The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site

dogdollar

27th October 2007, 20:28

Hi Boys and Girls,
Here's a fully functional little slab, yet with a flair for fashion:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/CCO.jpg

It's a Lightweight CCO Gunsite Model, brand spanking new in the box.
I picked it up today at the Houston Gun Collector's Gun Show. Traded my Wilson CQB for it (I'm a little sad about that, but very happy to have this).

I WAS just going to buy it outright, but times are a little lean right now. I am still paying notes on Aunt Tilly's funeral, and I got a call last week from the funeral parlor saying if I miss one more payment, up she comes.

Anyway, that's my problem, not yours.

Enjoy !!!
Your pal,
DD

Rio Vista Slim

27th October 2007, 20:41

Beautiful new Colt, Tim!

I WAS just going to buy it outright, but times are a little lean right now. I am still paying notes on Aunt Tilly's funeral, and I got a call last week from the funeral parlor saying if I miss one more payment, up she comes.

and THANKS for the huge LAUGH! :D :D :D

daveohno

27th October 2007, 20:41

Great Gunsite CCO!

Don't miss those payments, Aunt Tilly will NOT be happy in your yard! :D

paul45

27th October 2007, 20:44

It's really, very, very nice! Congrats.....

Joni Lynn

27th October 2007, 21:32

Nice Colt!! Good trade.

dogdollar

27th October 2007, 21:50

I just took it apart.
MAN.......this thing is dry as TOAST!!!

Joni Lynn

27th October 2007, 21:57

Sometimes the lube (if any) dries up pretty much. I've bought some S&W revolvers where the lube is dried to an old hard varnish like stuff.

jrhawk

27th October 2007, 22:02

Wow...... first the poker pistol from Harrison and now this Colt in honor of Aunt Tillies continued resting place! Keep on buying DD as I am learning from your good taste.

dogdollar

27th October 2007, 22:14

AWWWW, shucks, jrhawk, you are too kind.
Truth be told, I am a total doofus about this gun, other than I know I like it.
Anything anyone can tell me about this particular weapon, including:
"Gunsite" - so what? What is different? Is that insignia an eagle, or is it a horse with a hat on?
"Lightweight" - so what is it made of? Is the feed ramp going to wear out? Is the slide going to fly off and hit me in the forehead one day, and the magazine drop out and fall on my foot?
"CCO" - I couldn't even SPELL CCO yesterday....concealed carry officer's? I'm guessing........
I would appreciate any experience you guys have. I may be off in a whole new direction here.................................
DD

daveohno

27th October 2007, 23:54

The bird is a Raven, it is the Gunsite Ranch Logo.
I wouldn't use any magazines that would gouge the frame.
It is a Commander slide on an Officers receiver. I believe the receiver is made of teflon coated aluminum.
The pistols are dehorned, if I am not mistaken.
No, I don't think that the mag will fall out or that the slide will fly off and bonk you on the noggin!
The Colt Gunsite Pistols are series 70 pistols that are simple, but nice. The full size ones have match barrels. Combat weapons. No extra bells and whistles. Just simple, well made tools.

I have purchased 4 of them. 1 CCO and 3 full size. 2 blue & 1 stainless.

garrettwc

28th October 2007, 00:08

The Gunsite models are a step up from the XSE and a limited edition. More hand fitting and better part. The insignia is the Raven logo from Gunsite.

Lightweight = aluminum frame. They are pretty durable. Colt has been doing "lightweights" all the way back to the Lightweight Commanders in the 70's. Dave is correct about mag followers sometimes gouging, but other than that, no worries , unless you get bored and take a Dremel to it.

CCO= Concealed Carry Officer. Commander slide and Officer frame. It has a bigger brother the Gunsite Government model with full size frame and slide. They are discontinued by Colt.

