Early 9mm Colt Commanders

[Oyeboten]

I've never owned any 9mm Pistols...

Been thinking of getting one, and, am curious to know more about the early Colt 9mm 'Commander' Models.

Did these come out in the late '40s?

Were there normal weight (all Steel,) and 'light weigh' (I'd guess, alloy Frame, alloy Slide?) versions?


Any one have any thing pro or con to share about them?



Phil

 

[Jim Watson]

The Colt Commander came out around 1950. The "normal", that is the original and properly marked Commander Model always had an aluminum alloy frame and a steel slide. The steel framed Combat Commander came out in the 1970s.

Terminology has gotten twisted around to where the steel guns are more common and people have to specify a "Lightweight Commander" if they want the real thing.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Additionally yes, the LW Commanders were available in 9mm. I have heard that the alloy frames of some LW Commanders could crack but this was only documented in the 45 ACP versions not the 9mm or 38 Super versions. I have never shot a LW Commander and I have never owned any 1911 accept Commanders (only Combat Commanders and clones) and I do wish to get a 9mm or 38 Super Commander before I die.

 

[Oyeboten]

Ohhhhhhhhh...Okay.


Interesting.


Thank you.



Now...are these the same scale as a regular Colt 1911, only having a shorter Slide/Frame?

Are the Receivers shorter than a regular 1911 also?


Forgive me...but I have never looked at one in real life to know.



Phil

 

[bofe954]

Same grip size, same mags. Shorter slide/barrel, 4.25" vs 5".

 

[Oyeboten]

Thanks bofe954,


I know Colt had made some prototype 9mm Lugar Models, based on the 1911, prior to WWII, but, if memory serve, it was scaled down a little.


Too bad it never went into production...it would have been a sweetie...though it would have had a little more felt recoil I expect...

 

[rbernie]

The frame on a Commander is shorter in the dustcover area, so you cannot swap full-size and Commander-size uppers on receivers without cosmetic issues.

I had a Combat Commander in 9mm for some time and I was very fond of it.

 

[ACP230]

I have a Combat Commander in 9mm.

It's an interesting, well-balanced gun. I like the extra mag capacity and used to like shooting it because 9mm ammo was a lot cheaper to buy than .45 ACP. Reloading .45 changes that equation somewhat, but I still like the Commander.

I wish I had gotten Commander cravings before the price on them, in any caliber, shot up so much. I'd like another but would like a bargain and they are hard to find.

 

[Jim Watson]

cannot swap full-size and Commander-size uppers on receivers without cosmetic issues.

Not just cosmetic "issues." The recoil abutment and rail ends are a little farther back on the Commander to recapture some of the slide travel lost when the gun was shortened. Sometimes a Commander slide on a Government receiver will work, sometimes it won't. Not beyond a gunsmith correcting, but something to think about.