Commander length 1911

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Kevinch

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I’m in the market for a Commander length 1911 in .45ACP. I have (2) 1911s from Kimber (a 5” Stainless & a 3” Ultra CDP) & would seriously consider a Pro Carry, but I’d like to go with a true Commander-length 4.25” barrel. I’d also prefer an alloy frame.

From what I can see, my options are pretty much as follows:

  1. Para LTC
  2. Colt Lightweight Commander
  3. S&W SW1911PD

All 3 seem to be about the same street price – mid to high $700s. The Colt has a SS slide & ambi safeties. The S&W has a scandium frame & an external extractor. The Para has their new Power Extractor. All 3 manufacturers offer a Lifetime Service policy; I don’t know what Colt & Para are like to work with but S&W is pretty good. I know the Para has a FLGR, I don’t know about the Smith.

Are there any suggestions on which to go with? I have S&W guns, my older revolvers are of better quality than the newer models but I know little of the 1911 guns. I have a Mustang Pocket Lite, it is the only experience I have with Colt. I have no experience at all with Para.

What would you (or did you) go with? Or, am I being silly wanting the extra ¼” in barrel length & consider a Kimber & SA?
 
I like my Pro Carry:D


I don't like 'new' extractors. Whatcha gonna do in 30 years when the company is shut down/ has moved on to something else.
 
Sw1911pd

I recently purchased the S&W 1911 PD model and I'm impressed. The barrel and slide fit is right on. The trigger is about 5 lbs and crisp, the sights and dovetails are perfect. The grip panels have nice sharp checkering. As I've said, I'm impressed at the quality of work on a production firearm.
 
I liked the para my self, but I really liked the s and w gunsight model light frame, it's around $800 to $900 buck's
 
I liked Paras until I heard that people in Canada cannot purchase the pistols that they manufacture. If that is true Re: Canada, I would not support their firearms market. I have been thinking of a Commadner size 1911 also. I plan to go Colt. I have 4 Colts and all have been excellent. however, i will go all steel.
 
Colt LTW Commander if for carry and steel frame if range. I love the commander it balance to me is better than Gov.

I have a Defender. Officer, a few Commanders and Gov Best all around Commander.
 
I love my Commander light weight............ but the frame has a crack in front of the slide release [that I don't think will hurt anything] and it is a handfull to shoot because of it's weight.
I wish I would have bought the combat steel one insted.
By the way i could not count how many rounds have gone through this little pistol before the crack showed up.
Good luck with your hunt.
Longboard
 
I absolutely love my Colt NRM SS Commander, however it's the steel frame. Can't say enough good things about fitment, finish and especially accuracy.
My only complaint about S&W is that I don't like the Schwartz safety system, otherwise I think they make good 1911's if you're okay with external extractor and the Schwartz safety.
The Colt will hold it's value MUCH better than any other 1911 (not counting megabuck customs like Baers, etc) and has the fewest MIM parts compared with the others.
 
S&W has BY FAR the best warranty- they pick up and deliver -FREE! Nobody else does that.
My S&W 1911PD Gunsite edition has a GI style guide and is melted a little. I have 5000+ rounds thru it and NO gun related problems other than the front gold bead took a hike around 3500 rounds. Free shipping and I upgraded to tritium! The gun is very light, good trigger, the melonite finish on mine is tough, no plastic parts, very accurate- a good gun! Only aftermarket upgrade was to have a gunsmith put a 11 degree crown on the ugly square cut factory muzzle and an Ambi safety and of course Esmeralda Rosewood Picazo half checkered grips!.
 
I have the Smith PD. It's excellent. A couple of bobbles the first day out but perfect since (close to a thousand rounds). I like everything about this pistol (I swapped out the guide rod and plug for G.I.). The warranty is a major plus, and I think if you want a lightweight 1911 Scandium is the way to go. I'm considering a Gunsite version for a companion piece.

I suppose I'd consider a lightweight Colt Commander if I could ever find one around here.
 
I just got a Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail. Looks like a very solid gun and it comes with most of the features most want.
 
Thanks for all the posts...but I can't see a clear winner!

The 5" Kimber Stainless is my range gun; the 3" CDP is for carry. The Commander will fill the void between the 2. My thoughts are that I would be more inclined to carry a lightweight pistol than one that was heavy - but an all steel gun is an option.

I want to spend less than $800; there's no way I can get into a Wilson, Baer, etc.

If I am looking for more of a Safe Queen than a CCW piece, would I be wiser to go with a Colt?
 
A colt will probably hold its value better than a lot of other brands. Also does it have to be exactly a commander length? Springfield makes a series of 4 inch 1911's called the champions. They're basically just a configuration rather, and they offer them in G.I. Loaded and some other models. The Champion loaded in Armory Kote is possibly the nicest looking gun out there:)
 
I'm also thinking about a Commander 1911, and have somewhat narrowed things down to Colt (either the NRM 1911 or XSE models) or the Dan Wesson CBOB.

The CBOB seems to have just about everything I would want, though seems like they are swamped with orders and I've never seen them around here.

Between the two Colts, each model has it's strong and weak points, so I would have to make a decision as to what I want.

It would be great to have all 3 next to eachother, but I don't think I'll ever come across it.
 
I have two of the smith's, and a nrm full sized colt that I bought about the same time. Get a Smith. Both of mine have been flawless, are very accurate, they have a decent finish...nothing bad to say about them. They are both finished much better than the Colt and are much more accurate. I've kept the Colt just to have one in the collection, and it has always gone bang so far, but thinking about it every other 1911 I own from several makers is more accurate and better finished, actually...

As far as Para's, never owned one, but I've seen enough "problems with my para" threads on various sites that they wouldn't be tops on my list.
 
Also does it have to be exactly a commander length? Springfield makes a series of 4 inch 1911's called the champions.
Click to expand...

Well the 4 ¼” barrel is really what I'm looking for. If I want to go with a 4", I know that SA builds them & so does Kimber. My dealer will push for me to buy the Kimber & I can get the blued Pro Carry for less than $700, the Stainless Pro Carry (SS slide, Al frame) will put me at about $750.

Both of my Kimber 1911 pistols have been good guns; I don't have an issue with buying another except that mine are not Series II guns. It seems like they had some real issues with the external extractor guns, but since they've gone back to an internal extractor things are normal again.

Another issue would be examining the guns. I recently bought a new Browning HP without seeing it first; I had to order it. That went well & I'm happy I did it, but I don't know if my dealer stocks the Colt. I know he stocks the S&W - but probably only in 5", SA, & again Kimber.

They are both finished much better than the Colt
Click to expand...
scubie02, is there anything in particular or is this just overall workmanship? I'm asking because recently (within the last 18 months) I've acquired some new S&W CCW revolvers & I must say that compared to my older ones, the new guns just don't have the same quality level. They shoot well enough, but aren't finished near as well.
 
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