is a 1911 comm. frame the same as a gov. frame?

[J S Machine]

I want to know if I can interchange parts.I know that the officer's size is different all together, but it seems that the commander and the government size guns frames are the same. As far as I can tell the frame is the same but the barrel, guide rod, recoil spring, and slide are different. Am I correct?

 

[freakshow10mm]

Yes but the recoil area where the recoil rod sits is cut back a little in the commander frame. Everything else is the same.

 

[Hunter Customs]

The frame rail length, seat for the recoil shield of the spring guide and the length of the dust cover are different.
The barrel, barrel bushing, spring guide & plug, slide, and recoil spring are different.
Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

 

[Scorch]

The Commander (Colt trademarked name) frame is different from the Government Model (Colt trademarked name also). The dust cover (front of the frame) is shorter, and the rails are shorter. This is done so the flutes at the front of the slide could be made longer for eye appeal and still have the same visual lines as the Government Model. The slide and barrel are different also (2 locking lugs vs 3 on the Government). That's Colts. Other makers have made shorter 1911s by just cutting down the 1911 slide. It makes the slide flutes look chopped off and the frame look too long.