Colt NRM Commander - Fletcher Custom

[lindermant]

Colt NRM Commander tuned by Richard Fletcher / Fletcher Custom (http://www.fletchercustompistols.com/)

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/fletcher_colt_1.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/fletcher_colt_2.jpg

former internals
http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/fletcher_colt_5.jpg

the details:

- reliability package
- tighten/lap slide to frame fit
- carry grade trigger job (4.5#)
- stake/loctite plunger tube
- EB slide stop
- retain factory barrel - ream chamber/throat barrel/recrown muzzle
- EB barrel bushing
- mag release relieved to prevent trapping magazines
- bevel magazine well
- relieve GI grip safety for commander ring hammer
- MGW serrated ramp front sight silver soldered
- King's hardball rear sight
- refinish - satin beadblast blue

I managed a little range time today and put 350 rounds of WWB 230gr FMJ down the pipe with zero malfunctions. Fantastic trigger, puts it right where you point it, and goes bang every time - can't ask for much more :D

Turnaround was ~5 months, price was fair and the workmanship is top notch. I'm a minimal frills / plain jane kinda guy, and she's just what I wanted...

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/fletcher_colt_3.jpg

[A.B.]

Thank you for the specs, and the reference to Mr. Fletcher, too!

Absolutely love the cut-down grip safety. And an interesting (and very nice) choice of finishing.

Cheers!

[EchoBravoKilo]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

By the way, where did you get the stocks?

[lindermant]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

By the way, where did you get the stocks?
Thanks EBK. I picked up the grips from another forum (take offs after someone customized their old Colt).

They are also available from CDNN Investments:

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/co19cobodich.html

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/co19gofugrwf.html

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/1945acmedrub.html

Hope this helps...

[elijdub]

Another beauty Lindermant! They did a great job on your Commander! I really like the understated elegance of the aesthetics, and pure functionality of the work on these Commanders of yours. Very nice.

Edit: what was your turnaround time?

[garrettwc]

I'm a minimal frills / plain jane kinda guy, and she's just what I wanted...
My kinda guy. Excellent Commander sir.

What about the mainspring housing? I didn't see it mentioned and most NRM Commanders that I have seen have flat ones. Yours is arched.

[lindermant]

...What about the mainspring housing? I didn't see it mentioned and most NRM Commanders that I have seen have flat ones. Yours is arched.
good eyes garrettwc!

within a day or two of purchase back in ~Feb I swapped the factory long trigger and flat MSH with take offs from an old Colt that were in my parts box (short trigger w/arched MSH work best for me).

[daveohno]

Very nicely done!

[Dave Berryhill]

Very nice indeed! Are you trying to corner the Commander market? :D

[lindermant]

Very nice indeed! Are you trying to corner the Commander market? :D
Thanks Dave. BTW the ring hammer is your piece, and it is very nice!

One of these days I'll stumble onto a sweetheart of a 38super commander and only then will I stop (maybe)... But the search is half of the fun ;)

[A.B.]

Aha! We both seek the same Holy Grail! :D

[lindermant]

yep - too bad I don't care for the looks of Colt's newer 38super commanders... it would make my hunt a lot easier.

[A.B.]

Can't get 'em here, so temptation avoided. :mad:

The hunt is fun, though...

[A.B.]

And yes, I've tried, but I can't get used to the new ones, either.

[lindermant]

diversion ahead ;)

Both the MKIV and the Commander are found on the my picture icon, above right. I had the same middle-age moment trying to find Commander serial #s at ProofHouse! :confused: :D
Some more, in case it is not showing up, for some reason:
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t316/gordonsorensen/mkIVandCommander.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t316/gordonsorensen/commanderdone-1.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t316/gordonsorensen/picturetwo.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t316/gordonsorensen/commanderwwilsongs.jpg

Thanks!
PS, I haven't started a thread on her, I don't want to divert this one...
funny, I've never even paid attention to the 'pic' icon in the user's info - doh!

