Springfield Armory Garrison 4.25" - it also has slimline grip panels that make the grip a little smaller than a 1911 with standard grips. $750-800.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 Garrison 9mm 4.25ʺ 9rd Pistol | Stainless w/ Thinline Wood Grips | KYGUNCO

www.kygunco.com

Also comes in blue

1911 Garrison 4.25" 9mm Handgun - Springfield Armory

www.springfield-armory.com

I have one for carry in .45 ACP. Greatest commander-sized 1911 I have ever shot.

 

COMMANDER | Bul Armory USA

www.usa.bularmory.com

Very nice pistols. Going to pick one up for my wife.

 

I have one and I love it.
All SS.
Shoots so nice and has never had any sort of malfunction.
115 FMJ to 147 JHP, they all run in it.

 

Dan Wesson Valor Commander in 9mm. It is a very accurate well.made 1911. The trigger is excellent with a crisp break and it has good sights. Get her some quality 10 round magazines and she will be a happy shooter.

Mine eats round nose 125 and 147 grain and trucated cone 135 grain reloads without problems. It works fine with Hornady 124gr XTP as well.

 

Dan Wesson Valor Commander in 9mm. It is a very accurate well.made 1911. The trigger is excellent with a crisp break and it has good sights. Get her some quality 10 round magazines and she will be a happy shooter.

Mine eats round nose 125 and 147 grain and trucated cone 135 grain reloads without problems. It works fine with Hornady 124gr XTP as well.

Are they still making the Valor in 9mm?

 

I’ve had good luck with the Springfield EMP 3”. It was built around the 9mm cartridge and has proven to be reliable for me. I have the stainless version with a black frame. Springfield makes a Ronin version of the EMP in a 4” model that has been well received and reviews have been similarly positive. If she‘s concerned about the gun fitting her hand, the EMP line may suit her because it’s a little smaller than the traditional 1911.

1911 Ronin® EMP® 4" 9mm Handgun - Springfield Armory

www.springfield-armory.com

i don’t know what budget you’re working with, but if you have money for a higher-end semi-custom 1911, the Ed Brown EVO series is hard to beat and very reliable. You can find them online well below the stated MSRP on Ed Brown’s website, but they’re still expensive.

EVO series| Ed Brown Products

www.edbrown.com

 

I have no doubt reliability will not be an issue but in a 1911 platform that is commander size and 9mm, there is always just a small possibility that there will be. I have seen run of the mill SA and Kimbers have issues, all the way up to Nighthawks and Wilson supergrades. A return trip via warranty and they were fixed. Maybe budget two of the same guns main one and back up one. I keep 2 x Wilson CQBs built the same way as my competition guns.

With that out of the way, budget would be my question. How much are you willing to spend?

Definitely recommend slim grips.

Everyone posted great recommendations already. I am a big Wilson fan but $3-$4k is a bit much. They are heavily customizable though. Can pick your frame/slide material, pages and pages of options/features, numerous finishes, etc etc.

 

Ruger LW CMD.

 

The Nighthawk Bull Commander is sensational

 

The Nighthawk Bull Commander is sensational

If you plan on staying married this is the way to go. Otherwise, get the Springfield

 

My Ruger SR1911 lightweight 9mm Commander has been flawless for 1000 rounds so far.

 

My Ruger SR1911 lightweight 9mm Commander has been flawless for 1000 rounds so far.

I want to shoot one of those.

 

I also suggest the Ruger lightweight commander in 9mm. Mine has ran flawlessly for years with all sorts of ammunition. Lots of reloads and HST 124 +p

 

I like the Ruger, I also like Springfield...I pesonally carry a Kimber Officer model, however, I have spent a lot of time getting it to run perfectly...never had a problem with my Ruger or Springfield.

I can also recommend the colt Lightweight Commander. A friend of mine has a new one and he has had zero issues.

 

Thanks for your answers! Budget limit is 3000 €.
Here in Germany, American guns are expensive. The importer wants to make money and all imported guns have to be approved by a federal agency (the proof marks, you know from German guns).
As a rule of thumb, you can double the American $ price and take it with €.
So a 1500 $ gun will be 3000 € in Germany.

