Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

colt 1911

gun_runner
Edit: got answer
0

Comments

15 comments

Date Votes
  • gun_runner
    Does anybody know if this gun was put out by Colt?
    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=504706562
    0
  • Der Gebirgsjager
    The most difficult part to find new will be the frame. I've seen the slides for sale by companies like CDNN Investments and Brownells from time to time, and all of the other factory original parts are available from Brownells, The Numrich Gun Parts Corp., and other sources; but the frame will be hard to get brand new. You might find a used-like-new at a gunshow. This is a great project, and the way you propose to do it will give you time to read up on how to do it. Suggest "The Colt .45 Automatic - A Shop Manual" from Brownells at $24.95, Item #924-200-045.
    0
  • kuhlewulf
    Hooray! Another one has emerged!

    WARNING: The joy and self satisfaction of building up your own 1911 will lead to the urge...no, the need to build more. To learn all the fine details of a good trigger job. To see exactly how everything works and then not be afraid to completely tear down a weapon at the range and rebuild it again with a different spring or sear to achieve a tiny bit of performance gain. First you'll build a Govt length gun, Then you'll think how nice it would be to have an Officers model, next thing you'll have a dozen slides, several tackle boxes full of small parts, and spend your days in a never ending search for good frames. I know, thats my life in the lines above. I love it and wouldn't change a thing. If you're a true novice be careful and go slow, and you might not want to start out with high priced colt components. www.gunsnstuff.net has frame and slide kits at around $169. You can easily run over the cost of buying a whole gun doing this, but the bond you'll feel with the weapon is incredible, and very satisfying. If you ever need help make sure "1911" is in the title of your post and I'll be there.

    James

    Whats next? A ban on automatic transmissions?
    0
  • Pearyw
    I have put together several 1911 pistols. If you want to build a 1911 with all origonal new Colt parts it will be hard. It is hard to find a lot of the new Colt parts. The factory does not usually have all the parts available. The cost would also exceed the cost of just buying a new Colt. If you will use non-Colt parts, then it is easy. I usually build mine from used parts. I have found a lot of stuff a larger gunshows. I have purchased new and used frames. I have bought new frames thru dealers. I have seen Colt sell new frames on several occasions. I have build 1911"s on Essex, Para-Ordinance, and Enterprise frames.
    0
  • The firearms consultant
    I built a 1911 using Caspian parts, frame and slide. I feel they are the best available, IMHO. John

    I might not always tell you the truth, but I will never lie to you!
    0
  • bobski
    im just curious why the draw to want to put together an all colt gun? having an all colt gun is a red flag in collecting, because during the war most guns were assembled from parts thru numerous contractors. now are we talking the real 1911 or the A1? and even if it is the A1, most guns were built with numerous other contractors parts! personally, having a parts gun would make me feel like i had more of a collectors piece; because, it would represent the genious of the design...that is, being able to be made functional with 5 or 10 different companies parts, miles apart, with thousands of hands involved making it, yet still fitting like a glove in the filed. follow my logic?

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
    0
  • gun_runner
    Bobski,I dont know much about colts as you can plainly see by my request. I did not know that they were made up of all different parts. I just want to have the "real deal". If you could explain a little more it would be of great interest and help. Also I dont know the difference between the colt A1,A1-80,70,80 etc. If anyone knows that would be great info so I could start my research and start Buying parts.

    Thanks

    Larry
    0
  • bobski
    ok, first off, did you want to build a 1911 or a A1? i'll go from there. also too, pop down and read the thread going on 1911's just a few lines up and down on the expert room. read up on the question the guy asked about if his gun was a real 1911 or a parts gun. ok? then i'll get back to you! i'll be glad to explain!

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
    0
  • gun_runner
    Well I wished I would have read the 1911 info before I asked my question. From what I understand all 1911's are mismatched and were converted to A1 (which I dont Know about). I have fired and held a few 1911's and really like them. Dont Know about the others. One guy said watch out for parts that are not GI or government or something like that. If thats the case then I guess I would also like to know where you would get those parts. I want my gun to be the way it should be. Im starting to wrap my head around the concept so please bear with me.

