Colt 22 conversion unit
I recently picked up a Colt 22 conversion unit for the Colt 38 special or Colt 45 1911 pistol. Does anyone know if the conversion unit will work on other 1911 clones? Or is it a cas by case basis. This particular conversion kit was purchased "used" in 1955 if that makes a difference
Sounds like I have to locate a Colt 1911 45 ACP shooter grade pistol to use this new found toy. Everything on the auction side looks like collector material or is priced that way.
Edit: Sorry should have said Colt .38 Super
EDIT: I know this will make the Colt fans feel uneasy but after a local search for a Colt 1911 I asked a local dealer to see if the .22 LR conversion kit would fit on a American Classic 1911 clone (Asian clone)This clone is one of the Asian clones that must be mil spec or very close to it. The gunsmith had to make a small modification similar to the modification the instructions mention is necessary on a Colt 38 Super. It didn't take long and the conversion unit works very well.
EDIT: Judge Colt, The only clue as to the age is that the conversion kit is in the narrow box with Colt appearing on the top. The ejector appears to be stamped but I could be wrong. There is not a U on the slide any where that I can see. There are some hash marks in front of the adjustable rear sight. The magazine has a base that appears to be an aluminum alloy and is marked Colt .22 LR. The original factory instructions do not contain a date that I saw. The receiver has the raging Colt on the left side, Colt/MFG/Hartford, no serial number. I was told by a local gun shop that it was made during the period 1938 - 1947. He referenced a book but I don't know which one. He did confirm that all of the parts for the conversion kit were in the box. The slide is a deep blue on both sides and the top looks like a blue matt finish. One small scratch where the slide locks when the magazine is empty. Auction # 246231529 looks like what I have except for the box. My box is similar but it the top and bottom hinge and the "Colt is applied differently
Sounds like I have to locate a Colt 1911 45 ACP shooter grade pistol to use this new found toy. Everything on the auction side looks like collector material or is priced that way.
Edit: Sorry should have said Colt .38 Super
EDIT: I know this will make the Colt fans feel uneasy but after a local search for a Colt 1911 I asked a local dealer to see if the .22 LR conversion kit would fit on a American Classic 1911 clone (Asian clone)This clone is one of the Asian clones that must be mil spec or very close to it. The gunsmith had to make a small modification similar to the modification the instructions mention is necessary on a Colt 38 Super. It didn't take long and the conversion unit works very well.
EDIT: Judge Colt, The only clue as to the age is that the conversion kit is in the narrow box with Colt appearing on the top. The ejector appears to be stamped but I could be wrong. There is not a U on the slide any where that I can see. There are some hash marks in front of the adjustable rear sight. The magazine has a base that appears to be an aluminum alloy and is marked Colt .22 LR. The original factory instructions do not contain a date that I saw. The receiver has the raging Colt on the left side, Colt/MFG/Hartford, no serial number. I was told by a local gun shop that it was made during the period 1938 - 1947. He referenced a book but I don't know which one. He did confirm that all of the parts for the conversion kit were in the box. The slide is a deep blue on both sides and the top looks like a blue matt finish. One small scratch where the slide locks when the magazine is empty. Auction # 246231529 looks like what I have except for the box. My box is similar but it the top and bottom hinge and the "Colt is applied differently
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I have a Factory Colt 22 conversion for Government model..anyone know what it is worth?? 0 -
I have had a number of the original Colt Conversion Units over the years. As long as the platform your using is speced similarly to the original Colt, not a Llama it should work. Some of them I did have to remove the ejector from the frame and replace with a aftermarket hardened one from Brownells, to get the proper clearance so that the conversion units ejector would function correctly.
EDIT #1, I've hadn't had the good fortune of the other posters regarding the functioning of the original Colt manufactured conversion units, with various types of .22 ammo. The floating chamber of a number of my Conversion units soldered up using different brands/types of ammo. Because of this I use CCI stingers in the unit I now own. They are quite accurate and the floating chamber doesn't solder up.