For example, price for the new Colt Anaconda and Python revolvers in German gun stores are approx. 2500 € (2572 $).

 

Thanks for your answers! Budget limit is 3000 €.
Here in Germany, American guns are expensive.
For example, price for the new Colt Anaconda and Python revolvers in German gun stores are approx. 2500 € (2572 $).

Whoa, that changes things!

Not to sound un-American but how about a German made gun? HK, Walther, maybe Korth?

What can you get in a local gun store?

 

Springfield SA-35 caught my eye when it debuted, but I haven't seen nor shot one. Affordable, though.

 

I have one. Not technically a 1911, but I consider mine a keeper. However, when I first bought it the trigger was terrible - the single action trigger pull must have been 12 lbs. I changed the hammer and sear and bent the sear spring and now it's much better. Still over 5 lbs.

 

I have a Dan Wesson Valkyrie. It' been 100% so far. I also have an SA35. No jams or misfires. Shoots low. Had a loose front sight. The safety doesnT click into place, it would require repair before I would deem it good to carry. Good luck.

 

I suggest a 2011 Staccato , they are designed with a ramped barrel and run very well, 1911s can be finicky in 9mm. Over the the years my 2011s have been much more reliable than my 1911s in 9mm.

 

Springfield.

 

Are Czech guns more affordable there than American arms?
Although it's a double-stack, the CZ75-bd grip doesn't feel thicker to me than the Kimber 1911, and it's a dandy shooter; would make a fine range and nightstand firearm.

 

Dan Wesson Guardian. I picked this one up lightly used. It is .38 Super, and it came with a 9mm DW barrel. I've only shot the .38 Super, and it runs great. The previous owner shot about 200 .38 Super, and 80 9mm through it. He had no problems with it. I sold a $3000 Staccato, and replaced it with this, and a Glock 19.

 

Was going to say wilson combat edc-x9, but that breaks the budget. That ruger looks nice, the sr1911 in .45 I have is great, bet the 9 is too.

 

Aluminum frames used to be an issue but the more modern 1911's have gotten past that. Ruger uses a Titanium insert. Springfield and other companies use a fully ramped barrel. I prefer LW frames on my commander size 1911's.

 

Yeah

Just don’t like the way they shoot on top of it. Not a fan at all.

 

Still looking forward to buy a commander size 1911, but we learned that they are pretty rare here in Germany.
5" and 6" pistols are no problem, but commander size is rare.
Delivery time for Springfield Armory, Colt, Dan Wesson or Ruger will be 6 to 10 months.
But my wife wants a gun now and I can understand. Her gun licence legitimates her for two handguns.

So, right now she went to our local gun store and she went alone, forbid me to go with her 🤣
Well, I know the shop owner, he is a very trustworthy gunsmith and now, I'm very curios what she will bring home.

 

She is back. With a pre-owned 9 mm. First I was shocked. Now I'm curious like hell.
Currently, all gun ranges are closed. They will open in the evening.

But thanks to god, as a licensed hunter, Jägermeisters little helper and volunteer game warden, I'm entitled to do functional tests with guns in the woods.
As long as I follow all safety rules and no trespassers will be endangered
See you later 🤠

 

What did she end up with?

 

One of the Munich Trio.
Build in 1993, in good condition, civilian proof marks, came in a bunch with .30 Luger conversion barrel, a total of 12 magazines, spare parts kit including all springs and a Austrian made Sickinger holster.

 

Congrats to you and your wife.

 

Looks like the issue was solved, but if you circle back to a 1911 a Brown EVO could be a great option.

 

Great gun, though it’s a 4” barrel, not 4.25”

 

My SA Ronin 9mm has been totally reliable even MIM parts and all. If you want to go cheaper Tisas make some nice guns. They have the 9mm 1911. Have lots of good ones out there.

 

This is a lightweight Colt Commander, although in 38Super caliber, 9mm will fit her needs and make for an excellent carry.