(2) 1911 Questions

[Don P]

First question, what year was the commander size 1911 introduced ?
Second question, what year was the officer size 1911 introduced ?
Thanks for the answers to the above questions.

 

[Magyar]

I believe the early Commander series started around 1950 and the Officer's model about 1985. I could be off, going by memory...

 

[cerberus65]

According to Jerry Kuhnhausen's excellent book (The Colt .45 Automatic), the Commander Lightweight was introduced in 1941 and the Officer's Model was introduced in 1984.

 

[lafd04]

The pistol that would eventually be named the Colt Commander was Colt's Manufacturing Company's candidate in a U.S. government post-World War II trial to find a lighter replacement for the M1911 pistol that would be issued to officers. Requirements were issued in 1949 that the pistol had to be chambered for 9 mm Parabellum and could not exceed 7 inches in length or weigh more than 25 ounces.

Candidates included Browning Hi-Power variants by Canada's Inglis and Belgium's Fabrique Nationale, and Smith & Wesson's S&W Model 39.

Colt entered a modified version of their M1911 pistol that was chambered for 9 mm Parabellum, had an aluminum alloy frame, a short 4.25-inch barrel, and a 9-round magazine. In 1951, Colt rushed their candidate into regular production. It was the first aluminum-framed large frame pistol in major production and the first Colt pistol to be originally chambered in 9 mm Parabellum.

1941 sounded way early to me.

 

[guntotin_fool]

Colt made general officers guns in WW2, that are remarkably like officers, Same with commanders.

 

[Don P]

Thanks for the answers to my questions.

 

[David the Gnome]

Don't 1911's just make you all warm and fuzzy inside?

 

[Atticus Thraxx]

lafd04 is right according to "Colt Automatic Pistols" (Donald & Bady)

"By 1952 the pistol was introduced commercially as the Colt Commander"
In 9mm,.38 and .45.