New to Me 1951 Commander

[EchoBravoKilo]

Just picked up this 1951 Commander 45 cal.

Someone had tried to put in the O/S fp stop, and messed it up: when I picked up the pistol the slide wouldn't come off. We dropped the f/p stop and all was fine. I put in a new stop, and all is well. The finish is well used, but I don't think the pistol was shot all that much.

The function is excellent, with a variety of mags and FMJ ammo. The only thing I plan to change immediately (I already changed stocks - it came with originals in great shape) are the sights - my old eyes need something better. I'm going to get the Yost retro rear, and a white dot ramped front stake on. Someday, I may get the full "retro" treatment, but for now I'll need to hold off on that.

Since this post is worthless without pictures, see below (and pardon poor photography):

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/EchoBravoKilo/1951%20Commander%2045/IMGP1178.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/EchoBravoKilo/1951%20Commander%2045/IMGP1195.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/EchoBravoKilo/1951%20Commander%2045/IMGP1186.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/EchoBravoKilo/1951%20Commander%2045/IMGP1188.jpg

[paul45]

Very nice!!

[shotgun red]

Nice Commander! You did good. Gotta love those commanders.

[Hunter]

Man what a beautiful Colt Commander. When will you get her out to the range?

[elijdub]

That's a beauty EBK! I've been looking forward to these pics for a while ;)! Congrats!

Was the OS FPS (that was preventing slide movement) an EGW? Did you replace it with another EGW (overisized) or just use a Colt 'stop? ...Just curious. Eventually i'd like to try out the "EGW treatment".

[clughog]

It looks great! Look at some posts by gfavaron for the sights he put on his Commander, by the way. Nice and big, yet keep the original look to it.

[elijdub]

Wichaka too.... He has a YoBo Retro rear on his "duty" (i think) Commander.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Thanks for the kind words...

Well, the fps was I don't know what brand. I replaced with a Briley, which is slightly (per Brownells) oversized. Had to file a little to get it fit properly.

Went to the range today- flawless execution with Speer 230 gr hardball and Federal 230 gr hardball using Wilson 47D mags.

I'm now having 2nd thoughts on the sights - my young friend who works at the range shot three mags at three targets and ended up with exactly one hole in each target (oh, to be twentysomething!). Anyway, I started to concentrate a great deal on trying to see that tiny front sight (and for me it's tough - indoors), and started to get the hang of it.

The pistol shoots so well, I'm now reluctant to send it out for anything...

[OD*]

Excellent, congratulations!

[daveohno]

That is a beautiful old Commander!

[TattooPaul]

That is one nice '51 you have here. Congradulations!

[Pistolier]

Great looking Commander, I hope to find one some day they are my favorite 1911.

[stoneypete]

Sweet commander.

[elijdub]

I'm now having 2nd thoughts on the sights -

...The pistol shoots so well, I'm now reluctant to send it out for anything...
I had the very same experience with my most recent Commander. It's hard to justify having custom work done when it runs so good "as is". I had been searching for a "beater" Commander b/c i really wanted to invest in a dream of mine...a "perfect" CC gun, built by my personal favorite gunsmith. The gun i found, inexpensive as it was, being that it is a Colt, still runs PERFECTLY (darn it!)! Oh well....i guess i'll have to find an even "worse-off" Commander to fulfill my dream ;).

In your case, EBK, i think the YoBo retro rear is the same cut as the stock, is it not? You could swap it out, fixing your site acquisition concerns, without "modifying" the gun, in the event you decided to keep it stock. Just a thought....

[EchoBravoKilo]

Good thought Eli. I guess what I meant to say is that I don't want it to leave my possession - not that I'm superstitious or anything. ;)

It was pretty cool to see the R.O. shoot this pistol - eight rounds, one hole. Three times. You should have seen the look on his face! While I can't shoot like that, I like the idea of trying to focus on those little sights. Eventually, I'm sure I'll need to get the retros...

And way down the road, I still want to do the whole "retro" build, but that's not going to be thi$ year.

Oh, and I just heard about a '51 Commander in Super 38 - boy is that tempting! Not really interested in the chambering, but it might be cool to have all three chamberings in three Commanders from 1951.

A full size '51 would also be cool...

Too many pistols to aspire to, not enough time or budget!

[Timothy]

Very nice. My '51 is an old beater but I like it.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/1911Colt/100_0694.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/1911Colt/100_0699.jpg

[XTrooper]

Very nice, EBK! Enjoy!

