Can the SR1911 Grip Frame be cut down to Officer's size?

[Doc Nonverbal]

Hello all,

I'm looking at buying an SR1911 Commander for concealed carry. I'd like to find something akin to the Les Baer "Stinger": A Commander slide with an Officer's grip frame. My question is whether there is enough extra metal on the SR1911 grip frame to cut it down to Officer's size.

Many thanks,


David

 

[eveled]

If I were going to get a 1911 for concealed carry, I would want it to be lighter than the SR1911. Just saying there are better options out there. Ed

 

[Doc Nonverbal]

If I were going to get a 1911 for concealed carry, I would want it to be lighter than the SR1911. Just saying there are better options out there. Ed

I can certainly see the merits of plastic and alloy pistols, but my preference is for stainless steel. I'm a fairly large guy and will be carrying using a shoulder holster, which should help with the weight.

My current carry piece is a Colt Government .380. It's a nice little pistol, but I'd like something with a little more stopping power and greater accuracy at 25 yards.

This said, I'd like to hear your suggestions for a better 1911 for concealed carry. I try not to pass up opportunities to learn something new.

David

 

[eveled]

A 1911 is not my first choice for CCW, and I am not an expert by any means. When I do carry my SR1911 it is IWB, and it is heavy, but it is easy to conceal.

If you are using a shoulder holster, I don't think you will need the shorter grip, in order to conceal it. I would not want to give up even one round to make the grip shorter. Good luck, Ed.

 

[schloss]

Best bet is to compare them side by side. I think you'll find that there isn't enough material there - I can't say for sure, I could be off the mark on this. Once you look at labor costs to weld a patch back in and open it up properly, change the msh, new grips, mags, and whatever else I can't think of right now, you'd probably be further ahead tracking down a CCO.

I would like to have exactly what you're talking about.

 

[Snake45]

It can be done, but it's a custom gunsmith job. Why not buy a gun made that way to start with? I think Kimber has a couple just like that.

 

[dakota1911]

Colt through Talo have them also. You might look into bobbing the grip too.

 

[Doc Nonverbal]

It can be done, but it's a custom gunsmith job. Why not buy a gun made that way to start with? I think Kimber has a couple just like that.

The Kimbers have the Officer's slide, which I wouldn't want.

Les Baer makes the Stinger, but it's over twice as expensive as the Ruger.

The downside of cutting it is that the grips won't look right - the lower screw will be too close to the bottom of the frame.

 

[Doc Nonverbal]

Colt through Talo have them also. You might look into bobbing the grip too.

I'm definitely considering going this route. The CZ V-Bob is really sharp looking. My thought is that I could modify the Ruger for less money.

 

[HeavyDuty]

It can be done, but it's a custom gunsmith job. Why not buy a gun made that way to start with? I think Kimber has a couple just like that.

The Kimbers have the Officer's slide, which I wouldn't want.

Les Baer makes the Stinger, but it's over twice as expensive as the Ruger.

The downside of cutting it is that the grips won't look right - the lower screw will be too close to the bottom of the frame.

S&W is doing a Commander top end on an Officer's gripframe - it's a combination I've been considering, too.

 

[Pat-inCO]

It can be done, but it's a custom gunsmith job. Why not buy a gun made that way to start with? I think Kimber has a couple just like that.

The Kimbers have the Officer's slide, which I wouldn't want.
....

Kimber makes them with full size frame and short slide, short frame and short slide and long frame and long and longer slide. Just pick the combination you want.

If you want the weight, go for the HD version(s), or non HD will be with alloy frames (Kimber advertises no discernible wear in 25,000 rounds).

Mix, match, take your choice. ALL good equipment.

 

[dfletcher]

Hello all,

I'm looking at buying an SR1911 Commander for concealed carry. I'd like to find something akin to the Les Baer "Stinger": A Commander slide with an Officer's grip frame. My question is whether there is enough extra metal on the SR1911 grip frame to cut it down to Officer's size.

Many thanks,


David

Perhaps worth considering is getting a Detonics instead, used obviously but it comes close to what you've described and better in some ways.

I have a fair number of "shorty" 1911s and the one thing I think they miss the boat on is grip length. Whether Colt Defender or the Kimber or others I think the grip frame should be shorter by about 1". The Detonics has a height (from grip bottom to top of slide) of about 4". I know it doesn't sound like much of a difference, but when carrying the Detonics instead of a Springfield EMP for example I do have an easier time of it. I'm fairly tall (6'5" @ 190 lbs) and can hide stuff well, but I think the shorter frame makes it easier.

 

[Doc Nonverbal]

I appreciate the feedback and suggestions very much. After much consideration, I've decided to avoid trying to cut down the Ruger and instead save up my pennies and buy a Les Baer stainless Stinger.

I have fairly large hands, but when I grip a standard frame 1911, I have close to 1/2" of unused space at the bottom of the grip. The Stinger comes with seven round magazines with low base pads, so with a round in the pipe, I think I'll be in pretty good shape in terms of capacity.

I'm currently debating whether I want a magazine well on it. I really like the Smith & Alexander wells I have on two of my full-size 1911s. I'll have to give this more consideration, though my current thinking is that the added length of the mag well would be offset by the increased speed of reloading while under stress.

My next purchase after that will be a Dan Wesson V-Bob. One can never have too many 1911s. 8^ )

 

[pts]

Truer words have never been spoken. That's why I own 17 of them!

 

[eveled]

You can't make a post bragging like that without a picture to prove it! Especially a first post. (just kidding).

Welcome to the forum, Ed.

 

[Jim Puke]

You can't make a post bragging like that without a picture to prove it! Especially a first post. (just kidding).

Welcome to the forum, Ed.

X 2

 

[Rodfac]

S&W is doing a Commander top end on an Officer's gripframe - it's a combination I've been considering, too.

So is Sig...it's a 1911 with a shorter grip...about 1/4" shorter than my Ruger 1911 CMD, but you still get 7 rounds in the mag: since Sig supplies a pair of 7 round magazines for it, which fit flush!! It's the RCS model, with a 4-1/4" barrel. I shot two of them last weekend and was very impressed. The frame is alloy with a steel slide, but recoil with full metal jacket government .45 loads felt no more than did my Ruger Commander. Accuracy was superb too...2" gps from a tree stump improvised rest.

It's a been a long time since a 1911 of any make rang my chimes like this one did. The gun felt so good to me that I'm looking for one now. It's supplied with the grips shown, checkered front and back strap, Nitron finish, beveled mag well, as well as a soft carry "melted" frame and slide and Sig's version of tritium night sights...gun broker has several for just over $800...Here's a pic.

Best Regards, Rod

 

[eveled]

Sweet! Let us know how it shoots. Do regular mags fit in it? Pretty slick making it shorter and still the same capacity. Ed