I would like to to build a 1911 Commander model. I have a Gov Spec, and it is one of my favs, but it is a little to big to carry concealed. I love the 1911, but admittedly, don't know a whole lot about it internally. My question is: Is the 1911 reciever universal. Can I build a 4" model from the same reciever that I can build a 5" model?
1911 build
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JTQ
Member
I believe Les Baer does, but practically nobody else does.
A Commander, by the way, has a 4.25" barrel, not a 4" barrel.
I suspect you'd find very little difference between a Government and Commander size in regards to concealability.
For what it's worth, the 1911 is not like a Glock or AR. The parts don't just snap together like a Lego set. They are usually assembled with some amount of skill, and often with quite a few specialized tools.
You may find this article worth reading. You may want to start at the "Lesson's Learned" section.
http://how-i-did-it.org/1911-project/
I have Government Models and a Combat Commander. The weight difference is insignificant, but I do find the length of the Commander a littler bit easier to carry, especially IWB. I also think it feels better in the hand. Still, I mostly carry a Makarov.
Nickb45
Member
The frames are the same size, the dust shield is different between commander and government size frames.
The only real difference in concealing a commander is the shorter barrel makes it a little more comfortable IWB. It also doesn't hang down as far if you carry OWB.
I bobtailed mine and it made a big difference in how much it prints.
You're looking at at least $300-$400 in tools to fit the barrel, slide to frame, sear jig. That's just bare minimum basics and assuming you already have good stones and files.
IMO, unless you have a very good understanding of how to fit parts and more importantly how the parts work together, a few books, maybe a friend or a gunsmith to help... I would recommend buying a complete pistol and changing parts and doing upgrades to it. That's what I did, bought a Ruger CMD, did the bobtail, a few internal parts, sights and cleaned up the roll marks. The only thing left to do is a Harrison design true radius ignition set and have the front strap checkered.
Best of luck with whatever way you decide to go, building a 1911 is on my list of things to do.
On a side note, I find the commander sized pistols to be a little more balanced, not so nose heavy.
The only real difference in concealing a commander is the shorter barrel makes it a little more comfortable IWB. It also doesn't hang down as far if you carry OWB.
I bobtailed mine and it made a big difference in how much it prints.
You're looking at at least $300-$400 in tools to fit the barrel, slide to frame, sear jig. That's just bare minimum basics and assuming you already have good stones and files.
IMO, unless you have a very good understanding of how to fit parts and more importantly how the parts work together, a few books, maybe a friend or a gunsmith to help... I would recommend buying a complete pistol and changing parts and doing upgrades to it. That's what I did, bought a Ruger CMD, did the bobtail, a few internal parts, sights and cleaned up the roll marks. The only thing left to do is a Harrison design true radius ignition set and have the front strap checkered.
Best of luck with whatever way you decide to go, building a 1911 is on my list of things to do.
On a side note, I find the commander sized pistols to be a little more balanced, not so nose heavy.
tark
Member
Actually, the same frame is used for both the standard 5' barrel guns and the Commander. I have worked for Les Baer for 23 years now, and one of my jobs is cutting .250 thousands off the dust cover on a standard frame to turn it into a Commander frame. It is done as one of the first steps in production, right before I fit the slide to the frame. Anyway, to answer cwoods question; yes . You can build a Commander length gun from a standard frame.
Jim Watson
Member
Les Baer makes a Commanche as his employee says.
Colt doe NOT make a real Commander that way. The rails are shorter to set the recoil spring guide abutment back to regain part of the slide travel lost to the shorter design.
I don't know about the other brands of 4" and 4.25" guns.
Agree with JTQ on the rest, too.
Colt doe NOT make a real Commander that way. The rails are shorter to set the recoil spring guide abutment back to regain part of the slide travel lost to the shorter design.
I don't know about the other brands of 4" and 4.25" guns.
Agree with JTQ on the rest, too.
If a full-size 1911 is too big for concealment, I've never understood how a Commander (or a 4" barreled pistol, for that matter) is thought to be any easier to conceal; the difficulty in concealing, is the grip frame. Ed Brown's C-bob is a tremendous aid with the full-sized frame.
Something the OP may want to consider is a CCO, generally accepted as an Officer's frame with a Commander slide.
Sam
Something the OP may want to consider is a CCO, generally accepted as an Officer's frame with a Commander slide.
Sam
People always say "barrel length doesn't matter" when discussing concealment, but I think it does to a degree. 3/4 of an inch might not seem like much, but the difference between a Commander and a Gov. length barrel makes a difference to me comfort-wise when carrying IWB, and the muzzle is much less likely to poke out from underneath my shirt/jacket when carrying OWB.
As for the OP, as JTQ pointed out building a 1911 from parts is a little more involved than something like an AR15. Unless you're really serious about building your own I'd just go ahead and buy a Commander, or better yet a CCO style 1911.
As for the OP, as JTQ pointed out building a 1911 from parts is a little more involved than something like an AR15. Unless you're really serious about building your own I'd just go ahead and buy a Commander, or better yet a CCO style 1911.
My opinion is that it is a lot of work for something that most agree is not a real game changer as far as carry is concerned. I believe that if you can carry one, you can carry the other. I would "and did" carry an XDS, until the recall, if you desire a 45 caliber carry gun, and then you are talking about a real difference in every aspect from weight to concealability. It's sometimes difficult to try to get your favorite shooter to fill the need of both. Or an Officer /Ultra/Defender, size wise.
Vern Humphrey
Member
The primary change would be in the ejector -- you'll need to drive out the ejector pins and mount a commander-length ejector and re-pin it.
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