Why would the holsters not fit right? If I put a Commander in a Gov't holster, it fits fine because it locks on the trigger guard.

 

Most of my belt holsters are closed-end leather - molded over the end of the slide. The 4" bbl slides are a little short.

 

Should be fine

 

I think leather holsters still lock on the trigger guard. Are you having fitment issues, i.e. movement, etc., with the shorter slides?

 

It's not about the lock or security. It's just me being anal-retentive - the end of the holster is longer than the gun. And it bugs me.

I just can't undertand why gun makers would go 1/4" shorter....

 

Wilson appears to have cracked the code with their 4” 9mm 1911 pistols . The flat wire recoil spring they use lasts far longer and take down is super easy . I have a bunch and have never had one give me cycling problems . I love commanders and government models too but WC builds a damn fine 4” pistol . Heck even my 3.5” Sentinel is flawless and that thing I have had forever. All my commander holsters fit my 4” guns 🤷‍♂️
The ULCC is the goat for carry IMHO .

 

Do they still make the ULCC?

 

My guess is that the 4" barrel was/is an attempt to enhance concealability while retaining reliability. Shorter guns have had some functioning problems it seems and bigger means more difficult to conceal.

 

I get that - for going from 5” to 4 1/4” - but going from 4.25” to 4”? That’s very small - the grip size is more significant…

 

I really like mine!

 

I have had both (still have the commander, or 4.25" length). Both worked great. I have also had 3" guns that did not. I'm not sure that any individual is a great enough statistical sample that you will get meaningfull information, but, what would we talk about all the time otherwise?

 

Making something otherwise non-standard and different is a way to make additional sales and get some positive publicity in gun magazines. The market is already covered by 4.25”, 3.5” Officers and 3” Defenders…no real need for a 4” but it’s a free market…and if some company wants to build one…people are free to buy it…or not buy it.

 

4" holsters aren't that hard to come by. Just order a TT Gunleather holster. You'll have it in 6 weeks.

 

I just like the look of a 4 1/4” Commander over a 4”. To me 4” Commanders look goofy. I had a SA Loaded Champion and I just didn’t care for the looks. Good pistol. Just like the traditional length more.

 

The alternative holster situation is what bugs me -
I saw a great ebay deal on a used '1911 Commander' holster, but the picture shows "4" stamped on leather, not CMDR.... I think my 4.25" Commander 'should' fit, but maybe not depending on holster???

A IWB holster an extra 1/4" long is lesser problem to me than if holster is 1/4" too short.

 

what is (are) the reason(s) some models have a 4" barrel?

They go to a bull barrel generally in the 4" guns. I prefer them over commanders. They balance better for me and I seem to shoot them better.

Do they still make the ULCC?

Yes, they make almost all of the original models.... but you choose the features you want on the paper build. They only eliminated the models as standard cataloged items since almost no one ordered anything as is from the model. THe only difference is that the slides won't be engraved with a model on most... (which is a good thing to me)

(that info from Wilson directly)

 

The "Back Log" of orders at Wilson has some New ULC's out there. They discontinued the model line in 2023. It appears to me the early lessons learned by several companies the Bushing 4" presented some reliability problems. I'm sure also the Bull Barrel is easier to manufacture. Just my observations.

 

I have both 4" and 4.25", 9mm and .45acp, bushing and bull barrel. Variety is the spice of life as they say. The wire tool is not convenient but certainly manageable.

 

They work just fine. And I thought the idea was that a 4" Bull barrel handled recoil like a 5" govt model not a Commander.. at least that's what the marketing guys were saying....🤪😉

 

I just got a Kimber Ultra Carry 2....so I'm at a 3 inch barrel, wonder if it will fit my officer holster? I will wait until the slide gets back from Novak.

 

I have had both (still have the commander, or 4.25" length). Both worked great. I have also had 3" guns that did not. I'm not sure that any individual is a great enough statistical sample that you will get meaningfull information, but, what would we talk about all the time otherwise?