Colt Commander: LW or Steel?

[Shalako]

I finally tracked down a NIB Commander in California. Its within driving distance of me, but alas, it is a Lightweight model. I really prefer blued steel but don't think the blued steel Commander is even on the CA Approved list. So if I want one I will have to track down a used one.

Considering the difficulty in finding Colts, should I just jump on the LW Commander or hold out for finding a used Steel one thats in good shape?

My concerns are that the LW frame wont hold up as long, doesn't have bluing like the slide, and that JMB wouldn't approve.

I defer to your learned opinions. Thanks,

Tim

ps. I have a glock already (and a Remington Rand and a custom Springfield....I NEED a Colt Commander )

 

[The Reverend]

Steel!

Absolutely love my Colt 1991 Combat Commander!!!

I picked it up NIB from a dealer in KY for about $500.00. I will probably do some modification in the future to make it "mine" but this thing is a fairly accurate little gun stock. Do yourself a favor, and consider the 1991 line.

Blessings

 

[Shalako]

I would jump on a 1991 Commander in a second. Finding one though is another story. Glad yours is working great.

-T

 

[Shalako]

Well, well, well,... It seems my prior info was wrong. The CA Approved list shows a carbon steel Commander as OK. The approved model number 04691 is shown on the Colt's webpage as indeed carbon steel, and that is the model number the seller says he has....

The plot thickens.

 

[S&W10mm]

EITHER!

I own BOTH Commanders! And either is Fine by me! And I'm NOT a fan of the 1991 series at all! The fit and finish has allot lacking! It will cost BIG $$$$ to get the fit finish and quality of say a the XSE series.

Pass on a 1991 series and buy a Lightweight or a steel frame Commander! You'll be GLAD you did!

S&W10mm

 

[Moonclip]

Depends what you are going to do with it but for mostly range use which I assume you are doing, I'd go steel. A LW commander is an awesome carry gun though I still prefer steel if the weight doesn't bug you.

 

[Model520Fan]

LW! Aluminum! The whole idea of a CDR is a light gun that is comfortable to carry.

While YMMV with body shape, I have found a Gov't Model in a Summer Special to be even more comfortable than a CDR. However, in a belt holster, the light weight of a LW CDR is significant. For me, there is no point in getting a CDR in steel - I would just go with the Gov't Model if I wanted steel.

 

[Moonclip]

For some people though it is not the extra weight of the Gov't sized 1911 that bugs them but the extra 1" or so of length when carrying certain ways like inside the pants holsters.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I'd go with the XSE LW Commander......oh wait, I did...



....with Hogue ebony, double-diamond grips.

 

[ktd]

I really prefer blued steel but don't think the blued steel Commander is even on the CA Approved list. My concerns are that the LW frame wont hold up as long, doesn't have bluing like the slide,

well, the frame should still be finished in black right? as far as durability, depends on how old it is, if it is current production, they seem to hold up pretty good, though you may want to be careful on magazines as some followers seem to scratch up alloy feed ramps (do a search). I think LW Commanders are cool, and even the older alloy frames still seemed to hold up for thousands of rounds, more than most people will shoot. Just do not drop the hammer with the slide off, my friend cracked a frame that way.

 

[Joe D]

Yep, stay away from the McCormick mags. Their followers will chew up the feed ramp. I use the Wilson mags in mine. I carried a 70 Series LWT Commander for years before I discovered the Glock 23.

 

[Hobie]

I have a Combat Commander only because I got a great deal on it. Skeeter Skelton once did a durability test on the Commander and I don't think that the frame material is a problem.

 

[ulflyer]

COLT

I have a Colt MK IV LW commander and love it. Have only put enough rounds thru it to confirm that it function properly. If you're gonna carry, I'd suggest a LW. If you're gonna shoot a zillion rounds thru it, get steel. Better yet, get one of each.

 

[texagun]

Yep, stay away from the McCormick mags. Their followers will chew up the feed ramp. I use the Wilson mags in mine.

That is excellent advice. I have seen Chip McCormick mags chew up an aluminum feed ramp. The followers will slide forward under recoil and contact the feed ramp, gouging it. I emailed them about it twice and they never replied. Guess it was better for them to ignore the problem than to address it. I have both the LW and steel versions of the Commander and love them both. I prefer the LW for carry (by far) and have heard that they have a frame life in excess of 5000 rounds. I have seen posts by people who have cracked frames and it doesn't affect function or reliability at all...they go right on shooting.

This is my LW Commander in nickle.

 

[Shalako]

Thanks for all the great replies! It starting to sound like you can't go wrong either way, LW or steel. I doubt I will be carrying this one unless its a dire situation or otherwise. In that case, I'd probably just go with my custom Gov't model with the CMDr as a backup in some sort of shoulder rig.

Thanks again,
-T

 

[The Reverend]

And I'm NOT a fan of the 1991 series at all! The fit and finish has allot lacking! It will cost BIG $$$$ to get the fit finish and quality of say a the XSE series.

While I would certainly agree that the XSE series carries a higher grade of finish and is usually well put together and tight, my personal 1991 commander, as I am looking at it field stripped has an excellent finish and it too is tight. Keep in mind that the newer 1991s are blued, not parkerized and the barrels are fully throated to handle HP loads. I believe that Colt has improved the 1991s to what the standard 1911s used to be, and the XSE series is of course the high end.

The only thing that I really do not like about the 1991s are the PLASTIC MSH they are using. Yes, I know Kimber has been using plastic MSH for a while, but I still prefer an arched metal MSH.

God Bless,

 

[Shalako]

I went and checked out the Colt and it was just as described on the Colt webpage:

It was all carbon steel with a flat steel MSH. The trigger felt suprisingly crisp. Beautiful bluing job. $795

Seemed like a pretty good deal.....

 

[1% Lawyer]

I own BOTH Commanders! And either is Fine by me! And I'm NOT a fan of the 1991 series at all! The fit and finish has allot lacking! It will cost BIG $$$$ to get the fit finish and quality of say a the XSE series.

Pass on a 1991 series and buy a Lightweight or a steel frame Commander! You'll be GLAD you did!

S&W10mm

And where can one find a blued all-steel Commander? The only one that Colt currently sells is the 1991 series, but that has the Series 80 firing pin safety mechanism. Kimber makes a nice Pro TLE II, but it doesn't have the Pony.... So what can a guy do?

Michael

 

[ghitch75]

this is a 1968 LWC in SUPER 38....i have ran 500rd's in it....don't know rd count when i got it...i bet it out lasts me....