Colt Officers model

[AZslim]

Hello all,

I'm new to M1911.org. This seems to be the place to find good information.
I just purchased a colt Officers 45 ACP and am having a hard time finding general information about it. If any of you some good sources I would appreciate it.

Thanks

AZslim

[wichaka]

:wc:


Your source of info. is right here.......fire away with the questions.

[elijdub]

I'll second that ;). Welcome to the forum AZslim! What would you like to know?

[Rich-D]

I agree, ask and you shall receive! You will also find this link helpful, utilizing the menu items. http://www.m1911.org/m1911dt.htm


Rich

[OD*]

:wc: aboard.

[FlameRed]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/worthless.gif

[clughog]

Welcome to the forum, AZslim! And, if you don't have a manual for it, http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Manuals/LoRes/MKIV%20Series%2080%20&%2090%20Pistols.pdf.
I agree with FlameRed--post pictures!

[daveohno]

Welcome to the forum, AZslim, post some pics of your new Colt!

[AZslim]

Thanks, to all of you for the fine welcome.

I'm just interested in general specs.Weight ,Height etc. The one manual I saw on line only had barrel length.

I'm also interested in a after market recoil buffer set up, but I think I have to go a different sub forum to get that info.

AZslim

[Hawkmoon]

These will be approximate:

Length = 7"
Height = 5"
Width = 32 ounces
Barrel = 3-1/2"
Magazine capacity = 6+1 (Defender 7+1 mags will fit, if you trust them. And standard magazines for Government and Commander models will work if you don't mind them hanging out the bottom of the frame.)

[Sarge45]

Welcome and lets see it. I'm an OACP fan myself and own a blued model, enhanced. Great little guns.

[myusername]

I would like to find a good officers in good nick. I found one that looked like someone did some home smithing on and they wanted $900 for it. I passed on it right before I bought my New Agent last week.

I would love to hear how it works out for you. The resident gun shop know-it-all told me they would need a lot of work to feed HPs.

[Hawkmoon]

I would love to hear how it works out for you. The resident gun shop know-it-all told me they would need a lot of work to feed HPs.
Good thing mine never listens to gun shop "experts." I have an M1991A1 Compact (an Officers ACP in plain wrapper) that feeds anything.

[Nic]

Welcome to the forum. Nic

[myusername]

Good thing mine never listens to gun shop "experts." I have an M1991A1 Compact (an Officers ACP in plain wrapper) that feeds anything.

I'm glad to hear that. You say its an officers in a plain wrapper, I take it they are basically the same gun? Are they still made? I didn't see one on Colts website, they don't have the new agent though either.

[Sarge45]

Mine has fed everything from day one. No problems with feeding.

[cajunfj40]

I just picked one up cheap lightweight on GB thanks to misspelled "Officer's".

Only bidder.

it has a Clark plug and a terrible barrel throat. Even so, It has cycled over 500 rounds with nothing more than a initial cleaning. I have heard of horrible things but I feel that I can trust it. I figure that if it has not hiccuped on me yet it has the same odds as any other man made pistol.

[wichaka]

I would stay away from the recoil buffer system. Just replace the standard 2 spring set up with a single Wolff, spring and you'll do ok.

[John]

Listen to Wichaka, no buffer in short 1911s. These little pistols have already a shortened cycle, adding the buffer shortens it even more. You do not want that.

[OD*]

I would love to hear how it works out for you. The resident gun shop know-it-all told me they would need a lot of work to feed HPs.
http://www.oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/lmao.gif

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb274/OD1911/1985OACP2.jpg

Mine just keeps chugging along.

[daveohno]

Colt's never work. There must only be about a million of them out there. They'd sell better if they worked. :rolleyes:

[elijdub]

I just picked one up cheap lightweight on GB
Congrats!!!
thanks to misspelled "Officer's".

"Officer's" is the correct spelling. They are typically listed under both "Colt Officer model" (incorrect spelling) and "Colt Officer's Model" on gunbroker.


Mine's never missed a beat ;):
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/elijdub/004-7.jpg

[AZslim]

In a post by wichaka
"I would stay away from the recoil buffer system. Just replace the standard 2 spring set up with a single Wolff, spring and you'll do ok.

Three things:

1- Why is a single spring better than than the two spring factory set up?
2- If I went to a single spring what weight should I use?

3- Will it tame the recoil a bit?

Thanks,

AZslim

[Hawkmoon]

Three things:

1- Why is a single spring better than than the two spring factory set up?
2- If I went to a single spring what weight should I use?