EDIT #2, Long as a 45 frame is speced similar to the 1911/1911A1 Colt, it would serve as a host to a floating chamber conversion unit in my experience. I have used Argentine, New Springfield Armory and Caspian frames for conversion units in the past. As I noted previously the only thing really required is to remove the ejector and use one of Brownell's hardened steel after market ones. It not even necessary to pin it to the frame, as the slide when installed will keep it in place.0 -
tryed a 1947 unit on a rock island could not get to fit 0 -
That is the trouble with 1911 clones made in ASIA some are made to Colt spec's and others are not. for the most part any 1911 made in USA will work.
EDIT Colt made 38 Super ,9MM and yes and the 38Special MID RANGE Target Model in the 1911A1 type frame. However be aware the feed ramp area of the 38 special frame may be slightly different . The conversion units made by colt should work but MAY need an ejector replacement of removal . the ejector is held in place by a small cross pin you can push out this pin remove ejector and gun with conversion unit in place will run just fine with out the factory ejector . the conversion unit has its own ejector.0 -
The conversion units, particularly the Colt Ace kits, fit best on frames built to original specifications.
I favor the Colt conversion units for a number of reasons, but #1 for reliability with all types of ammo and the fact the slide locks back aka the original .45's when the last round is fired....other conversion kits will not do this.
For example: I have a 1911 WWII (1944) Government contract frame (Remington-made) that was paired with a Colt Ace kit by a military armorer back in the early 1950's.
The gun fires flawlessly every single time....any .22LR ammo of any velocity...even the odd Aquila Sniper SubSonic with its .62 grain slug and short case. Mix them in the magazine with 9 other types....they still chamber flawlessly, fire and eject every time. I have three Colt-made magazines for it, and they all work flawlessly. Again, with this Colt unit, the slide locks back just as the original .45 when the last round is fired....every time. This feature is very important in practice drills, where you practice with the .22LR and carry or use the .45 for protection or work.0 -
quote:a Colt 22 conversion unit for the Colt 38 special or Colt 45 1911 pistol
38 spl????
EDIT: thanks perry! i never heard of the 38spl 1911 before.
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I don't think a Gold Cup .38 Special will take the Conversion.
It has a rib down the middle of the barrel bed that will keep a different barrel from fitting. I knew a guy who ground that rib off so he could put a .45 upper on his .38 Special frame.0 -
Hawk Carse is right about the Colt rimfire .22 Conversion Units not working on a Gold Cup Mark III .38 Special pistol frame. The "bump" to which HC refers does prevent the installation of the conversion barrel.
That said, I suspect that Robin meant to say ".38 Super" instead of ".38 Special." A Colt Conversion Unit will fit fine on a Super .38 Colt pistol frame.
The Colt Conversion Units will fit some clones and not others.
Robin, if your Conversion Unit was bought used in 1955, just how old is it? Does it have a "U" serial number just ahead of the rear sight? Does it have a stamped or milled ejector? How is the Colt Company identified on the slide? How is the magazine floor plate marked?
Robin, I too believe that edits should be used to avoid the thread from being closed after ten responses.
It sounds like you have an early Post-War Conversion Unit. While your abbreviation of the Colt company name leaves room for misinterpretation, I suspect your abbreviation is intended to refer to "Colt's Manufacturing Company." That company name was used from about 1947 through 1955, when it changed back to "Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company." The proper term for the Colt logo is "Rampant Colt."
It should be easy to distinguish a milled ejector from a stamped ejector. The stamped ejector looks like a piece of flat sheet metal that is twisted. A milled ejector has many parallel surfaces and sharp corners and edges. It will be polished and fit into the side of the barrel so as to have the same contours as the barrel chamber area. The ejector in the linked auction is the stamped ejector.
You did not describe the color of the box. Is it black, fairly dark brown pebble grain or medium brown leatherette? Is it about three inches wide, or wider? What color is the inside, buff or green?
The "hash marks" to which you refer are probably the tiny reference marks on the slide used for aligning the rear sight, which has one mark in its front middle, correct?
The "U" serial number would not be hard to see if it is there. It would be aligned length-wise ahead of the rear sight, deeply struck into the slide. Any slide with a serial number will not have a matte finish on the top of the slide, but will rather have a polished finish.0
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