Nice commander! I had a thick EGW bushing and plug on an older 9mm gov't model, and it was ok - but I do prefer the traditional size/thickness bushing & plug. Love the Nill grips too...

I'm pleased with the MGW front/King's rear sight combo; very easy to acquire and keeps with the traditional look. I'll take a few pics showing the frame rails after the fitting (I believe peen & squeeze method). Additional pics won't make it until tomorrow as I'm getting ready to leave for work.

[A.B.]

Me too!! Competition is fierce out there, on the road...was thinking about the King's 4-prong spring too.
Cheers, and good luck in the traffic!

[A.B.]

Ok, here are some thoughts:

David Sams: I would very much like to send him a rifle!
Richard Fletcher Hmmmm!
Evolution Gun Works A vague project involving a 9x23 barrel...I like George!
Pistol Dynamics Somehow I think a 38 Super has his name on it...the full Monte, I am working up to this....

I am excited about Mr. Fletcher's enthusiasm for metal-working, it is contagious. Since that is primarily what I want for this project (not a match barrel), I believe this is close to a done deal.

OK:

*short, finely checkered (blue) trigger, over-travel set and fixed.

*'69 style grip safety tang, or slightly larger, closely fitted.

*tear-drop safety that fits.

*Gold dot front sight, either retain original rear (with white dots removed--I painted them), or King's Hardball.

*re-blue, polished flats, polished small parts, smooth roll-marks; coat with either Roguard or NPT (Tim's suggestion)

*carry and mag bevel, as per custom of smith, serrate front strap, retain S&A arched MSH, retain Nil stocks, smooth angles of ejection port, as per smith's custom, but not to be unduly lowered or scalloped ("flared"). Sign/mark pistol as is customary.

*re-cut (to smith's preference) current Nowlin sear, adjust Nowlin disconnecter, install lightweight rowel hammer (blue or dull, polished bevel). Replace strut, link and end-cap with smith's preference. Adjust stock leaf-spring. Adjust to 4.5# pull (it is too light now, thanks to me).

*retain original barrel, ramp and throat scallops. I am adamantine about this. I'm a big guy, and I can't budge the barrel when the slide is forward. Good enough.

*re-cut EGW "OVS" fps to even radius (it is almost square, now). Replace EGW bushing with (strong) finger-tight, blue bushing to match stock plug. Adjust/replace all springs to smith's preference.

*stake/loctite plug

*check cosmetic clocking issue with extractor, advise; polish ejector as per custom. Check timing, advise. Shoot in sights, test w/230gr. Fed. JHP (its current happy diet).

*retain C&S TFE-coated series 80 parts.
The fact that she is a current production model is important to me, in and of itself...the replacement hammer (I am kind of sad to lose the hand-made stock hammer, but there we are...) raises the issue, again. Removal (and filling in the frame-hole) would be now or never...

* replace mag release with serrated, normal-sized "race" release (your idea, I wouldn't have thought of this, used to these being giant things...)

*advise on replacement firing pin, to match new hammer.

*advise on custom replacement of standard, half-length guide-rod (with standard, half-length rod).

*Peen/adjust rails for smoothness and function.

Influence me! Thanks for your interest....

Amend above:
*serrated, recessed lanyard-loop arched MSH

*brush flats (after roll-mark smoothing), not high-polish (decisions, decisions. It is for carry) Same grit as stock finish.

[lindermant]

I'd add that you should have the original barrel recrowned, but other than that it sounds like you've got it all planned out A.B. ;)

[A.B.]

Thanks, that was a long laundry-list to peruse. Good advice on the barrel.

I am most interested on your thoughts about the series 80 parts, as well as the matte finish (yours has me thinking...). Thank you, again.

Cheers!

[lindermant]

Thanks, that was a long laundry-list to peruse. Good advice on the barrel.

I am most interested on your thoughts about the series 80 parts, as well as the matte finish (yours has me thinking...). Thank you, again.