3- Will it tame the recoil a bit?

Thanks,

AZslim
The single spring isn't really "better," just more available. Dual springs serve to dampen harmonics. Same thing in car engines. Most "street" engines use a single spring on each valve, but start installing high-performance camshaft kits and you encounter dual springs, which help reduce or eliminate valve bounce and vibration. I assume the same applies to the dual recoil springs in an Officers ACP.

Colt used the dual spring setup in both the Officers ACP and the less expensive M1991A1 Compact. Para-Ordnance used a single spring in the P12.45, which is also a 3-1/2" slide and barrel. I have one of each, and I don't see any functional difference between the two. But you can't get replacements for the Colt dual springs from Brownells, Wolff, or Numrich. Wolff does make a direct replacement for the Para spring, and it's available through Brownells.

So what do you do if you own a Colt Officers ACP and it's time to replace the recoil springs? You can hunt around and hope to find some "new old stock" Colt springs (remember, Colt hasn't built this model for probably ten years or more). Or you look for alternatives.

The Catch-22 is that Colt used a smaller-than-normal diameter guide rod to make room for dual springs. In response to that, Wolff offers a special recoil spring for the Colt Officers ACP. The "closed" end is wound to a smaller diameter, specifically to fit the smaller guide rod. That's one option.

Or, if you can source a short guide rod of the standard diameter (or make one by shortening a standard guide rod), you can buy a Wolff recoil spring intended for the Para-Ordnance P12.45.

I've been on a mission to accumulate old Para-Ordnance P12 guide rods. Para stopped using them several years ago and changed to an encapsulated recoil assembly, so they're hard to find but they do make it easier to find recoil springs if you can lay your hands on one.

[John]

These little things can be a pain. Commanders on the other hand .......

:lm:

[Landman]

AZslim,

Wolff lists the factory standard spring weight for the Colt Officer's Model at 22 lbs. Here is a link to their website.

http://www.gunsprings.com/

They also have a brief explanation for using a single spring. Below is a quote from Wolff's site.

"The single recoil spring offers superior performance over dual springs which have a normal tendency to bind against each other as well as having a "mushy" feeling. The single spring offers crisp and reliable operation not usually found in dual spring systems."

[Richard Bumpus]

The current Colt equivalents to the Officer's model are the Defender and the Agent.

[Hawkmoon]

The current Colt equivalents to the Officer's model are the Defender and the Agent.
Those are not equivalents to the Officers ACP. Both the Defender and the New Agent have a 3" barrel. The Officers ACP had a 3-1/2" barrel, as did the M1991A1 Compact.

[Rich-D]

The current Colt equivalents to the Officer's model are the Defender and the Agent.

The equivalent part is the frame only. As Hawkmoon pointed out, the barrel and slide differ by a half inch.


Rich

[elijdub]

Not to nit-pick here....but i've been under the impression that that the OACP's barrel is 3.6 inches, not 3.5. I've seen it described both ways. I'd sure like to see some resolve to this question (since it's being discussed above).
Maybe i'll get out a tape measure tonight and settle the score myself :o.

[clughog]

Not to nit-pick here....but i've been under the impression that that the OACP's barrel is 3.6 inches, not 3.5. I've seen it described both ways. I'd sure like to see some resolve to this question (since it's being discussed above).
Maybe i'll get out a tape measure tonight and settle the score myself :o.At least it says 3 1/2" on the Colt box label, for what it's worth.

[OD*]

Not to nit-pick here....but i've been under the impression that that the OACP's barrel is 3.6 inches, not 3.5. I've seen it described both ways. I'd sure like to see some resolve to this question (since it's being discussed above).
Maybe i'll get out a tape measure tonight and settle the score myself :o.
Measure the barrel on yours, do it the way the BATFE does, you get 3.6

[elijdub]

Thanks for the info gents.

OD*, how does the BATFE take measurements?

[Rich-D]

Thanks for the info gents.

OD*, how does the BATFE take measurements?

That's an easy one. With an inch rule! :)


Rich

[elijdub]

That's an easy one. With an inch rule! :)


Rich
Ok. I thought i was missing something ;).

[OD*]

Thanks for the info gents.

OD*, how does the BATFE take measurements?
With a measured rod.

With the pistol in battery, you place the rod down the bore until it butts up against the breach face. They don't care how anybody else does it, its done their way. ;)

[Rich-D]

As the BATFE neither makes, sells or services the guns in question, I and most others cite the manufacturer's measurements when writing or speaking about the guns.


