Commander Type Recommendations?

[JTQ]

Colt 1991 Commander is well made for a good price. I do like the standard Commander's grip safety (as pictured in the Colt above) but not the "ducktail" used on the XSE models.

If you want a lightweight Commander, I like the S&W 1911PD or Gunsite model.

STI Ranger II looks nice, but then you are into the ramped barrel and "recoilmaster", which I'm sure work great, but they are not standard items in the 1911 world.

I'm sure the Dan Wesson is a nice pistol, but I'm not a "bobtail" fan.

 

[Solitude]

Colt.

 

[TXHORNS]

All good choices so far. Everyone is going to tell you to get what they have or have had good luck with. I prefer springer, colt, and sti cause those are the brands I have had. I admit Ive never had anything else but none of mine give me any reason to look elsewhere.

If it were me, I would get a colt 1991 (possibly a used lightweight) and eventually put good sights on it, new trigger, hammer, and grip safety. I really like the 10-8 sights btw.
OR
A Springer Loaded (lw or steel). And that Champion Operator with the rail just looks sweet to me for some reason. Especially after some nice grips are added.
OR
The STI Ranger, which is on my short list because I really like STI. I have a Lawman and an Escort and they are ridiculously awesome.

My commander experience only comes from the 2 I have, which is a blued Colt 1991 and a parkerized Springer Loaded, both steel. Love em both for different reasons - I baby the colt and hammer nails with the Springer. If I could add the LW Operator and Ranger, I would never buy a commander length 1911 again....in 2009.

Im sure many others could serve you well but I like these.

 

[Oro]

So Colt uses fewer MIM parts than anyone else huh? Prove it.

Wow, one of the rudest posts I've seen on the forum in a while. Fortunately some other members have already responded and with facts and tact. I think weisse52 and rklessdriver responded well and factually.

 

[earlthegoat2]

In 20yrs most of those DW's will be just another has been stainless 1911 COPY sitting right next to an AMT Hard Baller in a pawn shop display cabinet.

Though I do agree with this somewhat if it does happen you better believe I am going to be at that pawn shop in a split second to get a heck of a deal on a great 1911.

And for the purposes of this thread:

I have never owned any other 1911 besides a Commander sized one. The majority have been Para Ordinance. Only one Colt though. I dont have it anymore and I want another for all the reasons stated. For a basic 1911 the one pictured above is just about perfect. You dont need extended this and ambidextrious that on any 1911 really. (unless your a lefty of course) The grip safety spur on that gun is perfect to keep the hammer off your hand but not so big to dominate the whole gun dang near. The sights are highly visible but not overly obtusive. This gun has everything you need and nothing you dont.

 

[JTQ]

earlthegoat2,

Well said.

 

[chieftain]

Why would any one care about the resale value of their gun?

It is the only real measure of what a weapon is worth, if not to you. If you have a cheap gun that does everything you need. Be happy. I will get the Colt.

When I can buy two similar or in this case the same, items of near cost initially, future "resale" value is a secondary consideration. You may well be independently wealthy, and not have to consider such things, as I do.

Though I do agree with this somewhat if it does happen you better believe I am going to be at that pawn shop in a split second to get a heck of a deal on a great 1911.

Good for you, Keeps the pressure off the Colt's for sale out there for the rest of us. And of course you would then have a copy of a "Colt 45", good or bad, that is what it is.

No one has ever said, "God created man, and Dan Wesson built by CZ makes them equal", I wonder why? Some folks think they are just as good or better.

You can go ahead and buy the Colt, or spend the rest of your life explaining how good the "Dan Wesson built by CZ" is. Colt owners don' t have that problem. You can explain how much smarter you were when you explain that to your kids and friends, no doubt they will understand.

"Colt 45", the original point and Click interface.

Go figure.

Fred

Stupid should hurt

 

[Pilot]

I like the Colt lightweight Commander XSE.

 

[krs]

If you want it to last..........









Colt LW commander, 1951

 

[chieftain]

The new Colts are just fine. Not one iota of evidence that they will not last as well as earlier Colts.

Why? Because they are made by, in many cases superior material. Newer "better" steel's and aluminum alloy's. I do not believe they are that badly assembled either.

I know in the 50's and 60's the first thing you did when you got a New Colt was send it to your gunsmith for a reliability and accuracy job. Did EVERYONE do it, nope, just those that knew what they were doing, and relied on their weapon for their lives.

About 10-15 years ago there was column or section on gunsmithing in the American Handgunner. The gunsmith that wrote the column said simply that, "Kimber put a lot of gunsmiths out of business." Because they were reliable, accurate, and had most of the features 1911 shooters wanted at that time." Kimber raised the general level of delivered production 1911's, substantially.

Kimber was kicking Colt's ass, along with everyone else. Since that time Colt has gotten their stuff back together and frankly produces a much better gun than they had in the early 90's. So do most everyone else too, including Springfield. We all can thank Kimber for that. It is the what Competition in the market place does.

Colt made men equal, Colt won the west, Colt became the US military sidearm for about 75 years. Dan Wesson's built by CZ have.........

It is a Colt thing. It it ain't a Colt it's still a copy.

No doubt there are other fine 1911's out there, and there are. Many of them are okay and some are very good. I have several different makes and models, my self. But I prefer to carry and shoot a Colt, not my very nice Kimber series one Gold Combat Stainless, or my Springfield Professional.

Go figure.

Fred

Stupid should hurt

 

[USAFRetired]

Chieftain
Do you know if Colt is as far behind in production as SA? I'm in the market for a 4" 1911 and have narrowed it down to Colt, SA, or Kimber. Unfortunately SA is saying they are 1 YEAR behind in lightweight 3" & 4" models.

