Stopped in at my local gun shop yesterday to look at a new Springfield Armory GI series. The one he had was a Government model and I am interested in a Commander size, though, so the guy reached into the used gun cabinet and pulled out a SA Mil-Spec in Commander size for me to look at. Then he pulled out a used Para P12-45 and set that on the counter.
Which led me to realize that the SA isn't a true Commander size. It claims to have a 4" barrel, but the P12 has a 3-1/2" barrel and if the SA was 3/8" longer I'd be very surprised. I was also surprised to see that the overall thickness at the grips was exactly the same for the SA single stack and the P12 double stack.
So why would I give up 5 rounds of capacity for a barrel that might be 3/8" longer, and grips that aren't any slimmer?
I've been checking, and I see that Armscor/RIA/Daly also have 4" barrels in their mid-size 1911. Auto Ordnance doesn't appear to offer a Commander size. Are there any lower-end manufacturers who offer a true Commander size pistol, with a 4-1/4" barrel?
Which led me to realize that the SA isn't a true Commander size. It claims to have a 4" barrel, but the P12 has a 3-1/2" barrel and if the SA was 3/8" longer I'd be very surprised. I was also surprised to see that the overall thickness at the grips was exactly the same for the SA single stack and the P12 double stack.
So why would I give up 5 rounds of capacity for a barrel that might be 3/8" longer, and grips that aren't any slimmer?
I've been checking, and I see that Armscor/RIA/Daly also have 4" barrels in their mid-size 1911. Auto Ordnance doesn't appear to offer a Commander size. Are there any lower-end manufacturers who offer a true Commander size pistol, with a 4-1/4" barrel?