Though the concept was originally introduced in the 1950s, the Colt Lightweight Commander in 9 mm Luger didn’t take off the way a modern shooter might expect. The carry and concealment qualities of the Commander-size platform—full-size grip and magazine, but shortened slide and 4.25” barrel—were appreciated, but the metallurgy for the lightweight aluminum-alloy frame, and particularly the quality and performance of 1950s-era 9 mm Luger ammunition were not, shall we say, confidence inspiring. Of course, in terms of manufacturing and ballistics, we’ve come a long way in the last 60-plus years. The Colt Wiley Clapp Lightweight Commander in 9 mm Luger was designed in part by its namesake long-time American Rifleman Field Editor, and has the appearance and some features of a classic Colt autoloader—including a brass bead front sight and G.I.-style tab safety lever. Rest assured, though, the gun also takes advantage of modern technology and ammunition to yield a firearm that is very suitable for today’s armed citizen. To learn more, watch our NRA Gun Gear of the Week video hosted by American Rifleman's Joe Kurtenbach.
Additional Reading:
Colt's New M1911s: The Competition Pistol and Lightweight Commander 
NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Colt Wiley Clapp Lightweight Commander 9 mm Pistol
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
Ruger to Discontinue Several Major Models
Ruger announced a major change to several of its longtime product lines this week, stating that it would immediately suspend production of several models while finishing out current production runs of other models through 2026.
I Have This Old Gun: The British Lee-Metford Rifle
In the late 1880s, the British military adopted its first bolt-action rifle chambered for the .303 British cartridge. This is the Lee-Metford, the first step on the way to the iconic Lee-Enfield.
Colt Delivers M4A1 Rifles to Guatemala Through Foreign Military Sales Program
Guatemala’s military recently acquired more than 2,000 Colt M4A1 rifles through the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales program as part of the country's ongoing military modernization efforts.
NRA Launches New Texas Senate Ad as Part of Multi-Million Dollar Campaign to Retain Pro-Gun Majorities in Congress
The NRA today released a new 30-second ad highlighting Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico’s longstanding support for banning so-called “assault weapons” and standard-capacity magazines—the firearms and accessories owned by millions of law-abiding Texans.
Going Pro: Springfield Armory's Echelon Pro Comp
Springfield Armory has expanded its Echelon line of handguns with several new Echelon Pro Comp offerings, bringing a number of what the company calls "performance-oriented enhancements" to the platform.
Steel Yourselves—Metal is Back
These days, it’s safe to say that injection-molded polymer of some sort is the most prevalent material from which to construct a pistol frame, but lately, that trend seems to be reversing. Metal is back.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
