Colt listened. American Rifleman Field Editor Wiley Clapp has been writing about handguns—especially defensive handguns—for a living for 35 years. In that time, let alone his time as Marine infantry officer in Vietnam and as a sheriff's deputy in Southern California, Wiley has learned a thing or two and formed some strong opinions, opinions implemented on the factory floor at Colt. This stainless steel Wiley Clapp Commander has "Everything you need and nothing you don't." A gun with Series 70 lockwork, Altamont Tactical Oval grips, Pete Single 25 line-per-inch front strap checkering and genuine Novak sights—including a brass front bead and a wide rear—this piece of "fighting iron" is our Gun of the Week.
Specifications:
Model: Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander
Manufacturer: Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC
Chambering: .45 ACP
Action: single action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic center-fire pistol
Frame: stainless steel
Slide: stainless steel
Sights: Novak drift-adjustable; brass bead front, wide notch rear
Magazine: detachable-box, eight-round capacity
Trigger: 3-lb., 3-oz. pull
Barrel Length: 4.25”, stainless steel
Stocks: Tactical Oval grips with fingerprint checkering
Weight: 36 ozs.
MSRP: $1,259
NRA Gun of the Week: Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander Pistol
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
I Have This Old Gun: Model 1884 Trapdoor Springfield
The U.S. military's first official breechloading service rifle was the Trapdoor Springfield, and of the line of guns that saw use throughout the late 19th century, one of the most refined was the Model 1884 Trapdoor.
A Retro Python: The Pietta Blacktooth Revolver
As the company did with the original Colt Single Action Army, Pietta sought to reproduce the Colt Python as closely to the original as possible with its new Blacktooth revolver.
Questions & Answers: Cylinder Swaps
I am a huge fan of anything .45-caliber, especially single-action revolvers. I have five Ruger Blackhawk revolvers in different barrel lengths, all chambered in .45 Colt, two of which have extra cylinders chambered in .45 ACP.
American Rifleman’s Editor Explains How This Historic Title is Staying Relevant
As the new editor in chief of American Rifleman—and former editor in chief of Shooting Illustrated—Ed Friedman has the critical and challenging task of bringing this storied title into the digital age.
Colt Gets $40 Million Contract for M4/M4A1 Carbines
Colt’s Manufacturing has been awarded a $40,863,564 firm-fixed-price contract with U.S. Army Contracting Command to produce M4/M4A1 carbines for sale to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Macedonia and Tunisia.
The Stenzel Industries SAK-21: A Uniquely American AK
More than an American-made AK, Stenzel Industries calls the SAK-21 “a modular, purpose-built firearm, developed to meet the demands of special operations forces and professional shooters.”
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
