1911...models?

[BP Hunter]

I just purchased a Taurus PT1911. LUV IT!!

I have been shopping online for a concealed holster. Some of the popular brands are asking for the model...goverment, officer, commander? Please enlighten me to the different models.

Thanks.

 

[jahwarrior]

your 1911 is a Government sized 1911.

Government - 5" barrel
Commander - 4" barrel, fullsized frame
Officer - 3" barrel, compact frame
CCO - Officer frame, Commander slide+barrel.

i use an El Paso Summer Cruiser IWB for a concealment holster. it's great. there a lots to choose fro: Milt Sparks, Mitch Rosen, Pure Kustom, Del Fatti, TT Gunleather....they cost a bit, but are well worth it.

i also have the PT1911, and carry it daily. do yourself a favor and get some new mags for it.

 

[gwnorth]

A "true" commander (ie. as Colt original conceived it) is a 4.25" barrel on a full size grip frame but with a shorter dust cover (I have a stainless 1991a1 Colt Combat Commander). A lot of makers do cut it back to 4" these days for carry guns but in fairness, they also almost never call them commander size (eg. Kimber's Pro Carry series uses 4").

 

[Olympus]

And some compact size 1911s have 3.5" barrels.

It's hard for me to keep all the different variations seperate. Commander, officer, etc is basically Colt terminology. Look at models from other manufacturers and you'll get different names for essentially the same things.

Government = full size frame, full size slide
Commander = full size frame, shorter slide and barrel
Officer = smaller frame, shorter slide and barrel

I know that's pretty generic, but it works for me. I don't have to worry about 5" barrels, 4" barrels, 4.25" barrels, 3.5" barrels, etc.

 

[gwnorth]

Good summary with pics too!

http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/08/1911-sizes.html

 

[Walkalong]

The Colt Government model has a 5" barrel. They will use a "Government" size holster.

The Colt Commander has a 4 1/4" barrel. Some "Commander" style guns have a 4" barrel. They will use a "Commander" sized holster.

The Colt Officers has a 3.5"

The Officers model and the newer 3" guns will use an Officers model holster.

 

[BP Hunter]

Thanks for the responses. I am actually using my Galco IWB summer hoslter from my Sig P220. It actually fits quite comfortably. But hey! Each gun needs it's own holster, right?