{"id":4688,"date":"2023-01-20T19:50:39","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T19:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/?p=4688"},"modified":"2023-11-28T22:08:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T22:08:54","slug":"1911-sizes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/1911-sizes\/","title":{"rendered":"1911 Sizes: Government, Commander, Officer and Defender"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re in the market for a 1911, you may have encountered several different 1911 sizes. Colt’s Government and Commander 1911 pistols are well known, but they’re not the only 1911 sizes Colt developed. In this brief discussion, we’ll compare the Colt Government, Commander, Officer, and Defender 1911s.<\/span><\/p>\n

1911 Sizes: Government vs. Commander vs. Officer vs. Defender<\/span><\/h2>\n

Colt 1911 Sizes Chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Name<\/th>Barrel Length<\/th>Frame Size<\/th>Frame Material<\/th>Caliber<\/th>Capacity (45 ACP)<\/th>Capacity (9mm)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Government<\/td>5\"<\/td>Full Size<\/td>steel<\/td>.45ACP, 9mm, .38 Super, 10mm<\/td>7+1, 8+1<\/td>9+1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Commander<\/td>4.25\"<\/td>Full Size<\/td>steel, aluminum (LW Commander)<\/td>.45ACP, 9mm, .38 Super<\/td>8+1<\/td>9+1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Officer<\/td>3.5\"<\/td>Officer<\/td>steel, aluminum (LW Officer's ACP)<\/td>.45 ACP<\/td>6+1<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Concealed Carry Officer<\/td>4.25\"<\/td>Officer<\/td>aluminum<\/td>.45 ACP<\/td>6+1<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Defender<\/td>3\"<\/td>Officer<\/td>aluminum<\/td>.45 ACP, .40S&W, 9mm<\/td>7+1<\/td>8+1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Colt developed several different 1911 pistols of various frame sizes, barrel lengths, calibers, and capacities.<\/p>\n

The primary 1911 sizes are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Government<\/li>\n
  2. Commander<\/li>\n
  3. Officer<\/li>\n
  4. Defender<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Government and Commander share a full size frame while the Officer and Defender share an Officer-sized frame, each with different barrel lengths. The Officer frame has a shorter magazine well and dust cover than the full size frame.<\/p>\n

    Let’s take a closer look at each of these 1911 pistols.<\/p>\n

    \"a<\/a><\/p>\n

    Government 1911<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"an<\/p>\n

    Barrel Length: 5\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

    Frame Size: Full<\/em><\/p>\n

    The Government is the original, full-size 1911 developed by legendary gun maker John Moses Browning and adopted by the U.S. military in 1911. Whether you opt for the original 1911 or the later updated 1911A1 configuration, your Government 1911 will have a 5\u201d barrel and total length of 8.25\u201d sitting on a steel frame. The original Government model is chambered in .45 ACP<\/a> with an 8+1 capacity, though the original 1911 pistols had a 7+1 capacity. Colt offers 1911s in other calibers using the Government frame, including 9mm, .38 Super, and 10mm<\/a>. Beyond Colt’s offerings, you’ll find other manufacturers designing Government-sized 1911s in even more calibers. Browning designed the gun to be carried on the hip and over 100 years later you will still find shooters carrying the 1911 in that manner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It’s not surprising that the Government has maintained its popularity and influenced many other 1911 designs. Its single-action<\/a> trigger pull is short and crisp. Its recoil is easily manageable, likely due to the 5″ barrel and heavy frame. The Government is well balanced and functions reliably when maintained appropriately.<\/p>\n

    Commander 1911<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"an<\/p>\n

    Barrel Length: 4.25\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

    Frame Size: Full<\/em><\/p>\n

    Colt<\/a> introduced the Commander 1911 in 1949. The Commander uses a Government-sized frame but with a shorter 4.25″ barrel. This means that the grip is the same as the Government model, giving it an 8+1 magazine capacity in .45ACP. The original Commander came with an aluminum frame, making it a light 27.5 ounces compared to the Government’s 39 ounces. In response to complaints of the Commander’s bad recoil, Colt introduced the steel frame Combat Commander. Eventually, Colt renamed the aluminum-frame Commander to to the Lightweight Commander. <\/span>The Commander comes in .45ACP, 9mm<\/a>, and .38 Super<\/a> offerings.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Despite sharing the same frame size as the Government, Colt had to make some small changes to the Commander in order for the pistol to function with a shorter slide. Some differences that the Commander has from the Government include:<\/p>\n