My Colt 1911 Build

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by Valkman, Sep 30, 2010.


  1. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I'd say about 5 years ago I was involved in a group buy where we bought these Colt NRM Government Models in Blue with Rosewood grips. I had several 1911's already and this new Colt was horrible - heavy trigger pull to the point it threw everything off. I can't even remember what other problems the gun had but I wound up taking it apart and trying to re-do the trigger (I had replaced all the trigger parts in a SA 1911 along with a bunch of other parts and it went excellent) but never could get it better than 6lbs. I guess I left the gun apart, then I got real sick in '06 as my liver disease came back - plus we moved and I couldn't even help pack since I was so sick from the drugs I was taking. Fast forward to 2010.

    I started looking for the gun tonight out in the garage and found almost a bare frame - it has the original MSH and grip safety on it and that's it. The original grips, slide stop, mag release were missing but I found the original safety and sear spring! :)

    The slide is intact - except for some rust on one side it's not bad and it's complete with barrel, bushing, guide rod and plug.

    I've got: Greider Precision Long-V trigger, Ed Brown Hardcore Sear Spring, and a (no name) extended blue slide stop. I'm going to order everything else I need from Brownell's to include:

    Magazine Catch Button, Blue
    Cylinder & Slide Tactical Match Drop-In Trigger Kit
    1911 Rebuild Kit - Every pin and some springs needed on a 1911
    Series 80 parts
    Recoil Spring Plug

    I decided to leave the stock trigger in there to keep the gun looking the same, and yesterday installed all the new parts. I was wondering if I could install the Series 80 parts correctly but I got it right the first time!

    Here's the left side, where the slide was rusty. I'll send it in for re-blueing once I'm done fixing it up.

    [​IMG]

    Here's the right side and you can see the ends of the hammer and sear pins are gold colored and give the gun a "pimpy" look LOL. These parts were coated to reduce trigger pull and it worked as the drop-in trigger parts were set for 4.5# and the trigger pull is 3.8#.

    [​IMG]

    The new hammer hits the grip safety when cocked so I've already ordered a Wilson "Drop-In" Beavertail GS. Will take more pics when I have it installed!

    [​IMG]

    Hopefully it'll be a good shooter now! [gun]
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Excellent first steps for an ex knife maker. Keep us up to date, Don. (Glad to see you are still active.)
     
  3. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Yea I'm driving the wife nuts and need a new hobby! I'm thinking about re-finishing the gun myself! Hahahahahaha
     
  4. BadgeBunny

    BadgeBunny Monkey++

    Very, very nice. I have a series 70 that needs to be reblued but is a fabulously fine shooting gun. Fella that owned it before me did all the work on it himself.

    I own a lot of Glocks but that 1911 is my "go to" gun.
     
  5. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I wish this was a series 70 - I guess I could convert it but I'm not sure what that entails.
     
  6. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Very nice project Valkman I love the 1911's...( unlike melbo who spoons with glocks....LOL)
    To make a 80 series into a 70 series It's pretty easy to do, remove the two lawyer levers in frame and fill their place with the spacer plate available at:
    http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=3...t_Filler__each
    and remove plunger and spring from slide.
     
  7. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    That's it? Hmm I will probably pick those parts up and do it!
     
  8. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

  9. Conagher

    Conagher Dark Custom Rider Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Looks great so far Don! Can't go wrong with a 1911 they are just too much fun to build and shoot.... :D
     
  10. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    Man ,That's a beauty already!
    I love 1911's!
     
  11. Gray Wolf

    Gray Wolf Monkey+++

    Nice job!
     
  12. Conagher

    Conagher Dark Custom Rider Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    A quick question. Do you think by removing the Series 80 parts and converting it to a Series 70, how much value will the gun lose by doing that?
     
  13. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Doesn't matter to me..... the trigger is 400% better without it, and you can reinstall , I wouldn't worry about value unless you are a gun broker and are trying to sell off your protector.
    My 1911 Colt has a trigger equal to a single action revolver and better.
    I'm in it to win, I dont care about look's or value.
     
  14. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I don't think you'd lose any value as you can re-install the parts.

    I have a big problem as I finally realized this slide wasn't cycling all the way back - seems the hammer hitting the grip safety is holding it up high enough to stop the slide from cycling. I have a beavertail coming and that should solve it.

    Next time I order from Brownells I'll get that part.
     
  15. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Hey Don
    You might end up filing the back to fit the beaver tail and they make a jig for that if you need it.
     
  16. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    If you are getting the beaver tail anyway, just file a groove in the tail that will clear the hammer for you. I think I see that the hammer is actually holding the gs in. Not good ---
     
  17. Conagher

    Conagher Dark Custom Rider Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Yeah you're right about the functionality vs the value thing Quigs....it's been a while since I did my beavertail safety on my 1911 but the jig used to be $20 from Brownells.
     
  18. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    ghrit, you're right - I'm going to go file that GS down until the hammer has clearance.

    ETA - Done. Put a new 60 grit drum on the dremel and ground the grip safety until it got too hot to hold, then ran water on it and tried it in the gun. Over and over. Now the slide clears the hammer, cycles fully and the hammer isn't pushing the GS in.

    [gun]
     
  19. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Well with the "ground down" grip safety the gun worked fine, but with the new "Drop In" beavertail I have problems. Technically it does function - it keeps the gun from firing until pressed but it made the trigger pull 10lbs! It also does not reset correctly and I do not know what to do. I may need pro help now!
     
  20. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Is it a Wilson drop in?
     
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