Commander Slide and Officer Frame Question

[Landman]

I was thinking about putting together my own CCO. Is there anything I need to be aware of when putting a Commander Slide on an Officer Frame? Can you just combine them and they are go to go? Thanks.

[Ric4509]

A Colt Commander Slide on a Colt Officer's frame should work fine. I'm saying this because I have this configuration and the gun is flawless. I also have it the other way around and the gun is also flawless. No I did not just swap the parts.

[elijdub]

Hey gents, wouldn't the dust cover on the OACP receiver be a little shorter than the Commander's....so there'd be a bit of "spring" showing? I always assumed (dangerous, i know) that with the CCO's, etc., the dust cover was lengthened appropriately to meet the Commander's spring tunnel. I could be wrong though (and often am ;)).

[Landman]

The dustcover was the only thing I could think of myself. I haven't actually tried it yet on any of my pistols so I thought I would ask first to see if I was wasting my time.

[1967Lefty]

The frame on my Compact (officers) is actually a little longer than the on my CCO. I would not have thought that.

lefty

[Hill]

Landman,

The one frame I haven't got for comparisons is an Officer's made for an Officer's model.

I DO have the frame of my CCO stripped down though and the dust cover portion is just at 1/4" shorter than a government model frame's. I don't know for sure that all dimensions of the frame used for CCO pistols are identical to those of an Officer model

I also have two loose Essex Commander slides and both of those have dust covers that are the same length as the one on my CCO slide.

So, unless Colt extended the dust cover of the officer frame when the frame was to be used for a CCO model you should be good to go.

There is only about 1/16" of overlap - frame to slide dust cover.

(measurements by calibrated eyeball)

[Hawkmoon]

I just put a Colt Commander top end on a Colt Compact receiver. It fits perfectly and shoots even better. Go for it.

[Landman]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Hawkmoon, that's good to hear. Thanks for the help.

Hill, you wouldn't want to sell one of those Essex Commander slides would you? If so, drop me a PM. Thanks.

[Hill]

Hill, you wouldn't want to sell one of those Essex Commander slides would you? If so, drop me a PM. Thanks.

Not yet anyway. I'm going to take some cuts on one of them - ballcuts, Novak notches, flattop, serrations, and maybe narrow the front end in line with the frame like a BHP has. I've got to keep the other one as backup in case I make a mess of the first, which I can't say is unlikely :).

[Landman]

Not yet anyway. I'm going to take some cuts on one of them - ballcuts, Novak notches, flattop, serrations, and maybe narrow the front end in line with the frame like a BHP has. I've got to keep the other one as backup in case I make a mess of the first, which I can't say is unlikely :).

Hill,

I understand. Good luck on your project.

Mike

[elijdub]

Mike, Sure would like to see some pics of the home-made CCO, once you've put it together :)!

[Landman]

I'll certainly take some.

[Ric4509]

Hey gents, wouldn't the dust cover on the OACP receiver be a little shorter than the Commander's....so there'd be a bit of "spring" showing? I always assumed (dangerous, i know) that with the CCO's, etc., the dust cover was lengthened appropriately to meet the Commander's spring tunnel. I could be wrong though (and often am ;)).

The Officers dust cover length and Commander's is the same.

[Shorts]

Mike, Sure would like to see some pics of the home-made CCO, once you've put it together :)!


Ahh, I did this on my Officers frame, I did a 9mm Essex Commander slide. It was interesting. But as stated, the dust cover will work.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u48/MMK13/finishedgun-1.jpg

w/King's BT installed
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u48/MMK13/bt2.jpg

[elijdub]

Ahh, I did this on my Officers frame, I did a 9mm Essex Commander slide. It was interesting. But as stated, the dust cover will work.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u48/MMK13/finishedgun-1.jpg

w/King's BT installed
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u48/MMK13/bt2.jpg
Very nice... That looks great! A 9mm "CCO" ;).

Edit: looks like maybe some "stipling" work up top, too.

[Shorts]

Thanks :)

Ahh, my "stipling" lol I just tossed on a strip of grip tape for a test run. I didn't like it too much...it worked alright for its purpose, but it looked like heck. Maybe a smaller area for the grip would be a better combo for my liking.

[elijdub]

OK, now i see ;). I've actually thought of doing that, from time to time, because i have a difficult time doing "press check" sometimes with my polished blue guns; they're particularly "slick".
Did you install a new trigger too?

[Shorts]

The trigger was the original Oacp. I did add a new sear and hammer though.

[Landman]

Shorts, that turned out great. Did you have to change any other parts like the extractor?

[Shorts]

Shorts, that turned out great. Did you have to change any other parts like the extractor?

Since the slide was a 9mm slide, I needed all 9mm specific parts in it. Got those from Brownells: Barrel, barrel bushing, recoil spring, plug, guide, extractor, firing pin, FP stop and magazine. On the frame, however, I was able to leave the long .45 ejector in place, YMMV.

Of course, all this needed fitting so, it was not a drop-in and go project.

[Landman]

I'm sorry, I meant to type ejector not extractor. You answered my question though. It turned out great. Neat way to end up with a 9mm 1911 carry gun.