prawls

I'm looking for a bobtailed commander model 1911 for CCW. Dan Wesson seems to have the best prices, but I also know you get what you pay for a lot of times (not that they are cheap). Its my understanding that they also have their share of problems that I haven't heard of with Wilson Combat or Ed Brown models. Does anybody have any clear advantages, disadvantages or problems with any of the guns shops that manufacture these pistols? Any other manufacturers I should be looking at? I know Lima went with Wilson, but don't know if that was a personal preference or problems with the other guys.

Price is going to be a big factor, but if I need to save up a little longer, then so be it.

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CARRY GUNS:
Kel-Tec P32HC, S&W 638,
Ruger LCP, Kimber Ultra CDP,
Bersa T380, SIG P239 SAS

roadsiderob

I saw a Cobra Carry at the gun shop...beautiful gun, I want one. But I don't have $2000 ish for a new piece. My solution is to build my own. I ordered a railed Commander frame and the bobtail kit from Brownells. I figure I'll try my hand at bobtailing a bare frame, if it turns out good, I'll buy the rest of the parts and finish the project. If it turns out badly....well, I've only ruined a bare frame.

JD

Factory bobtails are pretty much limited to Dan Wesson, Wilson, Ed Brown, and NHC.

We went with the Wilson because it's what Lima wanted. In all honesty, we never even looked at Dan Wesson. Not for any faults they may or may not have.

We went about it the other way, Lima wasn't looking for a bobtailed 1911, we were looking for a Wilson or Nighthawk and I found her Wilson, which just happened to have a bobtail. What she really wanted was a Commander sized upper with an officers frame, but we found her bobtailed Professional at a price we couldn't pass up.

The Dan Wessons are fine guns, as long as you want a gun that's finished in bare stainless. I have heard few if any complaints on the Dan Wessons.

Now if you want something other than a bare SS 1911. I'd look at the Browns and the Wilsons. I have no first hand experience with Ed Browns other than fondling them at shops every chance I get. They appear very well built, but I don't personally care for the "scaling" of the cocking serrations.

The NHC guns are truly works of art, but they are probably the highest priced of the makers I've listed, and I really don't think you're getting anything more for your money.

If I were to buy another factory bobtailed 1911, I would probably go with the Dan Wesson CBOB and have it refinished later down the road.

If I were to buy another 1911 without a bobtail, it would probably be another Les Baer.

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On "Vacation" till thing settle down with the little guy.

Garrett Matthew _______, 8lbs 4oz. 21"
11-25-08

Airedale

I have an Ed Brown Kobra Carry on my hip now. It is a superb 1911. I have two Wilson full sized 1911s and they are also superb. You can't go wrong with either company.
Dave

alfack

I just picked up a new Colt XSE Commander.

The only thing I don't like about it is the ambi safety. When I press it down with my thumb, it hits my index finger on the other side. Ordered an Ed Brown replacement for it.

Anyway, I would like to have it bobbed. I noticed some place selling a jig to cut the frame and other places that sell the mainspring housings pre-formed. It doesn't look like it would be to complex to convert any 1911 to bobbed. That said, does anyone know of a good smith that will do this for a reasonable price?

AZ Husker

It's an easy job with the Ed Brown jig and his MSH. Unless the gun is stainless, you'll need to figure in refinishing costs also...might be a good reason to get Triipp's hard chrome done! Once you're finished, you can do some for your friends, or sell the jig here on the forum.

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Mainspring

You can't really go wrong with the CBOB. If you want to spend 2 or 3 times what a CBOB costs, you can do that later. I'm personally a fan of stainless because I'm not a fan of spending money to re-finish a gun to keep it looking good. I carry my CBOB nearly all day, every day. When you do that, scratches are part of the game...I don't care what kind of wizzy gizzy finish you have on a gun. With bare stainless, those scratches are easy and cheap to make go away. You get a lot of "custom" parts with a CBOB, and IMHO you get a whole lot of gun for the money.

You can find people to gripe about any 1911 maker if you look. Yes, that includes EB, Wilson, NHC, DW, Colt, Springfield...all of them. I haven't had a single problem with my CBOB, and I didn't spend 2 or 3 grand.

However, when I do have 2 or 3 large ones burning a hole in my pocket, you can rest assured that I will have an EB, Wilson, NHC, et al. But until then, my CBOB does very nicely.

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The keys to winning a gunfight are first to bring a gun and secondly to take your time, quickly.

Always remember that if your opponent is within range, so are you.

POWER TO THE MEPEOPLE!!!

semperfi.45

I'm looking to purchase an Ed Brown Special Forces Commander (someday).


Photo from Ken Lunde

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Luck may or may not be on your side.
But ability is 100% within your control.
Skilled at arms...or do you suck?

tegemu

I bought a Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail and LOVE it. It got me started on my love affair with Bobtails. The next thing I did was buy a Smith & Wesson Scandium Commander (Lightweight) and had it Bobtailed. If you want to se it, go to OnTarget Home Page , select "1911 Gallery", then "Smith & Wesson Bobtail." I loved this pistol so much that it is one of my two daily carry guns. Then the bug struck again and I bought a Colt Commander XSE Lightweight and had it Bobtailed. I haven't finished breaking it in yet. If I had my druthers (Read money) I would have all of my 1911's Bobtailed. There is no better 1911 for carry and concealment. They hide better even than my Kimber Ultra Carry II. The Bobtail improves the comfort and shootability immensly for me. Alfack, check with Jess Gypin at On Target Custom Gun Works, he was very reasonable, quick and does superb work. email address and directions to see the gun above.

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People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence in their behalf. - George Orwell

alfack

Thanks. I will check them out. What kind of wait times do they have?