Dream 1911 parts list

Best wedding gift evah!
Wife and I were home on leave recently and got a belated wedding gift from my aunt and uncle... a crock-pot cookbook, and a 1981 Colt Combat Commander with 2 original mags that they put 20rds through when they bought and then left it sitting in the safe till they gave it to us. Which item was intended for whom depends on which one of us you ask, but I have permission to buy 1 or 2 parts for the gun per paycheck until we have everything we want to bring to a gunsmith.

After a morning spent on WC's website, here's my list. Anybody have any "get this, not that" or "don't forget one of these" to add?

-Bullet Proof Low Lever Thumb Safety (item # 6BLLBP)
-Bullet Proof Thick Flange Commander Barrel Bushing (#619) (didn't know the Commander had a different size, but hey).
-Bullet Proof 70 Series Extractor (#415,70)
-Bullet Proof Titanium Firing Pin (#336)
-Bullet Proof Concealment Hammer (#337BC)
-Bullet Proof Deluxe A-2 Sear (#314)
-Bullet Proof Disconnector (#573)
-Bullet Proof 70 Series Firing Pin Stop (#399B,70)
-Bullet Proof Tactical Mag Release (#31TBP)
-High Ride Beavertail Grip Safety (#298B)
-Shock Buff Commander Recoil System (#64C)
-Magazine Well (#188B)
-Ultralight Match Medium Pad Trigger (#190M)
-Tritium Combat Pyramid Sight Set (#463T) (listed for a full-size 1911, but the next step down was listed as compact so I assume full-size for the Commander?)
-Extended Ejector (#34E)
-Match Grade Barrel (#33C)

a glock.

Congrats on the wedding!

LOL... actually I'm on a waiting list for a Blue Label G19. Soon as I get the call that they got the shipment, I'll have a brand new gen 4 for a hair over $400.
And thanks! We actually got married last October, but we're still waiting on the actual wedding. Trying to coordinate with when everybody on the list is available, between deployments and such, is a bitch. 3 of the 4 groomsmen are active duty, 2 of which are SF, so that doesn't help any either.

Why don't you shoot it till you break it in? I don't spend money for beauty accessories till there's plenty of miles on the speedo. Who knows you may decide after a few K what you 'wanted" wasn't really "needed"

Personally, I wouldn't do anything to a 30+ year old original Colt. Any other gun (assuming it's not some rare or wildly collectable specimen) I'd say do whatever you want. Don't mess with the Commander.

If you want a nice 1911 to hotrod find a norinco

Scratch the hammer, sear, disconnector, recoil system, trigger, firing pin, extractor and firing pin stop.
Hammer and sear go with Ed Brown Hardcore parts. They are EDM machined from tool steel whereas the Wilson shit is MIM IIRC.
Ed Brown Perfection disconnector.
Recoil system is a waste of money, a good ONE piece guide rod and Wolff 18# spring will do nicely.
Greider trigger, none finer.
TI firing pin is a waste of money
Ed Brown extractor.
EGW oversized firing pin stop.
Briley or Kart barrel and bushing.
Ed Brown sear spring.

I will second the comments of not dicking with the Colt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jim

Why don't you shoot it till you break it in? I don't spend money for beauty accessories till there's plenty of miles on the speedo. Who knows you may decide after a few K what you 'wanted" wasn't really "needed"

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^^^This. Don't change things up until you know for sure you don't like it. Things like grip safeties, thumb safety, slide stops etc. are very user preference. By the looks of your list, you probably have as much $$$ in parts as a basic Mil Spec 1911. I'd keep that one original as its value will be better preserved. Buy a base model 1911(whatever brand floats your boat) and then customize it with parts you know will work for you. 1911's aren't cheap to F'up. Good luck.

I know I like the beavertail, I know I like a medium-length trigger, and I haven't had any experience with the low-lever safety but I know the normal one feels a little high to my bitch-size hands.
That said, maybe I'll stick to the drop-in stuff... mag well, extractor, full length guide rod or that fancy WC thing, sights. That way I can revert it to factory if needed.
The one thing I definitely want to do is a trigger job. It has too much creep in it and is a tad too heavy.

Christensen plunger tube.