There is a discernible crack on the front of the frame due to recoil i suspect. No repair or part available so i basically have a colt pistol thats a wall hanger. At one time gunsite was in the custom pistol business but in recent years the school has worked with manufacturers, principally colt, to make pistols built to gunsites specifications. Aluminum alloy frame reduces carry weight without compromising strength. Select a make 1911 2011 accuii accumag accuracy international aero agnstadt arms ak47 ak74 akm american defense mfg american tactical imports amt anschutz apf ar. Please visit the website and check out what the great folks who support us have to offer. It was similar to the government model although it has a. Colt has continued to build commanderstyle pistols through its successive design permutations. It was the first massproduced pistol with an aluminium alloy frame and the first colt pistol to be chambered in 9mm parabellum.
Dec 12, 2019 does anybody own a new colt lightweight commander in 45acp. This piece will explore why these pistols have a following, shooting observations, as well as special problems that may crop up with the aluminum frame pistols. They said the alloy used back then wasnt as durable as todays. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. For more information on how these numbers are calculated, please visit the concealed carry factors information page.
Colt seems to have figured out the aluminum alloy durability issue, although when i started with the commander there were no others to choose from. Colt recognized this shortcoming and introduced the colt lightweight. Jan 10, 2011 2 years ago he picked up an old colt 1911 not sure of the year, im not very familiar with 1911 at a pawn shop in salem. But no i carry a nine and the 45 just seems like it would be more fun and most of the new 1911s are very sexy and that colt had some of the new.
The frame finally cracked beneath the barrel threads where they usually crack. Feb 22, 2008 to the best of my limited knowledge, the only frame cracking on the colt delta elite was in the earliest production run, just above where the slide stop is. I qualified with it and shot it recreationally a little. In depth look at the ruger lightweight commander down. After all, when the fullsize sr1911 came out we were pretty sure a commander size pistol was going to follow and a lw commander makes sense as the next pistol in the lineup.
Oct 07, 2009 colt lightweight commander durability. It was the first major variant of the m1911 that colt brought out to the market and while a lot of the big names associated with handgun use and training and gun writers at the time considered close to perfect for. I also have one colt lightweight commander 1951 still running like new. Colts new lightweight commander should be a hit with 1911 devotees, but may also convert some fans of polymerframe, strikerfired pistols with which it shares many virtues. I had a steel colt commander and the shorter length was nice but the small weight difference between it and the full size always made grab the lightweight commander. This reliable, lightweight, compact rifle, capable of rapidfire, could be easily field stripped and reassembled. The gold cup, mkiv series 80, m1991a1, and xse series have all included commander and lightweight commander models. The relatively few lightweight frames ive seen cracked have been on colt commanders and most eminate from the hole through which the slide stop passesor are in that immediate area.
Due to the commanders lighter weight, i replaced my govt. Sort by position product name price set descending direction. The colt lightweight commander combines colt history with modern innovation. Colt introduced the colt light weight commander in 1951 but discontinued it by 1976. The colt lightweight commander is the offspring of one of the most popular firearms ever made. The light, yet durable, frame comes with a subdued black anodized finish that doesnt draw attention or reflect a lot of light, while the slide is made from rugged carbon steel and wears a classy blued finish.
I have 2 aluminum frame 1911scolt defender plus and colt new agent. Colt 1991a1 commander 45 acp pistol used in good condition with box series 80 our price. Oct 05, 2016 shooting and discussing the new colt lightweight commander in. This lightweight variant was developed in 1948 to answer the armys call for a smaller, lighter military pistol.
The of colt light weight commander has been around for a long time. Colt factory produced commander 1911 frame,lightweight officers acp in an alloy frame, never had parts assembled. I suspect my commander had closer to a thousand rounds through it, if that, than 5000. Mark iv series 80 lightweight commander serial number. Yeah, well that was a heck of a lot of rounds, one after another in those days. Meet the colt competition, 2016 lightweight commander and expanse m4 colt has announced three new additions to their catalog to kick of the new year, two 1911s and an ar15, all at solid price points that are sure to please. Shooting and discussing the new colt lightweight commander in. Colts solution was pretty simplethis was the only place anything was happening, so they simply machined the part that was cracking away, and the problem was solved. I was told to purchase a new pistol well it wont be. The crack was considered cosmetic and did not impair functioning or reliability. Like new in box available for purchase at our online store in 1970, colt introduced the allsteel colt combat c. Im not sure what they normally get priced at but i believe the shop was reasonable in their asking price. Recoil wise mine is closer to the combat commander as it is a steal frame. Lightweight 1911 pattern pistols hi powers and handguns.
The pros and cons of aluminum framed handguns the shooters. If the wedge comes out, or the slide cracks at the wedge, the slide can come off the rear of the frame when fired. In october 1949, colt began regular production of the new commander model which was based on the 5 government model but had a shortened slide and barrel and an aluminum alloy frame. The colt commander is a singleaction, semiautomatic, magazinefed, and recoiloperated handgun based on the john m. Jul 16, 20 both the aluminumframe and steelframe commanders have remained in the colt catalog ever since. So in 1950, colt started producing their version for the retail market, calling it the commander. Reports of the alloy frames cracking after voluminous firing caused the wary gunbuying public to look at the lw commander with a jaundiced eye. It handles superbly and some people, lie my brother, find they can shoot the combat commander. In 1979 i bought a colt series 70 mk iv steel frame combat commander. Colt lightweight commanderenhanced northwest firearms. The extra weight made the steel commander a joy to shoot it felt a lot like the full size when shooting. The relatively few lightweight frames ive seen cracked have been on colt commanders. You should go out and rent what guns you are interested in at your local indoor range or if your friends have the models you might like go to your local range with them and try out. What type of safety features does the colt lightweight commander 04860xse provide.
