Colt Officer's Model

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

When they first came out a long time ago, I really wanted a Colt Officer's Model.  You know, the "compact" 1911 with a 3.5" barrel and grip that is a bit shorter and that uses therefore shorter magazines, holding one less round than a "full size" 1911, but is still a .45, giving you some good punch in a (large) pocket pistol.

Well, I finally obtained one after decades of wanting one.   

I really like it.

Mostly.

 

I assume for reasons relating to its smaller size, it doesn't take down exactly the same way as a 1911.  No matter, I got it apart with only a minor problem; I had to chase the recoil spring across the room after it popped free of the frame.

But then I tried to put it back together.  This was...  a challenge.   Suffice it to say that it is not an easy task.  With the recoil spring under tension, it does not want to go back together.  EVERYTHING must be aligned PERFECTLY, or it's a no go.  I had to find a Youtube video to see if there was some kind of a trick to it.   There is, sort of.  Make sure you align everything perfectly.   By the time I got the pistol back together last night before going to bed, my fingertips were all sore, and in fact, they still are.

Don't get me wrong, I am still glad I have this pistol, and yes, it will fit in my pocket, but man, Colt didn't think parts of the design through very well.  The video I watched pointed out that there is an after market spring and guide that makes this all much easier, and I just might obtain it.  After I put on an ambidextrous safety and an arched mainspring housing.  (But not one with a lanyard loop, they don't exist.)

 

[Texas Lizard]

I like all 5 of mine too.....

 

Texas Lizard

[Eyesa Horg]

I have a stainless Officers model. Haven't tried to disassemble it yet!!

Could you post that video and let us know how the spring and guide works. Thanks.

[Texas Maverick]

I acquired one in my younger years and it was a good shooter. My dad kept drooling over it so I gave it to him one Christmas year. It was supposed to come back to me when he died but somehow it disappeared and I have no idea where it went. I have a pretty good idea but since I don't have proof it will remain a mystery. 

 

TM

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Having shot and carried them for 36 years, I recommend lighter weight bullets. 185 gr is what I carry in mine. My current one has a titanium frame and Colt slide. There is a flat wire recoil spring that works much better than the factory setup. 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

While I don't have one, I always thought that the Officers frame with a Commander length slide would work out better.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Could you post that video and let us know how the spring and guide works. Thanks.

 

This is the video that helped me
 

 

It's not an actual Officer's Model, but something similar, but the "issue" is the same.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I’ve always had trouble getting any 1911 back together! The Officers model was the worst. 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

7 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I’ve always had trouble getting any 1911 back together! The Officers model was the worst. 

I can show you a couple easy tricks.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

6 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

When they first came out a long time ago, I really wanted a Colt Officer's Model.  You know, the "compact" 1911 with a 3.5" barrel and grip that is a bit shorter and that uses therefore shorter magazines, holding one less round than a "full size" 1911, but is still a .45, giving you some good punch in a (large) pocket pistol.

Well, I finally obtained one after decades of wanting one.   

I really like it.

Mostly.

 

I assume for reasons relating to its smaller size, it doesn't take down exactly the same way as a 1911.  No matter, I got it apart with only a minor problem; I had to chase the recoil spring across the room after it popped free of the frame.

But then I tried to put it back together.  This was...  a challenge.   Suffice it to say that it is not an easy task.  With the recoil spring under tension, it does not want to go back together.  EVERYTHING must be aligned PERFECTLY, or it's a no go.  I had to find a Youtube video to see if there was some kind of a trick to it.   There is, sort of.  Make sure you align everything perfectly.   By the time I got the pistol back together last night before going to bed, my fingertips were all sore, and in fact, they still are.

Don't get me wrong, I am still glad I have this pistol, and yes, it will fit in my pocket, but man, Colt didn't think parts of the design through very well.  The video I watched pointed out that there is an after market spring and guide that makes this all much easier, and I just might obtain it.  After I put on an ambidextrous safety and an arched mainspring housing.  (But not one with a lanyard loop, they don't exist.)

 

I prefer the Commander model  myself. 

I like the full size grip and the shorter slide .

I own all kinds of 1911's .

I carried one for years .

Then I finly got a Commander and I knew it was the right fighting gun for me .

Rooster 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

4 minutes ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I prefer the Commander model  myself. 

I like the full size grip and the shorter slide .

I own all kinds of 1911's .

I carried one for years .

Then I finly got a Commander and I knew it was the right fighting gun for me .

Rooster 

 

If I was gonna carry, it'd be a full size 1911.   I have a few of those.   I also have a Commander in .38 Super that I'd not hesitate to wear on my hip.

But I really wanted the Officers for concealed carry.  I've been carrying a Colt Mustang .380, but, well this may sound silly, but given all the bovine excrement that's been happening of late, I found myself thinking that I wanted something with more punch, but still small enough to be carried in my pocket.   The Officer's Model came back to my mind, and since I knew where one was that was for sale, I grabbed it.

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

I can show you a couple easy tricks.

Thanks I can get it back together it’s just a little tricky but thanks. I hardly ever shoot my 1911 Gov model. I had an officers model but sold it last year.

[watab kid]

pretty nifty fix 

[ShadowCatcher]

I owned one of those a few years back, and it was pretty obvious straight away that the

too short barrel compromised the functioning, not helped by the skinny bushing design.

 

The later generations went to a bull barrel as did the other makers who caught onto the 

market interest in the shortened 1911.  Making it in 9mm was also a challenge given the 

shorter cartridge length, but it did have better recoil.

 

I tried mounting a commander upper on my pistol and loved it, but when I contacted Colt about

the safety of doing this the went non-linear about not doing it!  Of course a bit later they started

marketing their own CCO designs, where they run a commander top end on an officers model,

and also Commanding Officer model with a Officers top on a Commander frame.

 

I like the CCO personally, and if I was to get anything but a full size Gov't model I'd probably 

get one in .45.  Fusion makes a very attractive version.  I prefer the 185 +p loads for that

small frame though.  The CCO seems to avoid all the issues that the Officers brings.

 

If you want to try a smaller 1911 pattern pistol look into the Springfiels EMP as well.

Redesigned to 9mm scale, but about half the parts are Standard 1911 dimensions.  Bull barrel

and captured recoil spring, so much easier to strip and clean.  Very accurate - I just 

had mine machined to low mount a green dot!

 

 

SC