Cheers!

Mine retains the stock S80 internal safeties - not sure what (if any) attention they received during the trigger work, but the trigger pull is very nice. The finish is traditional blue with satin beadblast prep (no polish). Not sure what media and/or pressure was used for the beadblast, maybe Richard could provide some insight if you contact him.

[A.B.]

Thanks again, I will advise when I send her off...

[A.B.]

A link to C&S series 80 parts, for Eli:https://shop.cylinder-slide.com/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.pl?usr=51F7914428&rnd=2645568&rrc=N&affl=&cip=67.188.43.203&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=62&cat=43&catstr=HOME:6:43
I though these were pretty silly, until I tried them.

[elijdub]

I think that package is a great idea A.B.!
It's funny you mention C&S; i've been drooling over the "Adventurer" for most of the afternoon ;) I like the "Pathfinder" too, but i'm not ready to get out of my 1911 craze just yet. First i need a couple more Colts (a Commander and an OACP).
I'll definitely consider the C&S ser80 package for my next project.
Keep us posted on the progress with your Commander!!!!

[A.B.]

Thank you, Eli. It helped to waste some bandwidth, now I can translate this into something tactful for the smith!

Am curious to see his solutions for the safeties and trigger, particularly the trigger, which I'd like to resemble steel...Oh, well. I'll post the final specs (thanks to Lindermant loaning his thread. He really inspired all this with his Pistol Dynamics 9mm!)

[A.B.]

PS, that is (C&S) a fun site to drool at!
Cheers!

[Joni Lynn]

That's a pretty sharp looking package!

[A.B.]

Thank you, Joni Lynn. I could see this coming, the Baer was snatched in free-fall as I lost touch with the cliff. I am doomed!

[Joni Lynn]

1911itis strikes without warning and is resistant to all known treatments. Temporary relief can be obtained by buying 1911's, especially LB, NH, Wilson, Colt......and similar.

[A.B.]

And no pistol left behind, I can't baer to see the NRM languish in the safe.

Actually, I'm nowhere near bottom. When I get there, I will need Baers for snacks, while I wait for the Colts to come back. Better find a nice 27, before the bankers with butterfly nets come...and maybe a shiny new SS NRM Commander (snack!)...

[A.B.]

Pistol to be shipped next week, for evaluation. Delivery some sunny day in the spring.

Despite my whiny, neurotic list :rolleyes: , above, here is the actual request (tell folks what you want, let them figure out how!):

I will supply you with a stock NRM, blued Commander, with these after-market parts, some installed. Packaging included
for identification, Feel free to use the parts as you wish for the project, or not:

C&S series 80 TFE-coated parts
Nowlin sear and ejector
EGW "oversized" fps, blank.

Some desired features, some changes from the project which you just completed:

*short trigger, serrated.
*retro grip safety tang, not smaller than my 1969 LTWT Commander.
*tear-drop safety that fits.
*blue, with brushed flats, Smooth roll-marks, but not to illegibility (I'd rather it be uneven than illegible).
*arched mainspring, with recessed lanyard loop.
*carry and mag bevel.
*soften edges, tune ejection port--but without GCNM scalloping ("flare")
*same bushing/barrel treatment as previous project, same treatment on rowel match hammer...
*I would like to discuss a minimal treatment of the MSH, and perhaps the front strap with you...
*Gold dot front sight, either retain original rear (with white dots removed, and notch widened) or King's Hardball, with wide "U."
* relieve mag release, as in previous project.
*stake/loctite plunger.
*4 to 4.5# trigger pull. (carry/duty/defense)
* Mark as customary.

Since I wish this pistol to be representative of your work, I would like a proposal that
includes tightening and lapping of the frame, and whatever mechanical work that is your preference, replacing
all parts that you deem necessary for the project.

Thank you for your attention...



Richard seems very nice, I am quite excited to see what he proposes...

Cheers, and thanks for the bandwidth and good advice!