The value of full-length guide rods for the M1911 is often disputed.  Ever wonder who was the first to offer one commercially?  The earliest one I've seen advertised goes back to the early 1960s.  The marketer was the prolific inventor Max Atchisson.  You'll note from the patent that there were two variants: one was conventional while the other extended beyond the muzzle.  You'll even note that Atchisson made some of the same claims for the guide rod that we still see today like smoother cycling and eliminating kinking of the recoil spring.

US Patent #3,122,061 - Recoil Spring Guide and Muzzle Weight

Interesting.  I never knew it was Max Atchisson who patented it.  I assume it's the same Max Atchisson who did the .22 conversions and the AA-12 shotgun.
The weight resembles a bow stabilizer.

I would not own a 1911 with out it.

Quoted from Barry in IN

Interesting.  I never knew it was Max Atchisson who patented it.  I assume it's the same Max Atchisson who did the .22 conversions and the AA-12 shotgun.
The weight resembles a bow stabilizer.

Yes, that is the same Max Atchisson.  There was an article in "Handguns '94" showing some of his other customized handguns.  One was a .380 High Standard Model G converted into a match pistol.  Another was a .22 LR S&W Model 41 converted for .32 S&W Long wadcutters.

have a Para that came with the full lenght and have also but in a standard length, to be honest can see no difference.