Commander slide
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He's right. The dust cover (the forward part of the frame the encloses the recoil spring) is longer on a Government Model size pistol than a Commander. Of course he could cut down the dust cover to fit, but then when you put a full size slide back on it there is a gap that looks really tacky, even if it might work for a while.
Also, to go from a 45 Norinco to a 40 parts gun, you will have to change the ejctor, which is certainly do-able but not a plug in part (it must be pinned in place). Makes it mostly a gunsmith only project - and another gunsmith project to reverse the process.
Bottom line, you can do this if you're willing to pay for the work, but you won't have a frame that you can easily switch back and forth between the 45 configuration and the 40 caliber commander.
Good luck.
Also, to go from a 45 Norinco to a 40 parts gun, you will have to change the ejctor, which is certainly do-able but not a plug in part (it must be pinned in place). Makes it mostly a gunsmith only project - and another gunsmith project to reverse the process.
Bottom line, you can do this if you're willing to pay for the work, but you won't have a frame that you can easily switch back and forth between the 45 configuration and the 40 caliber commander.
Good luck.
THATS FUNNY BECOUSE I DO!
I have a 1911 pistol with 3 different top ends. The origional issue, a electroless nickle COMMANDER SLIDE WITH A 5" BARREL, and a Colt 22 conversion kit. When I gave the parts to my gunsmith I asked him to fit the commander slide to my frame not the frame to the slide so I could switch back and forth. I have seen other conversions as well using both size slides.(both commander and GM top ends are in 45 acp) It can be done. You just need to find a different gunsmith.
I have a 1911 pistol with 3 different top ends. The origional issue, a electroless nickle COMMANDER SLIDE WITH A 5" BARREL, and a Colt 22 conversion kit. When I gave the parts to my gunsmith I asked him to fit the commander slide to my frame not the frame to the slide so I could switch back and forth. I have seen other conversions as well using both size slides.(both commander and GM top ends are in 45 acp) It can be done. You just need to find a different gunsmith.
There is another alternative as well. True that a Commander slide uses a shorter dust cover on the frame, BUT Caspian use to make a Commander length slide that worked on a standard long dust cover Govt frame. It was nothing more than a Govt slide with the nose bobbed off and using a Commander barrel. In other words, there are a number of ways to approach your situation and a gunsmith should be able to give you all the options. I do not know the specifics of a Para P15 slide, but it could require a bobbing of the Norinco frame, which is standard Govt length. I have a Colt Commander slide mounted on a Para P12 frame myself and it worked beautifully. The old P12 top was mounted on a Randall Gen. Curtis Lemay frame to make an Officer Model sized gun.
The .40 having a smaller case head diameter would seem to dictate using the 9mm/38 Super ejector....but. I have a 1911 that is set up with 10mm and 45 ACP top ends. I found that the 45 ACP ejector does a fine job on the 10mm case, so, maybe you need different ejectors, maybe you will not.