ltwguns.com

Not trying to hijack the thread...but I think Pangris likes his new pistol!!!

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee

You may want to consider this treatment by the Yost shop.

Round Butt and 40Lpi for snag free and less printing......

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Gary Pennington
email........ brewdog57@hotmail.com


I've learned age is a very high price to pay for maturity

It is fitting right into the stable!

Ted just built me a carry pistol on a pre-80 Combat Commander; Novak front and rear bar/dot night sights, no checkering....serrations instead and a rounded MSH. I have lots of checkered 1911s and I have gradually concluded that the artistic effect of checkering far exceeds its utility. If something is making your pistol slippery checkering probably won't help much. Skateboard tape REALLY helps and you can take it off whenever. I personally really like the Commander for carry.

FWIW I'm not an armchair commentator......I shoot a lot and carry as well.

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Bob

Smiths and 1911s are what it's all about!

I personally carry a commander size with bobtail grip and lightweight frame (combination of less weight, smaller size, and reliability). Nothing suits everyone as you can see from the responses. My advice is "borrow" several different styles, try them for a full day, and see what works for you. Carrying concealed always has pluses and minuses; it is what makes the most difference to you. Make sure you practice with the pistol the way you carry it and make sure it is reliable with the ammo you intend carry it with.

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It is Persistence, Not Perfection, Which Achieves Results

I love commanders and government framed 1911s... but for daily carry I have to select the None Of The Above --option ---and cast a vote for the Officers Model. (BTW-- I carried a commander for 10 years)

My daily carry is a well customized Enhanced Model Colt Officer's ACP.. Especially in a shoulder rig, an IWB, or a sob holster... I find it much more comfortable and faster to present... and with the right Wilson mags it's a 8 + 1 gun..... so nothing is lost in firepower.

Currently every major company now puts out a gun in this size... and from what I read ....and see in my classes.. they a VERY popular.

Don Williams built me a VERY nice gun on a series 70 Colt lightweight commander. I went with serrations instead of checkering for two reasons- serrations give an adequate grip while not grabbing clothing (my checkered guns always seem to grab my overshirt), and I think they hold up better on an aluminum frame. I've seen pretty minor impacts bugger up 30 LPI checkering on aluminum, while both of my LW commanders with serrations have taken whacks with no damage.

Because of my build, I find the commander-length guns easier to carry IWB for long periods of time. The LW gun definitely makes my back ache less, and I don't notice any real reduction in controllability. A LW gun won't last as long as a steel framed 1911, but you should have a second one anyway.

I find that my taste in carry guns gets simpler as I get older. It has to run, have good sights and a good trigger, no sharp edges, and be reasonably accurate. The gun Don built for me satisfies all of these criteria. He's currently working on a 5" 1991 for me that's even simpler, that will probably also get carried a lot, especially on trips.

Any of the LTW smiths can help you decide what works best for you and build you a gun that will make you happy. Take a look at their work and give one a call. I can personally HIGHLY recommend Don. I have a second LW commander that Ted Yost did some light work on that I bought second hand, and the work on it is flawless- I would send a gun to the YoBo boys without any hesitation. Actually, I'd send a gun to any of the 'smiths here with no reservations, but those are the only two whose work I've used myself. Maybe when my girls aren't in private school anymore I can afford to have some of the other lads build me guns.

I've carried 1911s forever, but mostly Lightweight Commanders lately unless I'm in costume (uniform). I would prefer 20 lpi checkering on all my carry pieces if I could afford it. I've never had the frontstrap snag on my outer clothing. I can't really picture it. The butt will snag if it's sharp. It doesn't need to be bobtailed or even RB'd like the Yost treatment to be snag free. But that Yost RB sure looks nice.

Next to checkering and on a black pistol, I prefer skateboard tape or a stick-on sanding disk cut to size. If they made it in silver, I might forgo checkering and have it on all my guns.

ML