1911 officer frame with commander slide?

[johndoe1027]

I am looking for a 1911 CCW. I've been over and over this here and on 1911forum. I want a 6+1 frame with a 4" or 4.25" barrel. The SA "Compact" (discontinued) is the only one I've found (can only find one and it's a little too pricey and the slide action feels like poo).

Here's my question, Is it possible to build the 1911 I want? Lightweight alloy frame (bobtailed would be great too but I don't have a TON of money for this) with a 6+1 grip, 4" barrel and slide (stainless slide preferred)?

I have never built a 1911 before but I am confident that I can do most of it aside for the real important fitting processes which I have a couple of people that could do that for me.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for you time and expertise.

 

[YammyMonkey]

Sounds like what you're looking for is a Kimber Compact CDP. Doesn't come with the bobtail, but I don't know if there would be room in a shortened Officer's frame size main spring housing to hold a spring of sufficient length. From what I've heard the bobtailed Gov't size guns use the Officer's main spring.

Another option would be the Kimber Stainless Compact. Not an Aluminum frame, but there's only 6 ounces difference between the two & in reality, carrying a full size steel 1911 isn't bad at all & those are about 10oz heavier.

I have the Kimber Elite Carry, which was the pre-runner to the CDP, not much of a difference besides the name. If the Series II safety bugs you a good gunsmith would be able to take it out for you, or you could try to find a series I used or the E.C. I have seen a Series II gun where the grip safety would disengage enough to let the hammer drop, but not far enough to move the firing pin block & let the gun fire. That was the only Series II gun I've shot though so a grain or 12 of salt may be appropriate.

I've been thinking about building my "perfect" carry gun as well, but in reality I would either end up spending a lot of time on it & still have it look & probably perform like an amature built it or spend not so much time & have a worthless gun. I am pretty mechanical & can be very patient/detail oriented but it probably wouldn't end up being something I'd be comfortable trusting my life or, more importantly, the lives of my family to. In the end, it's a lot less hassle, time & concern spent buying something that's close & living with it or having a reputable smith make a few changes for you.

Hope you got something useful out of all that.

 

[johndoe1027]

Yammy, thanks a lot for grabbing my head and turning it in the right direction.

I had already looked at the Kimber Brochure but I saw 7+1 and kept looking elsewhere. I started looking at their website (enough of a reason for me to buy a Kimber over a SA ) yesterday and noticed that they are in fact Officer frames but they just cram an extra round in there. I can live with that.

I've been worried about Kimber's QC lately and even their repairs are seeming to take awhile. Seems like everyone is really happy once they do get it back though. I think I'll be getting a Kimber. I shot the SA 4" alloy 6+1 yesterday. The slide poo I referred to was the compound recoil spring that I didn't think it had. It does. I'm not sure how the Heinie Ultra Compact that was next to it was soo smooth (it has to have the compound spring too right?). The recoil was very manageable (I had my snubbie with some +P's in it for comparison). The little 45 was more accurate than the DAO 38 (even with the first 6 rounds ever) and I liked the low pressure rounds a lot more than the hot Gold Dots. I'm sold on the small 45. I was scared before I actually shot one, mostly about the alloy frame making recoil too bad. I think I'll end up with a 3.5" Alloy Kimber (would be an SA if they had the 3.5" alloy but they don't, not to mention it would be 6+1). I was wanting the 4" for a better sight radius and a little more manageable recoil (not to mention I thought the 4" models had a regular recoil spring, biggest reason) but I think I can handle the 3.5" just fine. If I have to have the compound recoil spring anyway, the 3.5" might make a lot of difference in comfort.

Thanks a million Yammy. I'll go lurk in the Kimber section at 1911forum and maybe post a thread over in autoloaders here.

 

[YammyMonkey]

No problem. Kimber & Wilson Combat both make 7 round Officer size mags. Not sure if CMC does but I would imagine so since they make (or made, don't know if they still do) the Kimber OEM mags. With the aluminum frame I'd stick with a plastic follower like the Wilsons. The pointed metal followers can put divots in an Al frame when the last round is stripped off by the slide.

One thing to keep in mind with Kimber is that they put out a lot of guns so you're going to see more complaints just because of the sheer number in circulation. The Compact size Kimber's don't have the dual recoil spring, it's a single just like the standard Gov't size guns. The Ultra size guns do have the double springs IIRC.

I would stick with the 4"bbl guns just because you do get more sight radius, a little more velocity, little less recoil & they seem to have fewer feeding problems than the 3" guns. Also, the bbl/slide is not the hard part to conceal, it's the grip/frame so the extra length doesn't cost you anything. It would look kinda funky but I would like to have a 5" top end on an Officer's frame for CCW stuff.

 

[elprofeloco]

Colt CCO

The Colt CCO is another choice that meets all your requirements.

The CCO (Concealed Carry Officer's) is a Colt Officer's alloy frame with a Colt Commander SS slide (4.25 inch barrel/slide). They were made in the 1990s, as a version within Series 80 (there may have been some Series 70 also, not sure). They were also marketed as a Gunsite model. I do not believe they are being produced any longer by Colt.

I paid $600 out the door, used in good condition, for mine; I love it; never had any difficulty or failure with it. I saw two in town here, used in great condition, for about $700 ea. - that was about 6 months ago.

Try www.gunbroker.com and www.gunsamerica.com. If you do a search on threads here you will find CCOs that were offered for sale in the not too distant past.

 

[johndoe1027]

Yammy, I also thought Kimber had a 3.5" and they do not. I did not know their 4" offerings have a single recoil spring. Another point for Kimber. I did have a nice gentleman at 1911forum PM me and say that FYI the two shop owners he is friends with say that more Kimbers go back than the other brands combined.

You are right though, they do sell like hot cakes. Maybe the other Manufacturers would think "Hey, Kimber sure does sell a lot of those alloy officer framed guns, maybe we should make a few more configurations...."

elprofeloco, thanks for that. I'd much rather have a Colt. Off to the auction sites! Let's see what those little boogers look like. 700 sure sounds a lot better than 950 (for what might be a lemon at that!)

 

[JollyWhiteGiant]

I have one of those 4" alloy Springfields. Never had any feed troubles with it, single recoil spring. Conceals great with an IWB holster. I get better accuracy out of it than with my full sized, although the alloy frame does get to me after a few mags and the groups start to open up.

 

[Specialized]

If you'd like a few extra rounds to play with, and a lighter gun to boot, try a Wilson Combat KZ-45 Compact. It's an officer's sized, double-stack frame with a 4" barrel, and the grip is no wider than a single stack, though it is more squared off. The frame is composite with steel insert, and it works great. Mine has about 3,000 rounds through it with no problems whatsoever, and it's the most versatile carry gun I have.

Another option, if you can find one, is the Springfield Ultra Compact. It's an officer's frame with a 3.5" barrel, and it's a great carry combination. I have one of those, too -- only reason I carry the Wilson more is that my UC's frame is steel, so it's a bit heavier. You can find an alloy-framed UC, if you look hard enough. Good luck!

Specialized

 

[686+]

While no 1911 take a look at the S&W chief's series of 45's. DA/SA with shorty barrels and a 7 or 6 round mag.