[MikeJ]

I have an enhanced stainless Colt Commander that I have owned for many years but have rarely fired. I bought it pretty much just because I thought I should have one in my collection. It has always been 100% reliable those times when I did take it out. I'm starting to appreciate it more now and after shooting another THR member's (blades67) Kimber I know that I want to put a beavertail on it. I would also like to replace the trigger but other than that I can't think of anything else that needs to be done to it. If this were your gun what other modifications would you make?

[10-Ring]

With my Colt, I changed what I didn't like on it. First, to fix the hammer bite, I went to a Ed Brown beavertail, which meant a new hammer, which lead to a nice thumb safety. Then while sitting w/ my smith and talking about stuff, I ended up w/ a new trigger (and had trigger work done to it...nice crisp 3# trigger), and finally had nicer sights put on.
It's your gun, customize those things to make the gun fit you better ;)

[AK103K]

I have and carry a Colt Enhanced Combat Commander. The first thing I did was replace the plastic parts with steel, a short steel trigger and an arched mainspring housing with a lanyard loop. After shooting it and really disliking that funky quasi beavertail thing Colt calls a beavertail, I filed it down to a standard width, which was much more comfortable for me. I also had a throat and polish job done on it and had the front sight replaced with one that was dovetailed in. Everything was cool after that for about a year, at which time the blue could no longer hold off the rust in a constantly wet leather Galco Royal Guard IWB holster. So off to the smith again for a hard chrome job and a little later on a Blade Tech kydex IWB. So far so good. Other than some holster wear on the finish, its still going strong. Its not as pretty as it was when first chromed. Other than decent sights and a throat and polish job(reliability package), I like them pretty much stock. I like the trigger fairly heavy as long as its clean and I like the gun to rattle a little when you shake it. I have a number of 1911's, but I only carry my Colts.

[Sean Smith]

My general suggestions would be:

Reliability: already got that.
Trigger: A good trigger job with a new trigger is about $100. I like the BCP #14 solid aluminum trigger with no adjustment screw.
Sights: Stock Colt sights are OK. Yost-Bonitz sights are very neat if you want to stick with the stock dovetail. Heinies are the best if you don't mind milling the slide for your new sights.

Next, get rid of the sharp edges and have the magwell beveled.

As for beavertails, I think Smith & Alexander or Wilson beavertails look better than the Ed Browns on a Colt. Very few 'smiths can do an attractive Ed Brown beavertail installation, because it takes alot of work to "blend it in" right. Even some fairly major 'smiths do a half-assed job on the Ed Brown beavertail IMO.

[MikeJ]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I will leave it at getting the beavertail and a new trigger. When I take it in I will ask the smith if there is anything else that he especially recommends. Mike