NRA Gun of the Week: Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander Pistol

by
posted on November 26, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

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

Latest

reloading a revolver
reloading a revolver

Rapid Reloads For Revolvers

Wheelguns are still a viable option for self-defense, offering some real advantages—but keeping them in the fight requires mastering a few tools and techniques.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 11, 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.

A Look Back At Marlin's Model 9 Camp Carbine

This Dope Bag review from 1985 delves into one of Marlin’s classics, a blowback-operated repeater in 9 mm known by collectors today as the Camp Carbine.

An Energetics Juggernaut: D&M Holding Co.

Based in Tampa, Fla., and Cabot, Ark., D&M has also expanded into the design and manufacture of equipment used to produce energetics for use in arms ranging from handguns to artillery, including providing site and floor planning, equipment manufacture, critical know-how and ’round-the-clock support for its clients.

Hatsan Updates Escort Optima Shotgun

First announced at SHOT Show 2025 with a host of new features, Hatsan USA's updated Escort Optima over-under shotguns are now available and shipping.

Preview: Breakthrough Clean Technologies Muzzle Pro

Once upon a time, the word “plastic” was not associated with muzzleloading arms; however, today, polymers are associated with bullets and powders used in modern muzzleloading, and Breakthrough Clean has the just-right solution to do the clean-up.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.