Rifleman Review: Taurus 1911 Commander

by
posted on August 18, 2021

Watch this American Rifleman Television segment of Rifleman Review from 2019 to learn more about the Taurus 1911 Commander.

The 1911 handgun market has long been filled with a wide range of variants and values, which has only grown in recent years. Taurus is one of those many manufacturers that offers its own take on the classic handgun design, with its offerings being both affordable and fairly faithful to the original lines. For those 1911 enthusiasts that like the traditional features of the design but want a slightly shorter profile, Taurus offers just that with its 1911 Commander model.

The Taurus 1911 Commander as seen from the left side.

The Taurus 1911 Commander has a shorter overall length than the standard government model 1911s at 7.9", due to the inclusion of a shortened slide and 4.2" barrel. Despite the shorter slide length, the frame is the standard size and accepts full-size grip panels. Both the slide and frame are made from carbon steel, keeping the overall weight up at 38 ozs. Chambered for .45 ACP, the Taurus 1911 Commander comes with 8-round magazines and can accept other standard size 1911 magazines as well as a result of the full-size frame.   

A closer look at the machined serrations on the front strap and grips of the Taurus 1911 Commander.

The metal components of the Taurus 1911 Commander have a matte-black finish, along with a set of black polymer grips. While mostly following the traditional design of the 1911, the Taurus 1911 Commander does have a few modern improvements worked in. Extra serrations are added to the front strap of the frame as well as the back of the mainspring housing to provide increased grip. The beavertail, magazine release and safety controls are also enlarged. It also comes with Novak front and rear sights, with both dovetailed into the slide and adjustable for drift.

Firing the Taurus 1911 Commander on the range.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

KelTec PR57 black gun pistol left-side view on white background
KelTec PR57 black gun pistol left-side view on white background

6 New Handguns For 2025

Several of the nation's biggest names in firearm manufacturing have released new models ahead of SHOT Show 2025. Here's a rundown of the features that each of them offer.

Boys To Riflemen: Aiken’s Volunteers During The British Attack on Plattsburgh

In September 1814, Americans once again stood against the might of the British military, as their forefathers had done during the Revolution. A small group of teen boys proved their valor in the face of a British attack and earned a special presentation rifle for their efforts.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 20, 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 Gas-Operated M1903 Conversion That Never Was

The U.S. government's never-ending quest for a more effective shoulder-fired arm to equip its military has, naturally, resulted in more prototypes than production models. This semi-automatic Model 1903 Springfield conversion was one such dead-end.

Preview: Burris BTS35 v3

The author joined industry professionals for a coyote hunt that went well into the evening hours using thermal imaging from Burris. Read field notes from that hunt using the BTS35 v3.

Review: LWRCI IC-9 Carbine

This delayed-blowback 9 mm carbine has a few tricks up its sleeve that you won't find on other guns in this class.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.