    Thanks

    Larry
    0
  • bobski
    ok, im glad i can get you off to the right start. first, most gun collectors go for 'all colt status' for an array of reasons, which they are entitled to do as all good american should. i wont go into that this round! the thing that perked me up with your request was you seemed dead set on having to have an 'all colt' made gun. so i figured you were a colt collector or a colt fan of sorts. great. so thats why the 1911 or A1 queastion i poised. now that we see that youre sorta new at this, you need to know some important facts about the 1911 and 1911A1. colt may have had the first pat on the gun, but that doesnt mean other mfg'ers didnt exist. see, to keep it simple, colt could not make the full demand placed on it to produce enough guns for two wars, so the govt contracted other companies to build guns on the colt pat. i/e: some of the frames were : remington rand, singer, union switch and signal, ithaca, etc... then, some mfg'ers made barrels, like high standard, colt, and a hoard more. supply speed to the war reserve shelves was the key. so, building the guns at a factory just slowed things down. most guns were built in military armories from whatever next part came off the shelf. and whatever guns WERE built at factories were built from parts delivered to the factory from the joint contractors. meaning, colt could be building guns with remington slides and ithaca could be building guns with union switch slides and with high standard bbls from conn delievered to them! thyed be shipped out already mixed. the govt didnt care. as long as they were built to what is now termed MILSPEC.(military specifications.) and say, an armorer would get in a gun from the front with a blown bbl and slide. so, he'd strip it down, grab a new bbl and new slide say...from ithaca and hi standard and put it on a colt frame. then he'd ship it back to the war or the shelf for issue. thats why its a red flag to collectors when someone tries to pass off a 'all colt' or a 'all ithaca' gun. it never happened. now...'all colt 1911's' are possible because they were the originals made for ww1 and in the factory. we would be talking the 'all blued parts' type colt 1911. and that was what i was poised to aid you in. see, those guns had diamond pattern wood grips, wide hammers, short grip safeties, thin sights, long triggers, and all colt markings. with that in mind, that would be a rare find too, because in 1923, all 1911's in military inventory were upgraded to A1 status. so, today you find lots of 1911A1's with blued parts, parkerized parts, ithaca, colt, & remington parts all flopped together. some have found it a challenge to unscramble all the parts and build guns unique by having all of one mfg'ers parts all on one gun. cant be done! simply because not all parts mfg'ers MADE FRAMES! and not all mfg'ers made slides! so, the playing field is very limited. and even to this day, 1911A1's are being put together with old military parts. even some companies make thier own parts and frames now. great! but where their once was only the chance of having different military parts mixed into 1911A1's, now you have old guns with new parts from new mfg'ers, and to make things even worse....IMPORTED parts too! so....to answer your question, to build a 1911 or 1911A1, you need to choose one. then, ask yourself if you want an ALL MILITARY PARTS GUN, or, a GREAT SHOOTER. if all you want is a great shooting gun, anything goes. most will agree the best parts ever made will be military surplus. matter of fact, my match championship gun is none other than a civilian essex frame with a remington rand slide and military surplus parts. the bbl is new colt NATIONAL MATCH w/ a NM bushing. so, as you can see, the guns a hodgepodge, but it can shoot same hole 25 yards! its a great gun for having 20,000 rounds in it! let us know the direction you want to go, and we will start you on your quest! im sure others may add or correct me if need be, but for the most part, i think you catch my drift!

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
    0
  • gun_runner
    Whats the better gun? A1 or standard model. Is the A1 o.k.?

    Thanks

    Larry
    0
  • kuhlewulf
    1911-1911a1diff.gif

    The 1911A1 has these changes over the 1911. The only difference is user friendliness. Most 1911 guns now are of the A1 standard or above. The pic is from the M1911.org website.

    James

    Whats next? A ban on automatic transmissions?
    0
  • jsergovic
    Well, I pulled my post early on this one, but I've got to say it again, but differently...

    I'd buy an assembled gun, and learn how to take it apart and re-assemble it.
    Then when you see different parts kicking around at gunshows and such, you will recognize them and get them for cheap.

    Of course, I'm still of the opinion one could spend the $610 delivered for a new 01091 Gov't Stainless. Mine has been perfect (after some correction I asked for before even shooting it). So in a sense it has been 100% from shot one.

    I've gotten as far as taking the guts out of the slide. I'll wait a little longer, practicing on a gun out of warranty before I go further.
    0
  • gun_runner
    I'm pretty gun savy and ready for any gun assembly. It's a gift. You can give me any gun and I can fully disassemble it in no time and put it back together. Im ready for the 1911, have been my whole life.Ive got to go with my gut and just flow with it. It's all easy if you have a knack for it. My problem is I just didn't Know where to start. I will keep you posted regarding my progress or questions.

    Thanks

    Larry
    0
  • bobski
    the A1 is the improved gun of the two. build an A1.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity