Thumper
Member
At the 1999 SHOT show, I visited with Ed Brown while he was introducing his Bobtail treatment on some of his custom guns. I’ve always been a fan of the feel of a 1911, but the bobtail cut really made the gun fit my hand better. This might be one of those places that ol’ John Moses dropped the ball (I’m not sitting near any windows right now).
After reading so many good things on the gunsmith forums about the Dan Wesson series of 1911s, I thought I might purchase one to see for myself. I’m lucky enough to have a good relationship with a local dealer and was able to pick up a Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail Classic for dealer cost. I’m not a gunsmith, but I feel I have some level of technical expertise with the platform. I’ve owned a number (48) of high end (as well as low end) 1911s over the years. I’ve shot Ed Browns, Armand Swensons, Les Baers, Frank Pachmayers, and Wilsons. I don’t expect to see that level of quality out of a straight production gun.
The Commander Bobtail Classic, or CBOB as it’s come to be known, grabbed my attention immediately. It’s a very handsome pistol. I prefer blued 1911s but this one is well done in stainless. The flats are polished and the rounds are subdued. The flats are refreshingly free of name brands or model numbers. The few markings that exist are lazer cut, black filled, and well executed. The front strap checkering looks to be about 25 LPI and is CNC machined. It looks and feels very precise. I got lucky with these grips. The cocobolo has a lot of figure in the reddish wood. They are in the traditional checkered, double diamond pattern. The grips are secured with stainless hex head grip screws. All internals are MIM free, being Ed Brown Custom parts. The sights are in the Novak pattern and are tritium illuminated. I’m not sure who makes the mags, but they look like Metalform. They’ve proven reliable enough that I keep a stock mag in the gun and carry Wilson 47Ds as spares. The trigger is crisp with no overtravel and breaks at 3.5 lbs.
Here’s a pic of the checkering:
All around, I was very impressed with the fit and finish of the pistol. I was a little concerned that it might be TOO tight.
My girlfriend and I took it over to a local range with about 350 rounds of WWB and a bag full of my reloads. I lightly oiled the gun with a little Hoppe’s. I started at 7 yards, and the first mag cloverleafed in the top of the X ring. I like the accuracy, but I was more concerned with the reliability of the gun. Online, I’ve read everything from “feeds empty cases” to “overtight chamber.” I haven’t tried empty cases, but so far the gun has gone through 500 rounds with zero failures. I put two mags of 230 gr Federal Hydroshock through it, also. No problems at all so far.
Here’s the first 49 rounds out of the gun:
I’m kind of a grubster when it comes to cleaning my guns, but I had five pistols at the range that day with multiple shooters and really needed to clean up. While cleaning, I ran the slide and the frame together without the barrel, bushing or spring. Wow. Les Baer style fitting, no exaggeration. I immediately called a couple of friends here on the board to brag. One of them has since had the opportunity to do the same thing with this gun and he’s in the market for one right now. I think that old “ball bearing” phrase is overused, but here it’s entirely appropriate. The slide runs like butter.
Here’s the rear of the slide. Note the slide to frame fit:
Reading over this, I realize that this review seems a little superlative. Normally, I’m a very critical gun owner. I wish the frontstrap undercut under the trigger guard was a little higher, but that’s about it.
I highly recommend this pistol. It would be a bargain at twice the price.
After reading so many good things on the gunsmith forums about the Dan Wesson series of 1911s, I thought I might purchase one to see for myself. I’m lucky enough to have a good relationship with a local dealer and was able to pick up a Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail Classic for dealer cost. I’m not a gunsmith, but I feel I have some level of technical expertise with the platform. I’ve owned a number (48) of high end (as well as low end) 1911s over the years. I’ve shot Ed Browns, Armand Swensons, Les Baers, Frank Pachmayers, and Wilsons. I don’t expect to see that level of quality out of a straight production gun.
The Commander Bobtail Classic, or CBOB as it’s come to be known, grabbed my attention immediately. It’s a very handsome pistol. I prefer blued 1911s but this one is well done in stainless. The flats are polished and the rounds are subdued. The flats are refreshingly free of name brands or model numbers. The few markings that exist are lazer cut, black filled, and well executed. The front strap checkering looks to be about 25 LPI and is CNC machined. It looks and feels very precise. I got lucky with these grips. The cocobolo has a lot of figure in the reddish wood. They are in the traditional checkered, double diamond pattern. The grips are secured with stainless hex head grip screws. All internals are MIM free, being Ed Brown Custom parts. The sights are in the Novak pattern and are tritium illuminated. I’m not sure who makes the mags, but they look like Metalform. They’ve proven reliable enough that I keep a stock mag in the gun and carry Wilson 47Ds as spares. The trigger is crisp with no overtravel and breaks at 3.5 lbs.
Here’s a pic of the checkering:
All around, I was very impressed with the fit and finish of the pistol. I was a little concerned that it might be TOO tight.
My girlfriend and I took it over to a local range with about 350 rounds of WWB and a bag full of my reloads. I lightly oiled the gun with a little Hoppe’s. I started at 7 yards, and the first mag cloverleafed in the top of the X ring. I like the accuracy, but I was more concerned with the reliability of the gun. Online, I’ve read everything from “feeds empty cases” to “overtight chamber.” I haven’t tried empty cases, but so far the gun has gone through 500 rounds with zero failures. I put two mags of 230 gr Federal Hydroshock through it, also. No problems at all so far.
Here’s the first 49 rounds out of the gun:
I’m kind of a grubster when it comes to cleaning my guns, but I had five pistols at the range that day with multiple shooters and really needed to clean up. While cleaning, I ran the slide and the frame together without the barrel, bushing or spring. Wow. Les Baer style fitting, no exaggeration. I immediately called a couple of friends here on the board to brag. One of them has since had the opportunity to do the same thing with this gun and he’s in the market for one right now. I think that old “ball bearing” phrase is overused, but here it’s entirely appropriate. The slide runs like butter.
Here’s the rear of the slide. Note the slide to frame fit:
Reading over this, I realize that this review seems a little superlative. Normally, I’m a very critical gun owner. I wish the frontstrap undercut under the trigger guard was a little higher, but that’s about it.
I highly recommend this pistol. It would be a bargain at twice the price.