Here's a link to the spec sheets for the Gunsites on Colt's website:
http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Specs_Gunsite.pdf

Traded my Wilson CQB for it (I'm a little sad about that, but very happy to have this).
No need to be sad. You traded up IMO.

swampthang

28th October 2007, 08:57

Good luck DD, You will be very pleased with it.

elijdub

28th October 2007, 09:16

Congrats Tim! Very nice Gunsight!
EDIT: My statement below was in reference to a full-sized alloy-frame. In your case, with an officer-sized alloy-frame the 7's will be a problem (and mar the feed-ramp if using a non-polymer followered mag) where the 6's will not.
[Like garrett and others have said, don't forget to use polymer-followered mags when using 8-rounders. The "7's" aren't usually an issue, having a long enough skirt to prevent the follower from jumping forward after the last round has been fired. Caution with this statement: it is my understanding that possibly Checkmate's 8-round mags may be acceptable for alloy-framed guns... I need to examine this further before i commit to using them though. In the meantime i use Tripp's "Cobramag" and their "Super 7 conversion kits" exclusively (when i want to shoot or carry 8-round mags).]

Lightweight = aluminum frame. They are pretty durable. Colt has been doing "lightweights" all the way back to the Lightweight Commanders in the 70's.
Even before! The very first Commander produced in 1949 was a "LW" (there were no steel frames until the 70's). Colt used the lightweight suffix on all Commanders until the 70's when they began producing the Combat Commander. Then, the lightweight began to be identified by a "CLW" prefix.

No need to be sad. You traded up IMO.
I agree!!! Those Gunsights are fine pistols! ..And, not to mention, produced in relatively low numbers.

Ping Ping

28th October 2007, 10:20

CCO=Commander cūm Officer model? :p

Great lookin' blaster T. That's a trade from my own heart.

Well done!

The only bad part is that that gun is but moments away from an ambie safety. Eeeek!

okcorral1881

28th October 2007, 11:21

dogdollar

28th October 2007, 12:35

To all,
Thanks for the kind words.
I will tell you that I took a pretty good beating on the trade, but when I walked out of there I was carrying a gun that I really wanted and was excited about. The Wilson was a very fine weapon in it's own right - it just never..."spoke" to me like my Baers and Colts do. To the best of my recollection, I hadn't even fired it in more than a year, and I shoot pretty much every weekend and sometimes more. I am happy knowing, however, that it's somebody's dream gun, and if they play their cards right, they can have it for a very good price. Meanwhile, I am grinning like a jackass eating sauerkraut!!
The reason I mention all of this is that it was a sort of life-lesson for me. I have never been big on trading and buying to sell and all of that business. Maybe now I will start being a little more receptive to the idea. Life is just too short to own boring guns.
I don't plan on using anything other than 6rd steel mags. I retreated from the magazine debate a while back and decided to just use what JMB designed for the gun, and magazines just aren't much of an issue to me anymore since I don't have many problems with them. On the rare occasion that I do, I simply throw the offending magazine into the garbage can.
As Thoreau said:
"Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify..........." :D

Anyway, I should be able to get to the range today and if so I will let you all know how she does.
Thanks again for the congrats and the reassuring words, and have a great Sunday.

DD

OD*

28th October 2007, 12:40

Very nice Tim!

OD*

28th October 2007, 12:44

Colt has been doing "lightweights" all the way back to the Lightweight Commanders in the 70's.
Longer than that Garrett, the original Commander intro'd in 1949 was a lightweight, the steel Combat Commander intro'd in 1970.

Ping Ping

28th October 2007, 13:28

Longer than that Garrett, the original Commander intro'd in 1949 was a lightweight, the steel Combat Commander intro'd in 1970.Yanno, somehow I knew there was going to be a requisite history lesson when I read that post. I had always thought it was released in '50. Course, I'd have to defer to OD*, since I wasn't around for it. :p

larry starling

28th October 2007, 15:21

Congrats great looking Gunsite CCO...... :)

OD*

28th October 2007, 17:34

Yanno, somehow I knew there was going to be a requisite history lesson when I read that post. I had always thought it was released in '50. Course, I'd have to defer to OD*, since I wasn't around for it. :p
It may have been officially released in '50, it was introduced in 1949. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/reviews/ColtTour2/C7.jpg

EchoBravoKilo

28th October 2007, 17:41

The commander had limited run in '49 - I believe serial #'s 1-65 were made in 1949. went 66 to 5999 in '50 (per Proofhouse).

