From the Vault: U.S. Army C.I.C. Colt 1911 Commander
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Brownells Gun Tech™ Keith Ford shows us his early-production Colt Commander from 1951. In 1949, the U.S. Army issued requirements for a pistol to replace the Colt 1903s and 1911 Government Models issued to officers. It was to be chambered in 9mm, with an aluminum frame, and was to be no longer than 7" overall. Colt submitted the Commander and Smith & Wesson their Model 39. The Army ultimately rejected both, but both made it to the commercial market. Keith's Commander is chambered in .38 Super, though 9mm Luger (9x19mm Parabellum) and .45 ACP were far more common. Colt factory documentation indicates this gun was originally sold to an officer in the 441st Counter Intelligence Corps serving in Korea. CIC personnel seem to have favored the .38 Super chambering.
Keith's gun has the original wood-look plastic grips, and he tells us why he is careful NOT to remove them from the gun. It's critical to replace a Colt Commander's recoil spring regularly. The excess slide battering caused by a weak spring will lead to a cracked aluminum frame. In fact, around 1969, Colt introduced a steel frame version of the Commander, the alloy frame variant becoming the Lightweight Commander. The early guns are excellent, lightweight carry guns. But why do their slides turn purple? Keith explains. (Hint: they have not been re-blued.)
I bought my only 45 ACP Colt Commander in 1977 as I was graduating from college and about to enter the Air Force. I was an avid follower of Jeff Cooper, so shortly after arriving in San Antonio I took it to a retired USAF gunsmith named Bob Day and presented my laundry list of requests for a custom combat pistol. Bob built up the barrel and installed a modified 38 Super match bushing so it had tight final lockup. He fitted an adjustable S&W revolver sight to the slide and matched it with a ramp front sight. He replaced the stock trigger with a longer 1911 trigger and reduced the pull to 4.5 pounds. Other upgrades included a Swenson ambidextrous thumb safety, beveled magazine well, Pachmayr wraparound rubber grips, and a flat 1911 style mainspring housing. When Devel introduced the 8-round flush fitting magazine a few year later, I bought three for it. The Colt was my primary go-to pistol for many years, but their aluminum frame had a reputation for wearing and cracking with continued use. As less valuable pistols offering similar features became available, I retired it to vault queen status where it remains today, a fond reminder of my youth.
Great Story. I would seek out for a capstan frame for it and have the original serial number put on it.
I had a colt 1911 built over 40 years ago to shoot uspsa with. I didn't keep it long I needed money to put a roof on my house..not much money back then. I sold the gun to a friend to put a roof on recently that friend passed away his wife gave the gun back to me..very big smiles
Brownells videos just give me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside whenever I watch them. Good, hearty content. Soul food of the gun industry type of thing
I love Colt Commanders. ;-)
I love all my guns, but the day I bought my first 1911 will always be special.
Very beautiful especially with the provenance
When I was in college during the early 1970s a CIA recruiter made a presentation on campus on the career day. He had on display his Walther PPk and a Colt Commander. I don't remember what calibers the guns were but these made his pitch more interesting than other employers there that afternoon.
Got a commander from my dad, all the way back in the 50's.
During WW2 the OSS used 1911's chambered in .38 super, I'd lay odds that's why those CIC guys in Korea wanted those in .38 super, they were probably ex OSS.
Absolutely Beautiful! Thanks for bringing this out to show us!
Learned something new almost every time I watch. Thank you.
Thanks! That’s why we do these videos.
every so often i like to hop on gunbroker to view complete auctions of guns featured in the From the Vault series.
My first experience with a Commander type 1911 was with a Randall Gen. Curtis Lemay pistol. It was pretty handy for carry.
I love my Colt Commander. It is my go to carry option.
My 38 Super is my favorite pistol to shoot even with really Hot ammo it's smooth as butter and one of the best pistol shooting experiences I have ever had
Great video.Love the 1911 guns.
Outstanding 👍 Mine is from 1953 & is exactly the model showcased in this from the Vault video. I've left it completely factory condition but with a handful of slight adjustments & polishing parts & springs that aided reliability of function. Proper magazine maintanence is seemingly paramount to the reliability of these early Colt's 9mm Commanders. Smart rule for all autoloading pistols as well. 🤔 This Colt's Commander Model has been in my pile for about 12 years & is one of the last of the vintage Colt's pistols I've acquired after after yeas of searching. Thanks for another great edition from the Vault 👍 Best wishes.
