ImperatorGray
Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2011
- Messages
- 177
Back in April, I posted a gushing analysis of a 5" SDS "U.S. Army" 1911.
Functionally, the only imperfection out of the box was that it stopped on the link slightly - and I neglected to add before the thread was locked that after 100 rounds the link stretched a tad and made for essentially perfect barrel fit. No stopping on the link, and the locking lugs still cleared the slide. The grand old 1911 is not the cheapest firearm to produce well, as plenty of inexpensive 1911's attest. So getting one that's perfect (individual taste re: features aside) for less than $400 out the door amazed me.
Well, since then I picked up a Commander model for myself, in the 9x19mm that the 4.25"-barrel beast was originally designed for. Colt buffs will call it a Combat Commander, due to the steel frame.
I won't rehash everything from the previous SDS teardown I posted - let's focus on the differences.
Please keep in mind that this post, as the one prior, reviews a sample of one.
Model: 1911A1 TC 9
UPC: 723551440544
We still have well-executed park-colored Cerakote, and the trigger is just as crisp and beautiful, miraculously breaking at exactly the same weight of 4lb 0.4oz.
Unlike the "Army" model, this "Tank Commander" came with only one set of grips - Turkish walnut double diamonds. They are (were) not as figured as what arrived with the full-size pistol. Some Watco Danish oil finish would take the dry look away and dress them up nicely. However, they do not feature in these photos - during initial detail strip, my vicious attach dog decided that the starboard stock was a chew toy.
Unlike the 5" .45, the 4.25" 9mm has a Clark/Para-style ramped barrel. This one doesn't stop on the link at all; instead, out of the box, the locking lugs over-engage the slide a little. I expect them to round over with live fire, rather than peening, due to how slight the issue is. Still disappointing.
Machine chatter was more than on the previous sample, but had zero negative impact to function.
The ramp provides impressive head support while causing no feed issues over the 300 rounds fired at this writing.
Magazines are by Mec-Gar.
Ejector is appropriately extended for 9mm Parabellum. Here it is next to the Tisas .45 ACP government model's ejector:
And here it is with my decades-old Colt 9mm Government:
Further differences between this and the Tisas 5" .45 reviewed prior...
- Steel 9mm firing pin instead of titanium .45 pin.
- Colt commercial "teardrop" thumb lock instead of the tabbed USGI version.
- Commander ring hammer instead of the bloodthirsty spur.
- Taller, serrated sights. They are still installed via staking (front) and a USGI cut (rear).
A white dot would be a nice addition to the front sight, but it's easy enough to stake on a new one if you want the upgrade.
Aside from the overactive locking lugs, the only noticeable defect is that too much frame material was removed for the thumb lock. The firearm passes all safety checks, but I find it maddening that, when disengaging, the thumb lock overtravels slightly before rebounding into place in the "off" position with an audible, tactile click.
I've seen this exact defect on a brand new $4.5k 1911, so as much as it bothers me here... Well, for $400, I can more readily forgive it.
Note: The Commander model reviewed rolled off the production line in 2022, U.S. Army version in 2023.
Functionally, the only imperfection out of the box was that it stopped on the link slightly - and I neglected to add before the thread was locked that after 100 rounds the link stretched a tad and made for essentially perfect barrel fit. No stopping on the link, and the locking lugs still cleared the slide. The grand old 1911 is not the cheapest firearm to produce well, as plenty of inexpensive 1911's attest. So getting one that's perfect (individual taste re: features aside) for less than $400 out the door amazed me.
Well, since then I picked up a Commander model for myself, in the 9x19mm that the 4.25"-barrel beast was originally designed for. Colt buffs will call it a Combat Commander, due to the steel frame.
I won't rehash everything from the previous SDS teardown I posted - let's focus on the differences.
Please keep in mind that this post, as the one prior, reviews a sample of one.
Model: 1911A1 TC 9
UPC: 723551440544
We still have well-executed park-colored Cerakote, and the trigger is just as crisp and beautiful, miraculously breaking at exactly the same weight of 4lb 0.4oz.
Unlike the "Army" model, this "Tank Commander" came with only one set of grips - Turkish walnut double diamonds. They are (were) not as figured as what arrived with the full-size pistol. Some Watco Danish oil finish would take the dry look away and dress them up nicely. However, they do not feature in these photos - during initial detail strip, my vicious attach dog decided that the starboard stock was a chew toy.
Unlike the 5" .45, the 4.25" 9mm has a Clark/Para-style ramped barrel. This one doesn't stop on the link at all; instead, out of the box, the locking lugs over-engage the slide a little. I expect them to round over with live fire, rather than peening, due to how slight the issue is. Still disappointing.
Machine chatter was more than on the previous sample, but had zero negative impact to function.
The ramp provides impressive head support while causing no feed issues over the 300 rounds fired at this writing.
Magazines are by Mec-Gar.
Ejector is appropriately extended for 9mm Parabellum. Here it is next to the Tisas .45 ACP government model's ejector:
And here it is with my decades-old Colt 9mm Government:
Further differences between this and the Tisas 5" .45 reviewed prior...
- Steel 9mm firing pin instead of titanium .45 pin.
- Colt commercial "teardrop" thumb lock instead of the tabbed USGI version.
- Commander ring hammer instead of the bloodthirsty spur.
- Taller, serrated sights. They are still installed via staking (front) and a USGI cut (rear).
A white dot would be a nice addition to the front sight, but it's easy enough to stake on a new one if you want the upgrade.
Aside from the overactive locking lugs, the only noticeable defect is that too much frame material was removed for the thumb lock. The firearm passes all safety checks, but I find it maddening that, when disengaging, the thumb lock overtravels slightly before rebounding into place in the "off" position with an audible, tactile click.
I've seen this exact defect on a brand new $4.5k 1911, so as much as it bothers me here... Well, for $400, I can more readily forgive it.
Note: The Commander model reviewed rolled off the production line in 2022, U.S. Army version in 2023.
