Question on Colt 1911 9mm

[Glockdaddy]

I saw a nice Series 70 Colt Commander in 9mm at the local shop. Pretty good condition....blueing shows normal wear.

My questions are:

Has anyone had experience with this gun?
Will regular 1911 accessories fit? Like grips, beavertails, palm swells, sights...

It looks like a great, affordable gun to take to the range......and cheap to shoot too...

Dealer wants $495

What do you think

 

[BluesBear]

Grab it before it's gone!

Yes all of the typical accessories will work on it.

The 9mm Government model was not a big seller.
The Commander model was however, available from day one.
People who have them usually hang on to them because they're great for cheap practice for 1911 lovers.

That's a very good price if the gun is in good condition.
In fact around here it would be considered a steal.

If you don't buy ot please post where it is as I am sure there are several members here who'd love to have it.
If you do buy it don't forget to post photos.

 

[farscott]

I agree that the price is very good; it is so good that I have to wonder why. Since Colt has messed with the marketing so much, the Commander term no longer suffices to distinguish alloy-framed pistols from steel-framed ones.

If it has an alloy frame, look for cracks, especially around the slide stop area. I would also check to be sure that the barrel sits about 1/32" forward of the frame. If someone has used a Dremel on the frame feed ramp, it would be a very expensive fix. If it really is in good condition, grab it. That price is a few hundred lower than I see marked on some 9x19 Commanders in horrible condition. I paid only a few hundred less for a complete pre-Series '80 9x19 Commander upper a year ago.

As mentioned by BluesBear, most 1911 parts will fit; the exceptions are the barrel (duh!), barrel bushing depending on which barrel Colt used, extractor (there are specific 9x19 extractors), magazines, and recoil springs (I like 13# or 14# recoil springs in 9x19 Commanders). Magazines can often be a big issue with reliability in the 9x19 1911's, especially on feeding the first round from slide lock and locking the slide back after the last round has been fired. I have had very good luck with the Metalform "Springfield Ramp" magazines. Grips, grip safeties, and mainspring housings are all common with any other 1911 not using a firing pin safety.

 

[BluesBear]

Well, obviously the internal slide parts won't interchange.
The barrels WILL fit. I had a .38 Super replacement barrel rechambered in 1974 to the .38/45 Clarke.
You can also fit a .38 Super barrel to the 9mm frame for conversion use.
Other than that the only part that isn't obvious is the slide stop. 9mm/.38 Super slide stops have a longer lug to reach the cartridge follower.


Colt didn't mess with the marketing term. But it has been misuded by alot of other people.
In Colt terminology the name Commander has always referred to the original lightweight version.
The name Combat Commander has always referred to the steel frame version that was introduced many years later.

 

[farscott]

I have two different 9x19 Colt barrel styles: one looks to be a bull-barrel and will work with a .45 ACP bushing and the other is much thinner and uses a different thicker bushing.

As for Colt not messing with the Commander nomenclature, look at this one. Also Colt now uses the Commander term to denote a steel-framed pistol.

 

[BluesBear]

Colt has used the term lightweight in it's advertising and on some pistols since 1948. But for many many years the gun was, officially, just called "The Commander".

Even though it says Lightweight in smaller letters on the manual, the gun itself simply said;

Commander
Model​

However, you are also correct in that I just checked the Colt website and they are now calling it the Commander and Lightweight Commander.

I guess even they had to come to grips (pun intended) with everyone else calling it the "Lightwight Commander".
Sort of like people call all brands of copiers "Xerox Machines".


I always thought it strange that Colt would put the word Lightweight on the slide.
The Commander length slides were always steel and therefore interchangable.
It's the frames that were different metals.
But they didn't put the word lightweight on the frame

 

[XavierBreath]

Earlier this year I bought this 9mm Commander for $650. At the time I kinda choked, but I forked over the money. It was one of the best 1911 buys I have made. I love the gun, and shoot the heck out of it. It's accurate, reliable, and cheap to shoot.

Don't hesitate. Buy the gun if you want it. It's a great price on a great gun.

 

[BHPshooter]

Wow... I've never really seen the need for more than 1 1911 (except of course when I'll build my own ), but if I found one of those, I'd have to jump on it. A 1911 that's a little smaller, a little lighter, and in 9mm? Sign me up!

Wes

 

[Jim Watson]

As said, $495 is a good to excellent to "steal" price depending on exact model, condition, and assuming the frame is sound without cracks or Bubba Ramp disease. (I picked up a 99% at a gun show, had the vendor clip the wiretie as I reached for my money, pulled the slide back, looked at the raw aluminum below the barrel breech and laid it back down.)

Commander grip safety is different. Originals are short like Xavier's picture, later ones are notched to clear the burr hammer. The frame "horns" are different and call for a different beavertail for neatest installation.

 

[Glockdaddy]

Here's the info on the Commander that started the thread.....

I checked it out at the shop again today. It is a Series 80, not a 70...my bad They have it rated as excellent....I would tend to agree, but being a blued gun there is some wear, but minimal....normal handling.

It has been shot, but not much. Slide is pretty tight, bore looks good too, as does the feed ramp. It has Pachy grips....

I am not in the market, going to stick with wheelguns....but if somebody is interested here is the info....

Ace Sporting Goods (Washington, PA....approx 20mi SW of Pittsburgh)
724-222-5470. Ask for George (the owner). He has sold other guns to folks online. Tell him that Tim saw it.....

Heck, if I keep finding these cool guns I am going to start asking for a commission!

But a good deal is a good deal and I want to pass it on to someone who may be lookin......

Good Luck guys!