Awesome did you remodel the aluminum frame? Or did you leave it at 2 tones
@@user-sf4zb6cz8l Factory condition. Has patina from age.
Commanders just like better.
Very nice! I like commanders.
Art
The history on it is really neat as hell. My dad had a .38 Super that he personally owned and it was Government not Commander length. Dad was an Infantry Officer who served in the Korean War and several tours in Vietnam. I tried to pry on him about why he had a gun of this caliber ? Could not get much out of him on it.
I have a 1963 Colt .45 caliber pistol. I love it a lot. It is a favorite over mt Springfield .45 ACP pistol & my Sig P320 full size chambered in 9mm.
Colt presented General Douglas MacArthur one of if not the 1st one in 9mm. According to 2 jr staffers i had the honor of talking to in the 2000s he carried it korea in his leather flight jacket and his parka.
Have one of these in 9mm from 1952,first change was the recoil spring. Slide is also skeletonized internally and can crack… my slide retains the original blue color. Perfect carry 1911 if you trust the other 70 yo springs!
Thanks for sharing story !
Those early Commanders also had a lightened slide with extra machining cuts inside. Under hard use they are prone to cracking at the breech face. I second Keith's advice to replace the recoil spring frequently, as well as avoiding super-hot loads like +P.
“That’s what it was meant to be made for…
That’s a funny turn of phrase. Best Regards
Was supposed to have been edited, but sometimes those things slip through the cracks.
Got to love 38super, in commander size
I hope that now that CZ owns colt the will bring the 38 super Commander back. Any thoughts on a 3.5 inch colt 1911 in 38 super? Thanks.
That a beauty.
I have a Satin finish Colt Commander in 45 ACP. It is one of several that Ron Power built for several Kansas City bankers. I visited with Mr. Power about the CC a few years back at the Wanamaker Gun Show and asked if possible to get copy of built sheet. They weren't able to provide one.
I've got a couple Colts from the 60s and 70s that the slide has turned plum color. I wish it wasn't but that's just the way they are.
THANKS
Very interesting history.
38 Super is of interest to me.
Nice 👍👍
I actually built a commander sized 1911 it was originally going to have an aluminum frame but I decided on an all steel frame so it became a Combat commander instead of a LW commander
I still need one. I have three full size and two defender size.
Hi I just acquired a1984 3.5" MK-IV Colt Commander. The gun came with 3 pachmayer mag's! Are these what came with the gun? I field stripped the gun and it has a double spring short guide rod and a bulled barrel.
I don’t have a Colt Commander per say but I do have a Dan Wesson Pointman Carry in .38 Super and a Kimber Pro TLE RLII and a S&W model 39 and 639. Of them all I prefer the 639. Great video though.
So that's what Colonel Flagg carried.
Why did they requested 9mm? Did all 1911 should be replaced with 9mm?
Two different sidearm caliber sound counter intuitiv
I suspect that just like today 9mm is far more common outside of the US than 45. An as for why they didn't just make all 1911s in 9mm... no idea.
However I wouldn't have done so. The traditional 1911 has serious reliability issues with 9mm. Mainly due to the internal leaf spring extractor. They work fine with a lower velocity round like the 45. However they tend to wear out in as little as a few hundred rounds in 9mm.
Companies like Wilson make improved leaf springs that are tempered with the bend machined in. Which is a vast improvement over the original design that used a sping that was bent after heat treatment.
However Wilson, and most other 1911 manufacturers, often use external extractors now for good reason.
Long story short I wouldn't buy a 1911 in 9mm unless it has an external extractor. If you want something reliable in the long term that is.
The military was constantly experimenting with everything by trying to make commonality with our side arms and rifles. Still going on today!! However when special forces needs a more specialized power punch in a compact automatic nothing beats a good ol 45!! As they say in the automotive world, There's no replacement for Displacement!!
🙂👍☕
Good presentation, but still not a 1911 fan.
Then go jack your Glock!!
Would sell it to the highest bidder and buy an nice pistol and a nice rifle!