para Tac-Four, which is essentially the same size but with a rectangular grip frame instead of the sort of oval shape the Commander gives you. It's grip frame is a tad shorter, but Para's stock magazine baseplates are long enough to make up that difference.

Personally, I don't think you gain or lose anything in concealment between the Commander size and the full-length GM - the grip frame is the part you have to hide when you're carrying something that big. The slightly shorter "Officers" grip frame may be an advantage....

There are some interesting short-barrel, short-grip guns out there, but a barrel shorter than about 4" may invite reliability issues, and I'm not sure that it's smart to try to shoot the little ones unless you're really into heavy stuff.

There are some nice 9mm's out there that will conceal better, but that may not be you....

(Back before semi's were common in LE - I'm an old rent-a-cop - I often carried a 4" S&W M10HB revolver in soft clothes. Kinda like Dirty Harry's .44's little brother. I'm big enough to conceal one of those without problems.)

Regards,

[Geographic]

I read something in a book about gunsmiths modifying government models to commanders, - and also just modifying government and commander receivers to officer's length with officer's shorter mainspring housing & mags, and keeping the government or commander length slide & barrel. I haven't seen any of those around though, or know anyone who has one.

[SMMAssociates]

Geographic:

I think I've seen ads for frames cut down to "Officers" grip lengths from GM size....

It's only about a quarter-inch, I think, give or take, so the trick may be in being able to mount grip bushings someplace if you can't just leave them where they were. Shorter grips aren't a problem....

I don't know why anybody'd bother cutting down a GM slide to Commander length v.s. just finding a Commander slide & barrel, but....

IMHO, and bear in mind that my experience with 1911's is somewhat limited, if it can be done, it's been done, and if it can't be done there are guys out there who have proven that too. Not to mention the guys who proved that it could be done anyway.... :D

The idea that JMB's design is immutable just doesn't fly anymore. There are manufacturing techniques and materials out there that allow for all kinds of (insane) things that weren't possible in the early 1900's. Some, like the Para LDA, are rather off-the-wall. Others seem to be simple evolution. If it can be tried, somebody will.... :eek:

[stans]

I read something in a book about gunsmiths modifying government models to commanders, - and also just modifying government and commander receivers to officer's length with officer's shorter mainspring housing & mags, and keeping the government or commander length slide & barrel. I haven't seen any of those around though, or know anyone who has one.

The now defunct firm by the name "Devel" cut down Government models as well as S&W model 39's, but this was in the late 1960's through the 1970's, if I recall correctly. Star had the first compact 9mm and 45 ACP in their model BM and PD respectively. Then Detonics hit the scene with their Combat Master, the first true 1911 to be factory chopped. Detonics struggled and Colt introduced their Officer's ACP. At the time, Colt still had a great dealer network and market penetration. The Officer's ACP pretty much eliminated the custom made Devel's and Detonics.

You won't find gunsmiths chopping 1911's these days, it if far less expensive to get chopped 1911's from the manufacturers. Ed Brown does make an intersting Commander model with a radically altered mainspring housing. You get to use standard length mags, but the specialized mainspring housing trims a little off the size of the package. This is a custom installation that requires permanent alteration to the receiver.

[phh]

Hello -
You asked about the difference in concealment for an officer and a commander. I carry all three common lengths of 1911 but favor the commander. Usually, they are carried in a Bianchi Minimalist. The Commander is my preferred carry because first - the bbl does not clunk on a wooden chair when I sit down; second - it's just a bit lighter. I have found no difference in the concealment ability of the officer's grip over the commander or full size grip. I consider myself of average build and with a t-shirt and polo-type shirt, there's no problem printing the grip.
phh

[Married2NAVCOP]

The correct answer is both. As being talked about......you can get a factory produced commander slide on an officers frame without the expense of having a smith cut and weld on a full size. It gives you good site radius for accuracy and a short frame for concealability. Try to hold one because many people's hands do not fit the shorter frame and their "pinky" hangs off the bottom. I have medium-sized hands and it fits me perfectly.

They go by many different names, but the most common is a CCO "Concealed Carry Officers". Colt has a new "Gunsite" version. Kimber and Springfield call them "Compacts".IIRC Dan Wesson calls it a CCO, I think. Here are some Colt versions (First one is mine, the rest aren't):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/married2navcop/DSC00176.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/married2navcop/CCO1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/married2navcop/CCOSSII.jpg

[Chuck S]

My Officer ACP weights more than my Commander. I like the shorter barrel in many situations, but light weight makes a difference when carrying all day long.

-- Chuck