[elijdub]

Good thought Eli. I guess what I meant to say is that I don't want it to leave my possession - not that I'm superstitious or anything. ;)

It was pretty cool to see the R.O. shoot this pistol - eight rounds, one hole. Three times. You should have seen the look on his face! While I can't shoot like that, I like the idea of trying to focus on those little sights. Eventually, I'm sure I'll need to get the retros...

And way down the road, I still want to do the whole "retro" build, but that's not going to be thi$ year.
I hear ya... I'm not going to be spending much thi$ year either ;) (it's home remodeling for me on my "fixer upper"....).

That is going to be one very cool pistol EBK! I look forward to you tellin' me that the box is on it's way home from Harrison :).


Oh, and I just heard about a '51 Commander in Super 38 - boy is that tempting! Not really interested in the chambering, but it might be cool to have all three chamberings in three Commanders from 1951.

A full size '51 would also be cool...

Too many pistols to aspire to, not enough time or budget!
Yes indeed...a '51 in each caliber would be very cool :cool: ;)!!! I think that's what Lindermant and A.B. are both working on...the Holy Grail :D!

[elijdub]

Very nice. My '51 is an old beater but I like it.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/1911Colt/100_0694.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/1911Colt/100_0699.jpg
Very nice '51 Timothy! ..But it doesn't look like much of a beater ;)! Has it been refinished? It almost looks like Polished Stainless....hard to see on my computer.

[John]

Another one who thinks that this Commander is his !!!!

Only for safe-keeping, until I can get my hands on it! :p

Very nice gun EBK, very very nice.

Due to its ... heritage, I would buy the Colt high-profile sights from Brownells and have a gunsmith install them. I too can't use those tiny sights these pistols had.

[OD*]

Good looking Commander, Tim. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

I especially like it with that hammer and grip safety.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Another one who thinks that this Commander is his !!!!

Only for safe-keeping, until I can get my hands on it! :p


Very nice gun EBK, very very nice.

Due to its ... heritage, I would buy the Colt high-profile sights from Brownells and have a gunsmith install them. I too can't use those tiny sights these pistols had.
Thanks - good thoughts.
John, any time you're in my neck of the woods, the Commanders are at your beck and call!

[hdman30]

EBK, With a mint '51 Commander, I'd leave it stock. That has to be close to the first run of the LW Cmdrs. If no one has messed with it, the weapon is probably more valuable in its original configuration. Anyway you look at, what a great find. The LW Commanders are the best of the Colts, IMHO.

[Timothy]

Very nice '51 Timothy! ..But it doesn't look like much of a beater ;)! Has it been refinished? It almost looks like Polished Stainless....hard to see on my computer.

It hasn't been refinished, it's been unfinished. :nono: It's polished aluminum and carbon steel with the internals still blued/anodized. Some people think I'm crazy for doing that, but I like it. It's been like that for a year and a half and no signs of rust yet.

Once I get it polished to my satisfaction, I'll probably have some type of finish applied. So far I'm only finished with the bushing, slide stop and trigger.

[Timothy]

Good looking Commander, Tim.
I especially like it with that hammer and grip safety.

Thanks. Even though they aren't original I like them too. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to replace the hammer before long. The half cock notch has a corner broken off and while it still works I know it's just a matter of time before more of it goes.

[OD*]

This guy might have a short wide spur hammer;
http://1911partsplus.com/m1911m1911a1hammers.aspx

http://1911partsplus.com/images/products/detail/DSC_0061.JPG

[Timothy]

I'm now having 2nd thoughts on the sights - my young friend who works at the range shot three mags at three targets and ended up with exactly one hole in each target (oh, to be twentysomething!). Anyway, I started to concentrate a great deal on trying to see that tiny front sight (and for me it's tough - indoors), and started to get the hang of it.

The pistol shoots so well, I'm now reluctant to send it out for anything...

I keep a neon green Sharpie marker in my range bag to paint the front sight with. It wears off pretty easy but only takes a second to reapply and helps quite a bit. If I had a drill press I would drill a "dot" on the front sight so the paint would stay.

[Timothy]

[QUOTE=OD*]This guy might have a short wide spur hammer;
http://1911partsplus.com/m1911m1911a1hammers.aspx

Wow, that's a great price. I'll have to see if I can find out if it's tool steel. I've been putting off changing it because it has a sweet three pound trigger job and I know I'll have to try Tuner's "Poor man's Trigger Job." :scared:

[OD*]

I'll have to see if I can find out if it's tool steel.
Should be, they are USGI.

