Is this Commander a good deal?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I'm in the market for another 1911 and am tired of waiting for my dad to pass on to me his Series 70 stainless Commander that I went with my mom to buy for him for Xmas when I was six yrs. old. It cost $145 back then. I figure his Commander will be too sentimentally valuable for anything other than range duty and plinking when I finally get it. And I kind of want something a little more expendable, with a firing pin block that I can carry and won't be crushed if I lose or destroy it.

So I have a lead on a super clean 1991 Series 80 in stainless with a short trigger and trigger job and slight dehorn. Round count is 250 and cost is $750 delivered. My FFL charges $10 for transfers (eat your heart out). I was thinking of offering $700 delivered. Good deal?

Alternatively, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a Commander XSE or a Springfield Champion, loaded in stainless. But these things don't grow on trees either. And Colts do tend to hold their value a little better. What to do?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Obligatory gun porn.

m21sniper · 04:23 PM

Looks damn nice to me, and i would say that $700 delivered is a good deal on that nice of a Colt Commander. I really like a short triggered 1911.

The problem with that gun for me is if i was buying it i'd have to spend another $200-300 getting it setup the way i like. I'm a lefty so a high quality ambi saftey is a must have for me, and i really prefer an extended slide release as well. And of course a set of tritium night sights would be a must.

Still, a very nice pistol indeed.

I'm waiting on my P7 to get back from the gunsmiths. I'm having a custom contoured dust cover rail permanently affixed.

Just got the +1 mag kits and Wolff 13lb spring installed on my Ruger LCP last night. On2wheels52 hooked me up with a Crimson trace laserguard for it a couple weeks ago. I need to take some pix, i'm extremely pleased with the results.

Shuie · 05-22-2010, 04:47 PM

Yes. Buy that.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Man, I just can't decide on this or to hold out for an XSE. A local guy had an XSE for $850, but it was used that's what they can be found for new. And he's firm on price.

Shuie · 05-22-2010, 06:02 PM

An XSE enhanced Colt? With the angled serrations, flat top slide, etc.?? All other things being equal I'd much rather have the one you posted. Is the Commander in the obligatory pic the one that is for sale for $700? I guess it's not since you mentioned a 1991.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Yes, the one I posted is the one for sale. Looks like a Series 80 to me, but I thought the 1991's had "1991" stamped on the slide. Here's another shot.

This is the XSE. But they are hard to find.

Shuie · 06:16 PM

Sorry for the confusion on my part. It's been a while since I've set foot in a gun shop and every 1991 I've owned or seen said '1991-A1' in big ugly letters on the slide. I much prefer the vertical rear only serrations and non-novak sites on the 80 series gun in the photos above. That's a really great looking Colt. If I walked into a shop today and saw a $700 tag on that gun I'd probably be filling out a 4473 in short order. I know a local shop that probably still has an XSE if you are looking for one. I'll check with them tomorrow or early next week.

m21sniper · 05-22-2010, 08:14 PM

I don't like the forward serrations at all, on any pistol.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I offered $700, he said $725. I'm taking it.

Shuie · 05-22-2010, 08:22 PM

Awesome! congrats!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Thanks. Will post photos and range report when I get it.

BTW Sniper, I don't know from experience, but I've heard ambi thumb safeties can be dicey for IWB carry, too much risk of wiping it off. And what is an extended slide release?

Shuie · 08:39 PM

I had an extended slide release on a full house 5" Gov't Model that was built by master pistolsmith Jim Hoag in Canoga Park, CA. I wasn't a fan of the device at all. I guess it depends on the size of your hands an how you hold a 1911, but I prefer the stock short thumb safety and slide release over anything else on the market.

Here's one of my Hoag guns w/extended King's slide release. I have medium sized hands and would still disengage the extended slide release on an empty mag every time.

HHI944 · 05-22-2010, 08:35 PM

an extended slide release will extend the lever to about half way down the plunger. I'm not fond of them and ambi safeties are a waste if you aren't a lefty.

There are 2 levers that make up the series 80 mechanism in the frame and obviously the rod in the slide. Take the levers out and run em over a 10k+ grit stone a few times. That smoothed it out a good bit for me. there are blanking kits out there too, but don't just pull the levers out or you'll seriously screw your weapon up, you need spacers in their place and something to plug the hole in the slide is a good idea as well.

Looks like a nice weapon, be sure to run it hard then clean the hell out of it and give us a report.

m21sniper · 05-22-2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Thanks. Will post photos and range report when I get it.

BTW Sniper, I don't know from experience, but I've heard ambi thumb safeties can be dicey for IWB carry, too much risk of wiping it off. And what is an extended slide release?

Extended slide release is quite simply an extended slide release lever. I've had 3 varieties of 1911s and carried them all, never had a problem with the ambi-safeties on any of them. It is a matter of how strong of a detent ball spring you use that controls the positive lock of the safety lever. It's very easy to change.

Here's a pic of an extended slide release 1911:

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Oh man, I've never seen such a thing. That's a weird looking slide release. I've never had a problem using the stock ones, though my wife can never get them to work for her. I'm not gonna trick this gun out. I'll put some kind of sights on it eventually, but not immediately. I had the Trijicon front post on my first Series 70 pop out at the range. So maybe I'll cut this one for a dovetail eventually.

m21sniper · 05-22-2010, 08:43 PM

Here's a different pic of an extended slide release:

It's an extremely common (and IMO very useful) upgrade on a 1911. The pic Shuie posted of a 1911 also has one too.

Shuie · 05-22-2010, 08:44 PM

IMO, for me, the best site picture on a 1911 is either the Ted Yost/Robar style site with a gold front bead insert, or a set of Hienie's. Bomars are really great too, but for a carry piece I'd rather have Hienie's or the Yost/Robar style setup.

MotoSook · 09:30 PM

Now that I have a better camera I'll have to post picks of my Fusion build. I cut an extended slide release back to where it hangs over the plunger tube about 1/4 inch, just enough to hit with my thumb. In original form I thought it was too long.

I went with a 10-8 Performance rear sight and Trijicon front sight. Function should be just like Shuie posted.

If you want a more positive lock/detent on the thumb safety you can increase the size of the dimple on the safety. It doesn't take much, and it should just about eliminate an acidental release from all but a heavy impact, after which you should check it when CCW anyhow.

Rick - $725 delivery is not bad with a $10 FFL fee. Congrats.

Joeaksa · 05-23-2010, 08:34 AM

Nice find Rick!