Colt Commander: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:41, 11 August 2017

Revision as of 16:59, 27 October 2017

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| name = Colt Commander

| type= [[Semi-automatic pistol]]

| origin={{flagcountry|United States}}

| era= 20th century

| design_date=

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| spec_type=

| part_length=

* 4.25 in (108  mm)

| cartridge=

* [[9×19mm Parabellum]]

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| feed= [[box magazine]]

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

* 9-round (9  mm, .38 Super)

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

| velocity=

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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&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/>

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/>