Can It be Done???

[combatantr2]

Being a slim built Pinoy, 5'5" in height on a 140Lbs frame im beginning to feel the inconvenience of carrying my NORC 1911 on a day-to-day basis. So, im planning to convert my standard 1911 to a commander version. In its present form this pistol is ultra reliable that is why its my carry piece (my only piece for now .) Question - can it still or will it still be reliable if i just simply mate it with a new commander slide and changing the barrel? Is this something a do it yourself thing?

And NO! I dont want to buy another 1911 in commander size (dont have the dough rite now) :banghead: . And NO! I dont want a polymer? 1911 is the only thing for me.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rob1035]

I can't comment on the slide conversion, but IMHO, after handling both full size and commander sized 1911s, I honestly dont think the Commanders are that much easier to conceal, at least size wise. I guess the weight is a little different

 

[Old Fuff]

Tis not that easy to do. The frames are different. In the Commander the recoil spring tunnel is longer, and the dust cover is shorter. Also, simply shortening the slide and barrel by 3/4 inches won't make that much difference in weight. Going to an aluminum frame (as Colt did with the original L.W. Commander), does.

Maybe a better belt and holster would help to distribute the weight of the gun you have now, as would suspenders (no joke). When you don’t have $$$ you have to be innovative… Sometimes brains will beat bucks.

 

[Kurt_M]

A steel frame Commander is only two oz. lighter than a steel framed Government model. Two oz. is hardly worth all of the work and expense (at least $350 for the parts) you would have to go through to convert your Government to a Comander. I'm about the same size as you and I find the Commander easier to conceal not because it's lighter, but because the barrel is a little shorter so it doesn't poke me in the leg when I sit down. If that's your problem a Commander may be a good idea, but buy one that's always been a Commander and leave your NORC as is. JMO.

 

[Yukonstorm]

They use different frames. try various holsters, that prob the real problem. In my opinion, if you can carry a commander, you can carry a govt model

 

[AFhack]

What's a "Pinoy"?

 

[Zundfolge]

Slide length is much less of an issue than grip length as far as CCW is concerned.

In fact I'd say the diminsions of a CCW pistol are in order of importance:

1) Grip length
2) Grip Thickness
3) Slide/Frame thickness
4) Weight
5) Slide length

So unless you want to have the frame cut down to a shorter grip length (which is mucho denero) just stick with the full size as it is.

Invest in a good holster like a Milt Sparks Versa Max II or an HBE COM 3 or DC Special (for a full size gun like a 1911 I recommend a dual clip/loop type holster because it will more evenly distribute the weight).

 

[The-Fly]

What's a "Pinoy"?

Term for Filipino's.

I love the historical irony of a Pinoy carrying a 1911

 

[combatantr2]

Thats correct, Pinoy=Filipino=Philippines
Land of the Brave, too, I guess. JMB had to come up with the 1911 and 45acp to deal with the MORO uprising in the country. Still a very popular platform in the country today.

Oh well better stick with govt. size after all. By the way I do find it a lot more comfortable to carry it IWB minus the holster.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

As others state, it's not that inexpensive to do, nor is it simply a bolt-on, swap and go type thing. For about the same amount of money for the conversion, or less, you can buy a Rock Island Armory Officer's sized 1911. I think Sacro has them on sale for $299, if they still have any in stock. I've heard swapping the recoil spring to a guide-rod design is probably the only thing you'd have to do with it.