Dumb Question
 

Maybe a dumb question, but here goes. Is there any benefit to an aluminum/Scandium/what-have-you (LW) frame on a 1911, other than a bit of weight savings? I'm guessing a steel frame will be more durable and offer less perceived recoil (even if only marginally so).

Are there any other benefits to a lightweight frame I should be aware of?

Less weight equals easier carry. I carry my Kimber Tactical pro for that reason. Plus I'd rather lose 1200 bucks over 3000 if my truck is broken into at work. However, watch the feed ramp. Some Colts had anodized feed ramps and problems were reported after the anodizing wore off...maybe true, maybe not. Do your homework over on the big forum if you decide to buy.
When ya comin' back up to South Georgia here? Next time chow is on me

Thanks for the info Mike. I've had this mental block about carrying a 1911 because I don't practice enough to be 100% sure I will snick off the safety if/when actually needed. In fact, I think that no matter how much I practice, what can go wrong will at the worst moment.

But, I finally decided to start carrying one. Today was the day. I have a Springfield Loaded Champion I bought a few years ago. It has about 600 rounds through it at the range, all flawless. Carried it all day today. My solution -- condition zero. No thumb safety worries (and I've considered the pros and cons). Snick on the safety, holster it, and snick off the safety once it is securely in the holster. Used a good IWB holster and an instructor belt. No weight issues. Perfectly comfortable over 9 - 10 hours of running around.

Reason for my question is that I have had a hankering for a DW for over a year. I've been saving my pennies, and am getting close to the purchase price for one. I've narrowed it down to the Guardian, or a V-Bob Valor in the black duty coat. There is about a $350 difference; and, the Guardian has the aluminum frame. So need to think on it some more.

Don't have any trips "up North" coming up. When I do, I'll give you a shout, and we'll grab a bite.

Ubaldo...be advised, the stainless Wessons have had some galling problems as of late. Carbon steel is good to go. Do me a favor...unload your 1911, and hold it in your hand. Make a fist. Thumb disengages the thumb safety, palm disengages the grip safety, index finger squeezes the trigger. All by just making a fist, the way it was designed.
Ride the safety thumbs forward. I do, ever since Dave Waits schooled Mary on it. Search "Hey Mary, lets play cowboys and Indians" on this forum. Follow Yoda's pictorial, and you will never miss taking off the safety again. And I'd shot crossed thumbs for 35 years

http://www.cotep.org/forum/showthrea...owboys+indians

Thanks Mike, I appreciate it. I will study this and practice it. Without a doubt, I would rather carry in condition 1, and do the standard thing. I just need to be able to guarantee to myself that the thumb safety will be snicked on the draw if things ever get ugly.

Just didn't want to put off carrying the 1911 any longer, so I'm compromising. But, I will work on it.

I have both, steel (RIA) and aluminum (Sig) framed ultra compacts and the steel (RIA) is very noticeably heavier and more cumbersome to carry. Not sure why, buy the Rock compact has more perceived recoil than the Sig. The Rock makes the web of my right hand sore after a box or so of ammo. I can shoot the Sig all day without discomfort.

http://www.cotep.org/forum/picture.p...pictureid=1046

I refuse to change my two handed grip I've used for 40 years on every handgun just to carry a 1911 and not worry about snicking the safety off Pig..

Condition 0 works just as well as condition 1 without having to change grip or think about snicking. I've used condition 0 for longer than most have carried a 1911 in condition 1 without any issues. Having someone change their grip just to reliably snick seems like bad advice. If they've not used flagged or forward thumbs in the past, the issue then becomes will they revert back to their normal grip under stress. The less you change what you're accustomed to the better. He's also been trained to shoot one handed the majority of the time and a flagged/forward thumb does not give the best grip one handed [ for recoil control ]. Humans have an opposable thumb for a reason, and it's not to grip tools with the thumb flagged/forward. It's an unnatural grip.

LG,
After carrying a steel govt model [ or two ] for near 30 years professionally, I prefer the lw commanders presently. It'll be personal preference for everyone to decide, but remember, the shorter the slide, the faster it clears leather.

No need to compromise if you want to carry 45acp, there's always the DA/SA guns like my Sig 227.. No remembering snicking or change of grip you're used to required. The other issue I see is the commonality of drawing and firing various firearms. In condition 0, the 1911 is no different than pulling my glocks, or Sigs--draw and fire. If you move back and forth between platforms of striker and hammer fired that don't require snicking and then the 1911 where you'll have to snick and change your hold to make the snicking reliable, you're changing too many ingrained skills to meet one guns requirements, IMO. That's a recipe for disaster when your under the stress of having to defend yourself, again IMO.

There's a lot to be said for commonality of skills between various weapons platforms.

Dan Wesson Valkryrie. As a concealable carry 1911, this is the pistol. Clears leather quicker with the 4.25 barrel, conceals better. It does give up one round in the mag due to the shorter grip. I can live with that since I am the world's premier numero uno threat focused quick kill pro'tege' in the world, and all my gunfights will only last but one mere bullet per adversary. :D .....Really.