View Full Version : My "New" Pre-Owned Combat Commander
Grainfed
24th May 2009, 00:23
I had been eyeing this one for a good while at the range and brought it home last week. It's the first pre-80 series Colt in the stable. Had to do one heck of a detail so I took it completely down to the frame and brought it back up with a trigger job, STI trigger, tweaked sear spring as it was a mess, a Wilson stainless tail, new lighter hammer which then brought about some work on the thumb safety, and then put some Les Baer grips on. The finish on this Commander is smooth as glass and I prefer it to the newer models. As soon as she gets 400-500 trouble-free rounds down her throat, it's in to the rotation pool..........TW
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/CombatCommander004.jpg
thelumox
24th May 2009, 00:27
nice! i'm shopping for a commander as we speak.
Nice Colt, congratulations.
nice
is that a Wilson drop-in grip safety ?
..L.T.A.
Frank
24th May 2009, 11:33
A very nice Commander.
DVC
Shoota
24th May 2009, 12:13
Very nice, indeed....congrats!
Grainfed
24th May 2009, 16:06
Cap..Indeed it is a Wilson drop-in. I had to file just a bit off the area that touches the trigger guard since I changed to the STI trigger but it fit the back of the frame tangs fine and left it as is. I like stainless due to the sweat factor here in Texas......TW
WHO DID THAT TO MY BABY?!?!?!?!?
Who took away its beautiful round hammer, its scalloped grip safety and its lovely, long solid trigger?!?!?!?!
My poor baby!!!!!!
1903a3spring
25th May 2009, 14:59
WHO DID THAT TO MY BABY?!?!?!?!?
Who took away its beautiful round hammer, its scalloped grip safety and its lovely, long solid trigger?!?!?!?!
My poor baby!!!!!!
Doncha just hate to see a pre-80 Colt altered? ;)
Ric4509
25th May 2009, 16:40
I knew John will make that comment. That's what I did to my pre 80S combat commander by putting back all its original parts, getting rid of the drop in Wilson BT GS, Wilson Ultralight hammer, and Greider trigger. The only parts that are not original are the sights. I had Colt replace the original sights to high profile white dot due to my aging eyes.
That's the only modification I allow on .... my Commanders. For the same exact reason, I guess.
Grainfed
26th May 2009, 11:45
Please forgive El Commandante. I know have sinned in your eyes and that redemption is only a few parts away! I am ready for my 100 lashes and you can take away my beef brisket for a year. I am not worthy.......(But give me 30 minutes and I can make it right in your sight). I too was aware that posting that photo would cause some concern but fear not, your heart irregularities will soon be restored........Now where did I put that skin-pinchin' grip safety?....................TW
Grainfed
26th May 2009, 12:04
El Commandante.....The first time I shot the Commander I looked just like that but I was not laughing..I was screaming with grip safetyitis......OUCH!!!!!!...A beef plate and 6 beers later I was healed...............TW
You'll get used to it. If the edges of the safety are not sharp (a little rounded) then you'll get used to it. It's just that the pressure is applied to a smaller surface so it's more intense than with a beavertail. But it's not cutting your hand as if it was a GI safety with the long spur hammer, pinching you. Now, that's pain!!!
Grainfed
26th May 2009, 14:03
El Commandante....I need forgiveness ASAP so she is now back to her original stature. When I got her, she had a short solid black trigger but I put the longer one in for my grip. Note that I do like the original look much better and hope the classic nature has been restored. Can I go back to my brisket now?.....................TW
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/CombatCommander.jpg
Ah, you have the original, smallish grip safety, that's why you were complaining about pain. You are right my friend, this safety is a .... meat chopper. I had an airsoft once that had that safety, and even that silly toy was pinching the web of my hand. I feel for you now. You can cure this by ordering the scalloped Commander grip safety, the one that Colt is now using on their Combat Commanders. Much better, I assure you.
Grainfed
26th May 2009, 14:54
I think this grip safety comes with the Gold Cup. I had one so put it on and it is fine. May not be original but close.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/Pre80CombatCommander002.jpg
No, no, no, no!!!! Please, not on my Commanders.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/stevecommander.jpg
This is the grip safety to use!!! ONLY THIS!!!!
That's my Commander, which Rio Vista Slim is safe-keeping, the flat main spring housing was his idea of a joke!!! The arched one is the ... correct one. LoRL
Frank
26th May 2009, 16:57
No, no, no, no!!!! Please, not on my Commanders.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/stevecommander.jpg
This is the grip safety to use!!! ONLY THIS!!!!...I hate to say it John, but I just don't think that grip safety looks right.
The one shown in Grainfed's post, #16, is what looks right. And so what if it hurts? A little pain is a small price to pay for aesthetic purity.
DVC
Landman
27th May 2009, 01:27
I have to agree with Frank. I much prefer the look of the original grip safety. I'm lucky though because I have never had a problem with hammer bite on any 1911.
Frank, you do not understand! This is not a question of "what's the right part for that serial number?".
It's a question of "what an old, traditionalist, with ideas stuck in his braincells for years, with no chance of recovering from Alzheimer likes?". You see the difference? :D :) :p
I'm absolutely loving this thread. :)
I'm a huge fan of Commanders, but I'm torn. I love the look of the original safeties, but as you know from my New Agent thread, they tear my hand up something awful.
I've been forced to compromise - beavertails on anything I'm going to shoot a lot (which is any gun I'm going to carry), and traditional safeties on the ones that I just put 50 rounds or so through every now and then.
1903a3spring
27th May 2009, 11:35
I hate to say it John, but I just don't think that grip safety looks right.
The one shown in Grainfed's post, #16, is what looks right. And so what if it hurts? A little pain is a small price to pay for aesthetic purity.
DVC
a grip safety like that came on my Delta Elite.
1903a3spring
27th May 2009, 11:36
El Commandante....I need forgiveness ASAP so she is now back to her original stature. When I got her, she had a short solid black trigger but I put the longer one in for my grip. Note that I do like the original look much better and hope the classic nature has been restored. Can I go back to my brisket now?.....................TW
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/CombatCommander.jpg
Oh, that looks so much better.
Grainfed
27th May 2009, 14:33
Why am I feeling like Alex Trebeck from Double Jeapardy..."I'll take Grip Safeties for $200". I'm running out of 'em so here is the last one of the "originals" I have in the gunsmith cabinet. After this one, you guys can come on down here to Texas and put these things on yourself. I'm not sure which one I like now as they are all beginning to look alike but the one that Frank liked in #16 will have a box of bandaids strapped to the frame like a light on a rail although the scab is healing up nicely by now from the first range session. Let's vote and mine DOES count!...............tw
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/Pre80CombatCommander.jpg
Frank
27th May 2009, 20:44
...the one that Frank liked in #16 will have a box of bandaids strapped to the frame like a light on a rail although the scab is healing up nicely by now from the first range session.... I wonder if a good cosmetic surgeon could re-contour your hand slightly and clear up the problem that way.
DVC
rdhrt
27th May 2009, 21:01
I also like the "stock" look,but I am old!!!
Grainfed
27th May 2009, 23:43
Frank...Just bring down some dull razor blades and I'll let you do it. I'll put on a 20 lb. brisket and get 3 cases of Negra Modelo beer. I'll never feel a thing.............TW
Frank
28th May 2009, 00:08
Frank...Just bring down some dull razor blades and I'll let you do it. I'll put on a 20 lb. brisket and get 3 cases of Negra Modelo beer. I'll never feel a thing.............TWThe brisket and beer sound great. But I won't be doing any whittling on you, if that's okay.
DVC
Grainfed
28th May 2009, 01:03
Deal!.............................tw
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