BTW, Love the tag line. I really can't abide stupid.

 

[Mags]

I am thinking of going the 38 Super route in a Colt Stainless Commander. I have been researching and the 38 Super will also convert to 9mm rather easly. So my vote goes with Colt.

 

[chieftain]

Chieftain
Do you know if Colt is as far behind in production as SA? I'm in the market for a 4" 1911 and have narrowed it down to Colt, SA, or Kimber. Unfortunately SA is saying they are 1 YEAR behind in lightweight 3" & 4" models.

BTW, Love the tag line. I really can't abide stupid.

Thank you.

I really don't know. Purely guessing, I normally can find more Springers than Colts in most of the Gun Shops that I haunt, and a greater selection of models too.

On the other hand, Springfield probably normally makes more guns per year than Colt too. Sorry can't be more helpful than that.

But I can ramble aimlessly.

Of my 13 1911's only one is a Commander and it's a Combat Commander in 9mm. I am not a fan of short 1911's.

Generally if I go short I will go to a full length Highpower.

I have a personal requirement to use/buy guns in the size and caliber they were designed in. I have been looking at the EMP by SA. It is a newly designed weapon, not really a compacted 1911.

They changed the fundamental design and demensions. So I am toying with getting the SA in 9mm (that is what it was designed for). Just for grins and giggles. But like most desired models of any brand, they are hard to find.

These rules of mine that I apply to myself, are often a PIA. But I can give you a reason that at least made sense to me at one time. Most of them are base on and/or around my experience's about reliability in fighting weapons. In play guns it doesn't matter, have fun.

In all tests I have ever seen, official and unofficial. The Glock 17 is more reliable than any other model of Glock, including the 19. The "5" inch barreled 1911 in 45acp, is more reliable than any other caliber or model of the 1911.

Even in the AR family. The Marine Corps did an endurance test a few years ago and found the 20" barreled M16 then in use by the Corps was about 4 or 5 times more reliable than the M4.

Nothing really new here, and of course there are a few notable exceptions, but damned few I know of.

If I haven't bored you to death, I am done wondering between the very wide hall of my mind.

Good luck. Hope you find what you are looking for and want.

Fred

Stupid should hurt

 

[verdun59]

STI SPARTAN. Well put together, accurate, what else do you need.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I hope everyone realizes that a 1911 Commander has a barrel length of 4.25", 4" barrel is not a Commander.
I also hope that chieftan realizes that Dan Wesson is an American company that is owned by a company(CZ) based in the Czech Republic. Dan Wesson 1911s are not made by CZ, but by Dan Wesson. American made.

 

[chieftain]

I hope everyone realizes that a 1911 Commander has a barrel length of 4.25", 4" barrel is not a Commander.

Those of us that know 1911’s do, and have for years.

I also hope that chieftan realizes that Dan Wesson is an American company that is owned by a company(CZ) based in the Czech Republic. Dan Wesson 1911s are not made by CZ, but by Dan Wesson. American made.

Nope. It is a FORMER, American Company now owned by a Czech company. It is not an American company, no matter how it is rationalized. Not a bad thing in and of itself, and yes the employ Americans. In light of the present economic situation, I believe in that concept more than ever.

Personally given the choice, and I do have a choice in this case, I prefer to buy American.

In my earlier years I much preferred revolvers, Smith & Wesson. But twice in their history, S&W was not an American company either. I did not buy their products during those periods. It was my choice. I am glad S&W is an American company again.

Go figure.

Fred

 

[No Quarter]

COLT!

Quality first, history second. I bought a NIB recent-manufacture Colt Stainless Commander off of GB for a total of $750. Absolutely beautiful gun inside and out.

Might be a Texas thing for me, because there is long proud history of Texas lawmen carrying a Colt .45 of the revolver and auto variety.

Anyway, IMO, if you want a gun that you will be proud to own 50 years from now that will do nothing but appreciate and your kids will salivate over getting their hands on "dad's old .45", get the Colt. In the interim, it will provide you with decades of service as a range arm and defensive piece.

It is absolutely a true statement that EVERYTHING else is just a copy and since a Colt is reasonably priced and well made, there is no reason not to get one of the originals from an American institution in firearm manufacturing.

NQ

 

[Oro]

In my earlier years I much preferred revolvers, Smith & Wesson. But twice in their history, S&W was not an American company either. I did not buy their products during those periods. It was my choice. I am glad S&W is an American company again.

Twice? It was only once. I'm guessing you mean the "bad ole' Bangor Punta" days ('64 to '84). Bangor Punta guns are worth avoiding - but that's because of quality, not ownership (and only the middle years; the four/five years on either end were fine). Bangor is in Maine, not Latin America. There's also a prominent town called Bangor in Washington state (notable since it has more firepower than the PRC - but most folks don't know that!), but the "Bangor" of Bangor Punta is in Maine.

Even the NY Times wasn't exceedingly pleased when S&W was sold to Brits (who sold it out to Clinton-era controls and neutered it's very nature):

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/23/business/smith-wesson-is-sold-to-britons.html

The political tools who currently own S&W are, sadly, purely home-grown. We can't blame foreigners.

 

[ichiban]

I carry a Para Ordinance LTC and have been very pleased with it. It eats and ejects everything I have ever fed it and it is more accurate than I am. I also have a full sized S&W 1911PD that I am quite happy with so a commander sized one would get my nod as well.

The Kimber pro carry gets good reviews but I am kind of partial to 1911s with bushings.