Commander Project Question

[sixgun0510]

In 1979 I bought my first 1911, a NIB blued Combat Commander (serial number has been redacted). The sum of my inexperience and Colt's handiwork produced a combination that wouldn't run an entire magazine, reloads or factory ammo, in the first 1500 rounds. It went to a gun shop, then a series of gunsmiths, for what were considered "necessary" fixes in the late 70s. It's been through generations of triggers, grips, safeties, guiderods, slide stops, sights, bushings, plunger tubes, other parts and boxes of springs since then, and it hasn't had a FTF in more than 58,500 rounds since the original work. Various other internal parts have been fitted but so far have been unnecessary. It'll run like a sewing machine with any of 32 different magazines I have on hand. The hard chrome is 28 years old (these days a mixture of HC and stainless small parts), the gun will shoot three inches all day long at 25 yards on the original barrel (with a Group Gripper), and it's been to Gunsite several times. Amazingly, this gun is about as true as when it was originally 'smithed, and I'd be pleased but not surprised if it ran another 60K or more. Obviously there's no collector value. These days, however, I've got other 1911s—longer, shorter, lighter, etc.—that all perform admirably. I've kind of got the itch for a bobtail. I've shot bobtails but not lived with one. Would you cut this one, start the project with a different base, or buy a readymade bobtail?

http://s637.photobucket.com/albums/uu92/sixgun0510/?action=view&current=IMG_0012.jpg

[dewalt2]

That's a beauty, I'd leave it alone. Get a Kimber Pro Carry II and mod that. That's what I did, I love my old Commander and would never cut on the frame.
My Best,
Walt

[G. Freeman]

Or get yourself a DW bobtail commander. I agree with the previous post. You have invested much into your Commander and it has served you and continue to serve you well. I would leave it alone and enjoy it for what it is now.

[smokey]

I bought two XSE Commanders because they could easily be replaced,if necessary.I have done a lot of mods on them,including Ed Brown Bobtailing. However,PLEASE DON'T Bobtail an old Commander or do any irreversable mods.As a retired LEO I KNOW what will happen to my pistol if I have to use it in serious social intercourse.Trust me, the police, the investigators, and evidence room custodians will NOT respect your pistol as old, a prized possession or a collectable.An electro-pencil numbering all over WILL NOT enhance the value of your favorite pistol.Save the old stuff,mod. the new. Nick

[wichaka]

Sounds like a trusted friend, I'd do the mods on it.

[dakota1911]

Yes, they look cool, and I even thought of going the next step to a Defender size gun, like a little RIA, of which I have a couple, so I would not waste a Defender.

Fortunately I was at a range and a friend had a Dan Wesson bobtail Commander size and it looked nice, but although my hands may not get hammer bite they don't like the bobtail. I could shoot it O.K., but I wouldn't enjoy spending the afternoon ripping a few hundred rounds through it. I could see it be an advantage for a carry gun, though.

[sixgun0510]

Gents,

I really appreciate your input, and I'm taking it all into consideration before I make any decision. But just with respect to the original question, between the grip safety and the sights, both the frame and the slide already have been altered from stock contours. There's no way to return things to original condition. This was my first 1911, and on it I learned how to fit parts, and to make a barrel feed different bullet profiles with a sheet of crocus cloth and a pencil. It's been a textbook. But it's one that has been in fairly constant revision since the get-go. I'm mostly trying to decide if I should consider this Colt "done," and start the next project from a different base, or if I should just keep whittling on this one. Thanks for your opinions. They've all got merit. I don't want to take this shot from the hip, because there's no going back.