1911 Toggle link pin

[1911Tuner]

I've got over a dozen original/correct USGI pistols here, ranging from 1913-1945 production. None of those have staked pins.

I've only ever seen about 3 or 4 USGI pistols with staked pins, and I cut my teeth on GI pistols in the 60s.

The US military had a little more latitude, knowing that the pistols that went into harm's way probably wouldn't be fired enough to beat the pins loose again, and with those that stayed behind...it didn't matter much if a pin got lost during training because nobody's life was at stake...and the armory was just a short distance away, and they had pretty vast inventories of replacement barrels, pins, and links.

I won't stake a loose pin because I don't consider it a fix. Neither, I suspect, would Springfield or Colt, or any other manufacturer that got one back on a warranty claim.

I fix things. That includes...but isn't limited to...guns. It's pretty much been my life's work. One of my earliest lessons was that I had a choice.

A. Fix it right, or

B. Fix it twice.

And that the "B" option often resulted in more expensive repairs than would have been necessary had I taken the "A" path.

 

[Jim K]

"The US military had a little more latitude, knowing that the pistols that went into harm's way probably wouldn't be fired enough to beat the pins loose again..."

Are you saying that the pins were staked only during repair? They were staked at the factory. I have seen brand new guns, both GI and Colt commercial, right out of the box, with staked pins. The staking was not the nice neat 3 marks Kuhnhausen shows (usually only one on each side), but it was there. Those pistols might be field stripped hundreds of times before needing repair. Why would it be OK for pins to fall out until that time? That, with all respect, doesn't make sense.

Staking the pins would make sense even if the specs did not allow a slip fit; since they do, it seems an even better idea.

Jim

 

[1911Tuner]

Are you saying that the pins were staked only during repair? They were staked at the factory. I have seen brand new guns, both GI and Colt commercial, right out of the box, with staked pins.

I didn't say that. I said that I've never seen a new one that was staked...commercial or GI.

 

[Jim K]

I can't explain the difference, but I just checked two Colt GI pistols that I picked up a while back for $39.95 (yep, those were the days!) that as far as I can tell are unfired (except, I guess, for proof). They still have the factory oil in them. Both have stake marks. One has only one on one side, the other has one on each side. So I believe that 1) the pins were staked at the factory, not just after being rebuilt or repaired, and 2) staking was not per the specs. Were there times when it was not done at all? Probably. Was it supposed to be done? I believe it was.

Jim

 

[1911Tuner]

I don't doubt that some of'em were staked. It's just that it wasn't SOP or even very common or they'd be everywhere. And again...the military contracts had quite a bit of leeway in what was acceptable during a heated rush for pistols because they knew that the barrels...and slides...and most other parts...would be replaced at some point.

 

[Dudedog]

Springfield sent me a letter saving they sent a pin. No pin in the envelope.....sigh
Will call them back tomorrow AM.

 

[Dudedog]

Pin came seperate from the shipping invoice in a 8*8*8" box.
2lbs of box and paper for one pin.

(they did send it out for free)

So I am going to try it tomorrow dinner and see how things are with the new "normal" size pin, then go form there.

Thanks again everybody for your help, I appreciate it.

 

[Dudedog]

Got the replacement pin in, nice and tight.
It does not appear to be stopping on the link.
Still wondering why the first pin became loose so quick.

I will just have to see how the replacement pin does, so I just need to hurry up and shoot a couple 1000 mroe rounds.