Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG More Info

About the Gun

This is a compact single-action 1911-style pistol built in the CCO configuration: a Commander-length slide and barrel paired with a shorter Officer’s-length aluminum-alloy frame. The two-tone construction pairs a stainless steel slide with a black hard-anodized alloy frame, keeping overall weight low for a .45 Auto 1911 while retaining a conventional bushing barrel. It is offered with standard rosewood grips or factory-fitted Crimson Trace laser grips. Controls follow the classic 1911 layout with a grip safety and manual thumb safety, and the design omits an accessory rail.

Production

Production ran from 2008 through 2015.

Market value

MSRP at production was around $1,100–$1,300. Current used market value for examples in good to very good condition ranges $700–$1,000.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	.45 Automatic
Alias:	.45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)
More Info

Analysis

SIG expanded its 1911 line into compact sizes after establishing the full-size GSR and Revolution models, responding to demand for a more concealable 1911 that retained better balance and reliability than pure short-barrel Officer’s models. The C3’s hybrid Commander-slide / Officer-frame layout addresses the common trade-off between grip length for concealment and slide length for sight radius and function. It was introduced as part of the Revolution series expansion and later catalogued simply as the 1911 C3. The alloy frame reduces carry weight relative to all-steel counterparts while the external extractor and Series 80-style firing-pin block reflect SIG’s approach to the platform.