grezb Report post Posted February 13, 2014 I refuse to believe that a 3.5" "officer" size 1911 mold gun doesn't exist...yet I see them nowhere no matter how hard I search. Do any of you know where I'd get one for holster molding? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colt Hammerless Report post Posted February 13, 2014 As far as I know, there isn't one. Pretty hard to believe isn't it? A Commander dummy will work, as the dust covers are the same length. You'll need to leave the toe of the holster open, so the longer slide will stick out during wet forming. If you wanted to do a closed toe holster, you could cut .75 inch off of the Commander dummy, thus making your own Officer's mold. Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grezb Report post Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) VERY hard to believe. If I hadn't been searching all day myself I wouldn't believe you. I had to see it (or rather...not see it) with my own eyes to believe it. I found the SIG 3.3" version even...which is odd because I'm pretty sure the normal officer 3.5" is much more common. But no joy. It's a closed toe holster, so just using a commander wouldn't work. Thought of that, but customer wants closed. But that is genius with the chopped commander though. The grip would be a tad long still for an officer, but that doesn't matter for holster making. That's exactly what I'll do, thanks. Edited February 13, 2014 by grezb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shooter McGavin Report post Posted February 13, 2014 I like that idea as well. I bought a cheap officer 1911 just to make holsters with. Never thought about chopping a commander. brilliant! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colt Hammerless Report post Posted February 13, 2014 I'm thinking it's also probably a good idea to cut it so that it's just a tick long, maybe .050 inch. It certainly won't show in the fit, nor add any real length to the holster, whereas if you wound up even a bit short, it would show in how the gun fits in there (like bottoming out with a bit more trigger showing than your pattern called for.) Of course you could then draw the pattern to bring a bit more leather back up on the next one. Also, if you make the cut straight enough (say on a bandsaw) you could put the sectioned off slide back on. Maybe drill a hole in each for a dowel. You'd lose some material (the blade kerf) but you could whittle a spacer out of wood to stick between the two in order to get it back if it were that critical. Or just buy a second Commander dummy and be done with it :-) Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