[EchoBravoKilo]

I keep a neon green Sharpie marker in my range bag to paint the front sight with. It wears off pretty easy but only takes a second to reapply and helps quite a bit. If I had a drill press I would drill a "dot" on the front sight so the paint would stay.
Good idea - I'll try that (I've tried a couple other colors, but indoors I can't pick 'em up; neon green may be the thing). Thanks.

[TattooPaul]

Good idea - I'll try that (I've tried a couple other colors, but indoors I can't pick 'em up; neon green may be the thing). Thanks.


Believe it or not, Whiteout works quite well and is surprisingly durable, esp. with a drilled dot!

[elijdub]

That has to be close to the first run of the LW Cmdrs.
My understanding has always been that the Colt Commander was first produced in 1949, but the BLUE BOOK states that it was 1950 :).

Hopefully OD* will read this and clear up the matter ;).

[EchoBravoKilo]

As per proofouse, ser #'s through 65 were in '49, serial #'s 66-6000 (or close to 6000) were 1950. I wonder if 1950 would be then be considered first full year production, while '49 is first year - if that makes any sense...

[elijdub]

As per proofouse, ser #'s through 65 were in '49, serial #'s 66-6000 (or close to 6000) were 1950. I wonder if 1950 would be then be considered first full year production, while '49 is first year - if that makes any sense...
Makes perfect sense to me EBK :). That just might be where the confusion comes from.

[OD*]

Yep, 1949 was it's first year. It was Colt's entry in the post-World War II trials to find a replacement for the M1911A1 that be lightweight and chambered for 9 mm Parabellum.

[EchoBravoKilo]

Yep, 1949 was it's first year. It was Colt's entry in the post-World War II trials to find a replacement for the M1911A1 that be lightweight and chambered for 9 mm Parabellum.
Yup, and it's a darn shame politics got in there somewhere, because my 9mm Commander (also from 1951) is a heckuva lot better than any Beretta I've handled. If they were gonna go 9, they could have stayed with 1911! :dead_hors

[OD*]

I agree Sir. ;)

[Timothy]

As per proofouse, ser #'s through 65 were in '49, serial #'s 66-6000 (or close to 6000) were 1950. I wonder if 1950 would be then be considered first full year production, while '49 is first year - if that makes any sense...

Doh! I feel like a dufas now. My serial # is 1981-LW so I guess it's not a '51. I probably already knew this at some point but the 'ole memory isn't what it used to be.

I don't think there's much chance that the report a gun stolen scam would actually fly, but just to thwart any would be thief that might try, I'm going to publicly state that my pistol will never be for sale and if I were to unlikely fall under some kind of dire straights and have to sell it, I would require a witnessed, notarized bill of sale.

[TattooPaul]

Yup, and it's a darn shame politics got in there somewhere, because my 9mm Commander (also from 1951) is a heckuva lot better than any Beretta I've handled. If they were gonna go 9, they could have stayed with 1911! :dead_hors


It's a heckuva lot easier to detail strip than the Beretta. I was never able to get my Beretta all the way apart even with a great photo guide… Lots of little parts and springs in them things. I'm sure the armorers loved the switch!

[Black_Talon]

Doh! I feel like a dufas now. My serial # is 1981-LW so I guess it's not a '51.

??

Going by the serial number 1981LW, it looks like a 1951 to me.

[elijdub]

As per proofouse, ser #'s through 65 were in '49, serial #'s 66-6000 (or close to 6000) were 1950....
Looks like 1950 to ME ;). (doesn't 1981LW fall between serial number 66LW and 6000LW ;)?)

[Timothy]

Looks like 1950 to ME ;). (doesn't 1981LW fall between serial number 66LW and 6000LW ;)?)

Yeah...definate-definately 1950...yeah...19...1950
:D

Got any pics of your '51 in 9mm? I would love to see it if you do.

[EchoBravoKilo]

1981 LW would be a 1950 vintage.

I'll have some new pics of my '51 9mm soon (the pistol is out at "the spa.") . I had posted earlier on the 9mm (can't remember the name of the thread)...

[Timothy]

1981 LW would be a 1950 vintage.

I know, I was just making fun of myself by implying that I was "Rainman," since I was mistaken on that issue.

I'll have some new pics of my '51 9mm soon (the pistol is out at "the spa.") . I had posted earlier on the 9mm (can't remember the name of the thread)...

Kewl, looking forward to them.