Colt Commander: Difference between revisions

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{{distinguish|Colt Commando}}

{{Infobox weapon

| is_ranged = yes

| image = Flickr - ~Steve Z~ - Colt Combat Commander MKIV .45 ACP.jpg

| image_size = 300

| caption = A MK IV .45 ACP Colt Combat Commander.

| name = Colt Commander

| type = [[Semi-automatic pistol]]

| origin = [[{{flag|United States]]}}

| design_date = 1949

| era=20th century

| production_date =1950-present 1950–present

| design_date=

| serv_design_date =

| production_date=1950-present

| used_by =

| serv_design_date=

| spec_type =

| used_by=

| part_length = * 4.25 in (107.95 mm)

| spec_type=

| cartridge = * [[9×19mm Parabellum]]

| part_length=

* 4.25 in (107.95 mm)

| cartridge=

* [[9×19mm Parabellum]]

* [[.38 Super]]

* [[.45 ACP]]

| feed = [[Boxbox magazine]]

* 7-round or 8-round (.45 ACP)

* 9-round (9 mm and .38 Super)

| action = [[Recoil operation|Short recoil operation]]

| velocity =

| weight =

| length =

| variants = * Lightweight Commander

* Lightweight Commander

* Combat Commander

* Commander Gold Cup Colt

* Combat Elite

* Concealed Carry Officer's pistol

| number =

| range =

}}

The '''Colt Commander''' is a [[Trigger (firearms)#Single-action|single-action]], [[semi-automatic pistol|semi-automatic]], magazine-fed, and recoil-operated [[handgun]] based on the [[John Browning|John M. Browning]] designed–designed [[M1911]]. It was the first mass-produced pistol with an aluminium alloy frame and the first Colt pistol to be chambered in [[9mm Parabellum]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ayoob|first=Massad|authorlink=Massad Ayoob|title=The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery|year=2007|publisher=Gun Digest Books|isbn=978-0-89689-525-6|page=7}}</ref>

Colt made several variations of the Commander and offered it in [[.45 ACP]] and [[.38 Super]] chamberings. Other variants followed with different degrees of factory accurizing and materials.

==History==

The pistol that would eventually be named the Colt Commander was [[Colt's Manufacturing Company]]'s candidate in a U.S. government post-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&nbsp;mm Parabellum and could not exceed 7&nbsp;inches in length or weigh more than 25 ounces.<ref name= Ayoob2010>{{cite book|last =Ayoob|first =Massad|title=Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World |authorlink= Massad Ayoob|publisher =Gun Digest Books|year= 2010 |ISBN = 978-1-4402-0825-6 |pages=33–44}}</ref>

Requirements were issued in 1949 that the pistol had to be chambered for 9&nbsp;mm Parabellum and could not exceed 7&nbsp;inches in length or weigh more than 25 ounces.<ref name="Ayoob2010">{{cite book |last=Ayoob |first=Massad |title=Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World |authorlink=Massad Ayoob |publisher=Gun Digest Books|year= 2010 |ISBN=978-1-4402-0825-6 |pages=33–44}}</ref>

Candidates included [[Browning Hi-Power]] variants by Canada's [[John Inglis and Company|Inglis]] and Belgium's [[Fabrique Nationale]], and [[Smith & Wesson]]'s [[Smith & Wesson Model 39|S&W Model 39]]. Colt entered a modified version of their [[M1911 pistol]] that was chambered for 9&nbsp;mm Parabellum, had an aluminum alloy frame, a short 4.25-inch barrel, and a 9-round magazine. In 1950, Colt moved 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&nbsp;mm Parabellum. The first year's production included 45 ACP and 38 Super chamberings.<ref name= Ayoob2010/>

Candidates included [[Browning Hi-Power]] variants by Canada's [[John Inglis and Company|Inglis]] and Belgium's [[Fabrique Nationale]], and [[Smith & Wesson]]'s [[Smith & Wesson Model 39|S&W Model 39]]. Colt entered a modified version of their [[M1911 pistol]] that was chambered for 9&nbsp;mm Parabellum, had an aluminum alloy frame, a short 4.25-inch barrel, and a 9-round magazine. In 1950, Colt moved 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&nbsp;mm Parabellum. The first year's production included 45 ACP and 38 Super chamberings.<ref name= Ayoob2010/>

In 1970, Colt introduced the all-steel "Colt Combat Commander", with an optional model in satin nickel. To differentiate between the two models, the aluminum-framed model was renamed the "Lightweight Commander".<ref name= Ayoob2010/>

In 1950, Colt moved 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&nbsp;mm Parabellum.

The first year's production included .45 ACP and .38 Super chamberings.<ref name="Ayoob2010" />

In 1970, Colt introduced the all-steel "Colt Combat Commander", with an optional model in satin nickel. To differentiate between the two models, the aluminum-framed model was renamed the "Lightweight Commander".<ref name= "Ayoob2010" />

=== Variants= ==

Colt made several variations of the Commander and offered it in [[.45 ACP]] and [[.38 Super]] chamberings. Other variants followed with different degrees of factory accurizing and materials.

===Variants===

The .45 ACP "Colt Commander Gold Cup" was designed to offer competition-ready out-of-the-box performance in National Match competition. It came with one 8-round magazine plus a separate recoil spring and one 7-round magazine for wadcutter ammunition.<ref name= gd2011>{{cite book|last =Malloy|first =John|title=Gun Digest 2011|editor= Dan Shiedler|publisher = Krause|year= 2011 |chapter= The Colt 1911: The First Century|ISBN = 978-1-4402-1337-3|pages=108–117}}</ref>

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The "C.C.O." or "Concealed Carry Officer's" pistol mated the slide and barrel assembly of the stainless-steel Commander with the shorter frame of the blued Lightweight [[Colt Officer's ACP|Officer's ACP]].

[[File:Commander XSE.jpg|thumb|The XSE variation of the Colt Combat Commander]]

A limited run of the Colt Commander in [[7.65×21mm_Parabellum65×21mm Parabellum|7.65mm Luger]] was made for export in the early 1970s.

== Legacy ==

It was the first mass-produced American pistol with an aluminium alloy frame and the first Colt pistol to be chambered in [[9mm Parabellum]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ayoob |first=Massad |title=The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery |publisher=Gun Digest Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-89689-525-6 |page=7 |authorlink=Massad Ayoob}}</ref>

==References==

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==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090320152658/http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/downloads/Manuals/LoRes/MKIV%20Series%2080%20%26%2090%20Pistols.pdf Official Safety and Instruction Manual] (.pdf)PDF; (Archivedarchived from Colt)

{{Colt's Manufacturing Company}}

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[[Category:1911 platform]]

[[Category:Colt semi-automatic pistols]]

[[Category:Police weapons]]

[[Category:Semi-automatic pistols of the United States]]