I want an Un-Commander

Is there a 1911, or any other pistol, that unlike the Commander with a shorter sight radius but a full grip, has a full length slide (for max sight radius), but a shorter grip for concealability?

Can a full-size 5" slide be mated to an Officer frame?

I know I've seen several non-colt 1911s with full length slides and shorter grips. I can't remember the names right now but I know there is at least one maker that offers one.

I think the Officer's dust cover is too short, and there will be a gap.

Officer's frame with Commander slide is pretty common, though.





Scott

Detonics StreetMaster: http://www.detonicsusa.com/streetmaster.html

This is a five-inch 1911 with the Bobtail treatment. It carries like an Officer's ACP but has the sight radius and reliabilty of a five-inch gun.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/farscott/SAMil-SpecBobtail1.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/farscott/SAMil-SpecBobtail2.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/farscott/SAMil-SpecBobtail3.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/farscott/SAMil-SpecBobtail4.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/farscott/SAMil-SpecBobtail5.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/farscott/SAMil-SpecBobtail6.jpg

Another vote for the StreetMaster- that's the most extreme production gun embodying the concept you are describing.

Can a full-size 5" slide be mated to an Officer frame?

Yeah, but <choke, choke> its an awful looking, awful handling abomination to me.

Go search GunsAmerica. Colt made some limited runs. There's one there that's been for sale going on 4 years now.


I like the Commander slide and Officer frame combination much better, myself. But its all a matter of taste, I guess.

At one time, Kimber offered a full length slide to an Officer's frame.

http://www.detonicsusa.com/firearms/streetmaster1_sm.gif

Here's your Detonics Streetmaster

I will have one shortly. I've picked up 3 guns built with all GI parts in the past couple months. My smith is going select my best specimen and build the exact pistol you are talking about.

The dust cover on the Commander and Officers frames are too short for the Government slide. However, Caspian will take a Government frame and cut it to Officers length before doing any of the drilling on the frame. This is the route I'm going.

With moving into my new house on Friday the project is on hold for a couple of weeks but will be started shortly. There will be a full report after it is done.

Colt's CCO model is indeed an Officer's frame with Commander slide. There were a couple of different variations, neither of which are very common, and neither of which are approved in CA. You might find some other makes who had similar variants, but I don't know who they'd be offhand.

The current Defender model is approved in CA. If you decide you don't like the setup it wouldn't be too hard to fit up a Commander slide assembly.

Just about the worst handling pistol you can find in my experience.
It really messes up the balance of the gun.
Of course, I find the commander slide with Officer's frame not to my taste either.

The best example of what you're looking for that I can find is the (unfortunately no longer made) STI Ranger (http://www.www.stiguns.com/USPress/Gun&Ammo/Sept02-Ranger/Ranger45.html).

http://www.www.stiguns.com/USPress/Gun&Ammo/Sept02-Ranger/Guns&AmmoSept02-P1-1b.jpg

From the link the Ranger has a 3.9" barrel. I think Skunky is looking for 5" barrel on the short Officers frame.

I have a 4"/Officers Kimber that is a great pistol but I am building the 5"/Officers to see what its like.

bratch,

Can you get a long dust cover Officers frame, or will it just have the gap?




Scott

Caspian will take a Government frame and cut it to Officers length before drilling any of the holes. I haven't got an exact quote yet but was told it wouldn't be a significant increase. This is how I will get my frame.

Well, that Detonics looks like what I'm asking for. It is ugly. I guess the Commander slide Officer frame that y'all mention is more common and more, uh balanced?

I wonder what Cali offerings there are.

+2 on the STI Ranger, just a great gu from a great company. No longer in production but not that hard to pick up second hand.

Skunk, I do believe you'll be happier with a Commander length slide on that Officer's frame than a 5".


Its cheaper to build - you can use standard parts, it handles better, and you really don't loose much going from 5" to 4 1/4" in sight radius or velocity. The presentation speed and shot recovery time of a Commander length slide is a really good middle ground.

The 4" slides are harder to find springs for. Not impossible, but not as common as the standard 4 1/4" Commander length.

nice rosco...who did the work...was it local?