December 1, 2021

"The craftsmanship and pride of workmanship are very evident. Tolerances are precise and all surfaces are smooth and free from any machine marks. This a finely made pistol and compares to any top brand on the market today. Its all steel construction is solid, tight and fills your hand  like a pistol should."  - Clark Bush

I have been fortunate enough to handle, own and shoot some very fine handguns, brands like Colt, Smith & Wesson, Kimber, Beretta and Walther to name a few. Those brands exhibited pride of workmanship, excellent fit and finish and most importantly reliability and accuracy. The Girsan Commander is comparable to them in every respect.

Many times we read or hear claims made about a product that prove to be patently false. This is the first pistol I have evaluated that is better than advertised. I found myself being pleasantly surprised again and again as I examined the Girsan. A flat wire recoil spring is but one example of an unadvertised high quality part.

European American Arms (EAA) stresses the value of the Girsan when compared to "big name" brands and while that is certainly true, this is a world class pistol, regardless of price.

My Commander came equipped with a "plate-mounted" red dot sight. It's O-ring sealed and with many desirable features, such as automatic shutoff when not being used. Calibration and adjustment devices and detailed instructions are furnished. The plate is well secured and all tools necessary for removal or installation are included.

An additional plate for the rear Novak style open sight is also included. Everything fits perfectly, tolerances are tight and precise. The under barrel accessory rail can accommodate any number of items as well.

The Owner's Manual is well done and details assembly, disassembly, maintenance and includes a complete parts list as well as warranty information. The entire package is contained in a lockable compartmentalized plastic case, which also includes a bore brush and cable lock.

Tactical Scorpion Gear: Fits Colt 1911-5″, Girsan 1911 MC, Variants Polymer OWB Fast Draw Holster
  • Fits Colt 1911-5" Girsan 1911 MC Variants 1911
  • Each holster features adjustable tension to suit the...
  • A low profile design allows for high concealability and...
  • Superior Material : Made of durable law�enforcement grade...
  • Perfect fit

FEATURES OF COMMANDER VERSION 1911,  AVAILABLE IN .45 ACP OR 9MM: 

  • CHECKERED GRIP FORE AND AFT, 
  • AMBO SAFETY,  
  • TRIGGER 3.5 TO 4 LBS,
  • NOVAK® STYLE REAR SIGHT,
  • EXTENDED BEAVER TAIL AND CHECKERING,
  • STEEL MACHINED FRAME AND SLIDE,
  •  LONG HOLE HAMMER, 
  • DEEP SLIDE SERRATIONS, 
  • UNDER-BARREL ACCESSORY RAIL

AS TESTED, 9MM, WITH RED DOT & OPEN SIGHTS, SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (SRP) $671.34

RANGE WORK:

I normally clean any new gun prior to a trip to the range. I did the same with the Commander but found little if any excess oil or residue of any kind anywhere. I made sure that all contact points were lubricated and ran a function test for safety.

The Girsan Commander comes with one Mec-Gar 9 round magazine. These magazines are readily available and reasonably priced, so I picked up a couple more, to make my time at the range more efficient and productive.

I selected a number of different 9mm cartridges with different bullet weights, bullet shapes and velocities to determine if the Commander was at all "picky".

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Federal Premium HST MICRO 150 Grain JHP 900 FPS

Polycase Inceptor  74 Grain ARX 1475 FPS

Speer LE G2Gold Dot 147 Grain Uni-Cor 1020 FPS

L-TECH  124 GRAIN COPPER HP 1150 FPS

The Commander functioned flawlessly with each cartridge. I did not have one failure to feed or eject. All of the loads were pretty "hot" but were comfortable to shoot through the Girsan. It's a sturdy pistol, fits the hand well and has enough heft to dampen powerful loads.

Accuracy was also quite good. Sub 2" groups were common with all cartridges, using a two-hand hold at 20 yards. I fired the last 6 rounds from a rest (spare tire on my Jeep) and you can see the results below. This is a very accurate pistol.

The Girsan Commander meets or exceeds all standards for a 1911 design semi-auto pistol. It is well made and put together, functions flawlessly and is very accurate. It is offered with easily interchangeable red dot or open sights and has an under-barrel rail for attaching accessories. Without even considering the modest SRP,  this is a great pistol.

I can recommend  the Girsan Commander without any reservation whatsoever.

Featured Image: gunsholstersandgear.com

About the Author Anton Scharff

Anton is a hunting expert who respects nature. Ask him anything about large game. Lover of the great outdoors.

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