Bud White

28th October 2007, 17:42

Very nice Tim Congrats

Tommy D

28th October 2007, 19:27

Hi Boys and Girls,
Here's a fully functional little slab, yet with a flair for fashion:
[DD

Very nice pistol, and very well put! I like that " a flair for fashion".
Congratulations!

dakota1911

28th October 2007, 19:59

New collectors. Very nice pistol. I have seen them $2K-$3K in the Southwest when.pristine. I don't know if I would carry one. I carry a blued Commander I bought new for $750. It has been 100% and is all steel, but I decided to live with a few extra ounces as it does not bother me.

dogdollar

28th October 2007, 20:39

Dakota - you mean 2-3k for this gun I have posted????
T.

elijdub

28th October 2007, 21:15

Here's a "Gunsight" on gunbroker with a "BUY NOW" price of $1195. It's not the CCO though...

...I'd guess he was refering to the early Commander...(?). I see them often priced around 2K when NIB on gunbroker.

Hawkmoon

28th October 2007, 21:25

Congrats Tim! Very nice Gunsight!
Like garrett and others have said, don't forget to use polymer-followered mags when using 8-rounders. The "7's" aren't usually an issue, having a long enough skirt to prevent the follower from jumping forward after the last round has been fired.
Except that, being an Officers frame, the "standard" magazine capacity would be 6 rounds and the "enhanced" capacity would be 7 rounds.

Tim, regarding longevity I suggest you touch base with Wichaka. He has an affinity for lightweight Commanders, and I think he has carried and shot them enough (both duty carry and competition) to give you some idea of life expectancy.

Nice find. If it didn't have front cocking serrations on the slide I would envy you. However, since I detest front serrations (especially on a Commander slide) ... it's all yours.

elijdub

28th October 2007, 21:35

Except that, being an Officers frame, the "standard" magazine capacity would be 6 rounds and the "enhanced" capacity would be 7 rounds.
Whoops! Nice catch...:o
Yes, in this case the 7-round mags would be of issue (if a non-polymer followered mag was used) where the 6's would not.

dogdollar

29th October 2007, 12:44

Except that, being an Officers frame, the "standard" magazine capacity would be 6 rounds and the "enhanced" capacity would be 7 rounds.

Tim, regarding longevity I suggest you touch base with Wichaka. He has an affinity for lightweight Commanders, and I think he has carried and shot them enough (both duty carry and competition) to give you some idea of life expectancy.

Nice find. If it didn't have front cocking serrations on the slide I would envy you. However, since I detest front serrations (especially on a Commander slide) ... it's all yours.

Hawk,
I am not huge on front cocking serrations, either, but had little choice here. At least these, in my opinion, are much more "holster friendly" than some; they are machined right through the profile of the slide with some significant gap between them and are left square on the top, rather than the chiselled peaks on some others. They don't bite into a holster at all.
T.

garrettwc

29th October 2007, 14:06

Thanks for the history lesson guys. I didn't realize the Lightweights had been around longer than me. :D

dakota1911

29th October 2007, 17:23

Yes Dogdollar. Down here that raven means a lot to some folk.

dogdollar

29th October 2007, 18:39

Wowie Zowie!!! :scared: :scared: :scared:

I'm feeling better about this trade all the time!!!!!

daveohno

29th October 2007, 20:23

My first Colt Government Model was a Gunsite Pistol, because it was a Gunsite Pistol. My only Commander size Pistol is a S&W Gunsite Pistol and my only Officers size (CCO) is a Colt Gunsite Pistol. I guess I have a thing for critters on the slides. Horses and birds....

1911Tuner

29th October 2007, 20:31

And now for a little more history/trivia...

"Slabsides" doesn't apply to 1911A1s, nor to any clone or variant with the cutouts behind the trigger guard. The term is correctly used to describe the pistols made before the transition to the "1911 Improved" versions. A 1918 "Black Army Colt" is a slabsides. Remington Rands ain't.

Nitpick over. Carry on!

dogdollar

30th October 2007, 12:11

Hmmmmm....now I've gotten into the habit of calling ALL 1911's "slabs". I guess I will have to come up with a different nickname for them to be technically correct.......... :p
T.

daveohno

30th October 2007, 14:36

I have to go reload my clip for my 1911.... :D

1911Tuner

30th October 2007, 15:29

I have to go reload my clip for my 1911....

With bullets...

Thaaaaat's right. Go ahead and gimme a ration of...Hello, John!...Uhhh...horse apples. :D When you meet up with John Browning in the great beyond, he'll tell ya that ya shoulda listened to ol' Toon.

dogdollar

30th October 2007, 15:47

But Johnny,
Aren't you mostly a 1911A1Tuner?
;)

1911Tuner

30th October 2007, 16:10

But Johnny,
Aren't you mostly a 1911A1Tuner?

Only 'cause I ran outta 1911s...and 'cause they don't make'em any more. Colt repros excluded, of course...but the chances of gettin' to tweak one of those is a purty good stretch.

dmuff

30th October 2007, 17:07

dogdollar,

you might pull off the grips and make sure there is no resin or rust under them.
There was on mine.

dogdollar

30th October 2007, 17:12

An excellent idea, sir.
I will do that tonight.
Thanks!
T.

jeff1124

30th October 2007, 18:18

Very nice Tim, sorry that I seem to have come to the party late! Any Tea and Crumpets left? ;)

daveohno

30th October 2007, 20:10

With bullets...

Thaaaaat's right. Go ahead and gimme a ration of...Hello, John!...Uhhh...horse apples. :D When you meet up with John Browning in the great beyond, he'll tell ya that ya shoulda listened to ol' Toon.

At least around here, almost no one calls a magazine a clip. I had that pointed out to me a few years back, it was in the form of education, explaining what weapons use a clip and which ones use a magazine.

I also didn't know that once they changed the 1911 that it was no longer referred to as "slabsides". I still like the name, "Old Ugly" for my Colt's, even though none of them are ugly to me.

1911Tuner

30th October 2007, 20:19

I still like the name, "Old Ugly" for my Colt's, even though none of them are ugly to me.

And don't forget: "Old Bigmouth" and "The Yankee Fist" to describe our old ugly pistols.

:lh:

daveohno

30th October 2007, 20:30

Bigmouth is one of my favorites, also.

Even an abused 1911 is a thing of beauty.

1911Tuner

30th October 2007, 20:53

Even an abused 1911 is a thing of beauty.

Forsooth! The ones with character marks are especially alluring.

dogdollar

30th October 2007, 22:33

Very nice Tim, sorry that I seem to have come to the party late! Any Tea and Crumpets left? ;)

Jeff,
This thing is a SHOOTER, my friend. I am very impressed. A little lively in the hand, but not enough to keep me from running 250 rds through it on Sunday.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/CCO2.jpg

Enjoy!!
T.

elijdub

30th October 2007, 22:37

Nice shooting DD! I noticed a little more "life" in my OACP ;)...but like you said, not a bother! The little guy is a joy to fire :D!

colubrid

30th October 2007, 23:24

Ugh!

I just tuned into this thread and I think I am going to be sick with envy.

I have been looking for a LNIB Gunsite CCO for a while now.

Okay,,

I will just stare at your pic all night. :geek:

daveohno

31st October 2007, 00:00

Might as well pile on!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/CCODSCN0381.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/GunsiteDSCN0384.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/SWDSCN0387.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/DSCN0281.jpg