Rich

[Richard Bumpus]

Thank you Hawkmoon for setting me straight on the barrel length of the Officer's model. That will be my daily thing to learn.

Richard

[OD*]

As the BATFE neither makes, sells or services the guns in question, I and most others cite the manufacturer's measurements when writing or speaking about the guns.


Rich
He asked me a question as to why I posted what I did, no need to take it personally, that's how they do it.

[elijdub]

As the BATFE neither makes, sells or services the guns in question, I and most others cite the manufacturer's measurements when writing or speaking about the guns.


Rich
But they do enforce the laws regarding measurements, correct? As in barrel length requirements, (i'm thinking "SBR's" and the 16.1" AR-15 barrel for instance) etc.?

[elijdub]

With a measured rod.

With the pistol in battery, you place the rod down the bore until it butts up against the breach face. They don't care how anybody else does it, its done their way. ;)
Thanks for the info, OD*.

[OD*]

Thanks for the info, OD*.
You're welcome, Eli.
We deal with the BATFE fairly regularly. ;)

[Rich-D]

He asked me a question as to why I posted what I did, no need to take it personally, that's how they do it.

I was not responding in a personal manner to your post. nor did I take anyone's post personal. As a matter of fact, I was responding to Elijdub, who while responding to Hawkmoon's and my descriptive measurements, requested a resolution to the measurement discrepancy. Your description of how the BATFE measures was utilized in comparision to the industry standard.

Not to nit-pick here.... but i've been under the impression that that the OACP's barrel is 3.6 inches, not 3.5. I've seen it described both ways. I'd sure like to see some resolve to this question (since it's being discussed above).
Maybe i'll get out a tape measure tonight and settle the score myself :o.

If the ATF measurements were applied on the industry, we would no longer have a 5". 4 3/4", 4", 3" etc. My thought that the industry standard should apply, was in response to Elijdub's question.


Rich

[AZslim]

Davohno,
Asked for some pictures. I have it down to 768X555 but I can't paste it into the reply.

AZslim

[Rich-D]

Davohno,
Asked for some pictures. I have it down to 768X555 but I can't paste it into the reply.

AZslim

Photo's have to be posted utilizing a hosting site, such as Photo Bucket. It's easy and free of charge. Click on FAQ on the top of this page for the details.


Rich

[John]

Instructions on how to post pictures can be found in our FAQ section.

[AZslim]

Hi All,
I checked the FAQ section before I checked the thread. If I get a chance I will get things set up in the morning. I'm used to my work/home e-mail where all I need to do is either cut and paste or attach the pictures to the post

[AZslim]

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr251/AZslim_photo/off_modcrop001.jpg

Let's see how it goes.

AZslim

[elijdub]

Great looking pistol!!!

[Rich-D]

I agree with Elijdub, Great looking pistol! And a well taken photo!


Rich

[ButchKent]

I recently purchased an Mark IV Officer's model. The only changes I plan to make are restoring the finish and replacing that plastic trigger. I h... plastic!

[auto45]

I like the Officers and believe that's short enough, 3.5" or 3.6"... ;)

Single spring, short recoil rod, bushing redesign and you have a "short one" that's easy, and familiar, to break down.

Worth bringing back IMO.

[AZslim]

So far I have been very happy with my OM. The only problem is that it feels like a brick when I carry it. I normally Carry a Kahr 40, so I notice the weight difference. Do any of you have any recommendations for a IWB holster that will distribute the weight of the OM?

Thanks,

AZslim

[cajunfj40]

Comptac is very comfortable. CTAC

[Agent F]

So far I have been very happy with my OM. The only problem is that it feels like a brick when I carry it. I normally Carry a Kahr 40, so I notice the weight difference. Do any of you have any recommendations for a IWB holster that will distribute the weight of the OM?

Thanks,

AZslim
AZslim try the Tucker Gunleather Silent Thunder IWB. It is by far the best IWB I have ever worn. It lets me carry a Government Model and barely know it's there. There is a review in the forum ezine if you would like to check it out.

[Frank]

I actually find an OM more difficult to carry IWB than a Commander size gun. It's a little top heavy. My favorite holster for my OM size guns is my Milt Sparks Axiom (see http://ezine.m1911.org/MiltSparksAxiom.htm ). That said, my Milt Sparks Versa Max 2 works well for IWB carry of an OM size gun. I think the having the loops outside the holster body kind of helps.

DVC