The stocks are big horn sheep horn crafted by patrick grashorn. Jan 14, 2015 when you think about it we shouldnt be surprised ruger has produced a lightweight commander version of their popular sr1911 pistol. Single action semiauto with removable magazine markings. The allnew colt lightweight commander features a lightweight aluminum alloy frame that results in a reduced weight, making it well suited for allday carry. They frames are lighter for carry and to help with the additional recoil that you can experience with a lighter frame i had the schuemann barrel hycomp fitted to them. I posted about this colt lw commander previously, so please bear with me. Colt challenger 22 lr pistol collectible 1952 our price.
Sometime during the 5k round test, the frame on his cracked in the same area mine did. From 1970 on, the commander was referred to as the lightweight commander. I doubt these revolvers were ever intended to be fired very much and would guess most people that have the lightweight framed guns seldom shoot them. The pistol shown is a colt lightweight commander mfg. Ive put 175 troublefree rounds through the gun to determine accuracy and reliability. I have a 1970 lightweight commander inherited from my father. He loves firearms but is isnt knowledgeable in dissassembly repairs, he just shoots and i help him keep em clean. Its had maybe 5,000 rounds through it from me, and one auto accident. When you think about it we shouldnt be surprised ruger has produced a lightweight commander version of their popular sr1911 pistol. This was one of the main reasons i chose the steel frame. I bought a used mark iv, series80, lw commander a month ago. Model for off duty carry, with the alloy commander about 1980. It is cracked where they all crack, at the dustcover but.
This springfield armory 5 lightweight has an aluminum alloy frame. The latest in this series is the new colt gunsite lightweight commander. The lightweight can be a full 5 gun, a commander size, or one of the more compact versions sporting a 3 or 3 12 barrel. Some of you may have seen skeeter skeltons old article years ago in shooting times magazine. Ive got a ruger sr1911 commander, but im wanting to add another as a birthday present to myself. In this article colt competition pistol colt lightweight. I have a commander titanium frame from caspian along with a full size government one with the rails that i had built. Jun 20, 2017 the of colt light weight commander has been around for a long time. Both the aluminumframe and steelframe commanders have remained in the colt catalog ever since. As i recall, back then, the lightweight frame was rated for a life expectancy of 5000 rounds. Colts entry a shortened 1911 with an aluminum frame called coltalloy wasnt adopted neither was the smith and wesson m39. This evening upon cleaning the pistol i discovered a hairline stress crack in the frame.
Lightweight commander slide and barrel on an officers frame. I just replaced a slide on a friends gun that was cracked up both sides with maybe 30% left. Oct 09, 2014 colts entry a shortened 1911 with an aluminum frame called coltalloy wasnt adopted neither was the smith and wesson m39. Now, ive got to decide what ill have done to this pistol. I dont think id use 9x23 in a lightweight commander,even if it would chamber. Until this happened, i did not realize how incredibly thin the frame material was at the point of fracture. Ive seen too many cracked frames and slides, especially on older series 70 colts and sa guns. It was the first massproduced pistol with an aluminium alloy frame and the first colt pistol to be chambered in 9mm parabellum colt made several variations of the commander and offered it in. The most successful of their long guns, largely because of the vietnam conflict, was the m16 and its commercial counterpart the ar15.
I never cracked a lw frame but i had one that was a dog from day one. Shooting illustrated colt lightweight commander pistol. I remember when colt tested their alloy commander and it went 10,000 rounds before the frame cracked. This last summer he noticed a scratch on the frame by the slide stop. I was told by a couple guys at the range that my series 70 colt lightweight commander wont hold up nearly as long as a steel framed pistol, even when shooting light to moderate loads. Frequently drilling a small hole at the end of the crack can stop its continued growth. Colt s solution was pretty simplethis was the only place anything was happening, so they simply machined the part that was cracking away, and the problem was solved. Jan 04, 2016 the lightweight commander features an aluminum alloy frame, reducing weight and making it perfect for everyday carry at just under 30 ounces. I doubt these revolvers were ever intended to be fired very much and would guess most people that have the lightweightframed guns seldom shoot them.
The left side of the slide is marked colts mark iv series 80 and with the rampant colt logo. Colts manufacturing company firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. The left side of the slide is marked colt s mark iv series 80 and with the rampant colt logo. Colt pistols commander for sale guns international. If durability really is an issue ill trade or sell this lightweight commander for a steel frame. Due to the commander s lighter weight, i replaced my govt. The colt commander was among the first widely popular, lightweight frame handguns. To the best of my limited knowledge, the only frame cracking on the colt delta elite was in the earliest production run, just above where the slide stop is. In depth look at the ruger lightweight commander down range tv. A frame crack near the slide stop pin has appeared after torture tests. The 1911 had an activeduty service life from the year of its adoption until 1985, and it served reliably and admirably through nearly threequarters of a century. The colt xse lightweight commander has earned the following ratings for concealability, firepower, and overall suitability for concealed carry by persons with a valid ccw permit. Also the delta elite 10mm had a reputation for cracking the frame at the.
Still, i run identical commanders, the steel frame on the range and the aluminum frame for carry. Does my colt lw commander have a short expected life. The right side of the slide is marked lightweight commander model. The evolution and development of the colt commander. Does anybody own a new colt lightweight commander in 45acp. This lightweight variant was developed in 1948 to answer the armys call for a. In addition to hand guns, colt produced many shotguns, machine guns, and rifles. Colt factory produced commander 1911 frame, lightweight officers acp in an alloy frame, never had parts assembled. Colt mark iv series 80 combat commander 9mm 4 14 inch satin nickel finish. It appears this colt has not been shot much, little wear on the frame or rails, thumb safety still very tight.
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