gov't vs commander frame difference

[duckslayer]

Are the frames the same length? Can I put a commander slide/guide rod/bbl on a gov't frame, or is the commander frame shorter?

 

[JERRY]

the barrel and slide are the differences.... the frames are the same.

 

[Dr. J Frame]

Shorter dustcover on the Commander's frame. The recoil spring will be visible if a full-length slide is used on a Commander frame.

 

[PCRCCW]

Id have to agree with Jerry.....the frames on MOST of them are the same. The only difference on the original Colt Commander series is the topend.
An officers frame is shorter both ways.............
Shoot well.......

 

[71Commander]

Shorter dustcover on the Commander's frame. The recoil spring will be visible if a full-length slide is used on a Commander frame.

Ditto. Dustcover is shorter on a Commander frame. Or if you prefer, the dustcover is longer on a Gov't size frame.

 

[Stinkyshoe]

I agree with tenntucker and Dr.j . The frame on the commander is about 1/4 shorter in the dust cover. I am basing this off of the amount of material I would need to remove to convert a gov't frame to "fit" the commander slide I have. It is not necessary to shorten a gov't frame for a commander to function. The only draw back is that it doesn't quite look right to have the dust cover uneven with the end of the milled flares on the slide.

 

[PCRCCW]

I sit Corrected.........Shoot well.

 

[71Commander]

I sit Corrected.........

You're forgiven. Your speciality is holsters...........and for that, i'm grateful.

 

[JERRY]

well, i learn something new everyday indeed.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, there is one more thing to learn.
The dust cover length is merely cosmetic, a Commander slide on a G.M. frame will have some overlap; a G.M. slide on a Commander frame would expose recoil spring.

The Commander's frame rails are shorter than a G.M. placing the recoil abutment about a tenth of an inch farther to the rear. This done to recover part of the slide travel lost to shortening the barrel and slide. A Commander slide on a G.M. receiver will have less slide travel than either stock gun. Sometimes they will still work OK, sometimes they won't.

Another cosmetic, the Commander's rear frame "horns" are different from G.M. and grip safeties differ.

I refer to real Colt pistols, not copies often described by inaccurate model names.

 

[Stinkyshoe]

Jim
Is it necessary to remove a portion of the rails to make a GM model frame to work on a commander?
Thanks
Ss