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
Review: Kimber 2K11
The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.
Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”
Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”
Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation
In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.
Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers
The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.
The Armed Citizen® Oct. 6, 2025
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
FEMA Notes Decline In Disaster Preparedness
A recent report from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) noted a decline in local government preparedness for natural disasters, putting increased pressure on individuals to prepare themselves for emergencies.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
