LW Commander Extractor Channel

[ZBill]

I was doing my first cleaning of my new (to me) 1967 LW Commander. To my great surprise, the extractor is not fully enclosed in a "channel" like my Government Model. It is "open" along most of the length except for the ends. I hope this is clear.

Please tell me this is normal. Regards, Bill

 

[Jim Watson]

Breathe easy, it is standard on early Commanders.
I think it was done to lighten the slide for the original 9mm military trials guns, don't know why they stayed with it for .45 ACP unless they just didn't want to change the machine setup.
The cut was discontinued about the time the Combat Commander came out in the '70s.

 

[ZBill]

Exhaling

Thank you for the reply. Breathing easier now, Bill