I have always liked odd-ball cartridges. That is likely just one reason I like my 70's era .38 Super Combat Commander. Another reason I like this gun is that I did a lot of parts swapping to get it where I wanted it to be. Looking at it today, I found that I had done more to it than I remembered first off.
Here is a list of the changes...some were options, some were necessary due to factory error.
1. New slide (it is stamped 9MM...not .38 Super because that was the only Command slide that was available at the time...it is a series 80 slide, sans series 80 firing pin lock).
2. It has a National Match barrel bushing.
3. It has an aftermarket barrel with fully supported chamber (as I remember the original Colt barrel had an unsupported cut on the bottom).
4. It has a long target trigger.
5. The new trigger was stoned on a 1911 trigger honing fixture giving it a very good trigger pull.
6. It has wrap-around Pachmayr rubber grips...which I prefer for my autos.
7. It has a Pachmayr checkered rubber-covered flat mainspring houseing...so I have checkered rubber all the way around the gun's grip area (I don't know if they still make them).
8. It has an extended magazine release button...I have small hands and find it very awkward to reach a standard 1911 magazine release.
9. I had the old pitiful Military-style sights removed and better sights added (Novak?) via milling cuts.
10. I added a Beaver Tail grip safety. I think my adding that was likely cosmetic inasmuch as having smallish hands, I have never been bitten by any auto slide, ever.
To my surprise, I found that I had not swapped out the safety that had come with the gun...it is a mystery to me that it still has the original inasmuch as I have always considered the standard safety inadequate. I wonder how I missed that...a possible this Winter-time project? Addendum: I found a blued Ambi safety in my parts box...evidently I did try an Ambi at one time, did not like it and put the original back in. However, I for sure will put an extende, wider safety in the gun this Winter.
In all, a true "FrankenColt"...but I think it is a way better gun than it started out to be.
Here is a list of the changes...some were options, some were necessary due to factory error.
1. New slide (it is stamped 9MM...not .38 Super because that was the only Command slide that was available at the time...it is a series 80 slide, sans series 80 firing pin lock).
2. It has a National Match barrel bushing.
3. It has an aftermarket barrel with fully supported chamber (as I remember the original Colt barrel had an unsupported cut on the bottom).
4. It has a long target trigger.
5. The new trigger was stoned on a 1911 trigger honing fixture giving it a very good trigger pull.
6. It has wrap-around Pachmayr rubber grips...which I prefer for my autos.
7. It has a Pachmayr checkered rubber-covered flat mainspring houseing...so I have checkered rubber all the way around the gun's grip area (I don't know if they still make them).
8. It has an extended magazine release button...I have small hands and find it very awkward to reach a standard 1911 magazine release.
9. I had the old pitiful Military-style sights removed and better sights added (Novak?) via milling cuts.
10. I added a Beaver Tail grip safety. I think my adding that was likely cosmetic inasmuch as having smallish hands, I have never been bitten by any auto slide, ever.
To my surprise, I found that I had not swapped out the safety that had come with the gun...it is a mystery to me that it still has the original inasmuch as I have always considered the standard safety inadequate. I wonder how I missed that...a possible this Winter-time project? Addendum: I found a blued Ambi safety in my parts box...evidently I did try an Ambi at one time, did not like it and put the original back in. However, I for sure will put an extende, wider safety in the gun this Winter.
In all, a true "FrankenColt"...but I think it is a way better gun than it started out to be.
Last edited: