Flaky gunsmith
- Thread starter Pripyat
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1stCavLRRP
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- Aug 18, 2013
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Good, you'll enjoy the read then--it's got most everything you'll need to know about the internal workings of the 1911 (standard function check procedure is on page 26). Haven't met a gunsmith I trusted who didn't have a copy lying around. Same here but my degrees are in Math; have two nephews who are ME's but only one went to Mines (my alma mater).
That book was fairly hard to find at a reasonable price but I finally got one on order. Really excited to crack it open. I'm a sucker for out of print books. Especially technical ones.
I did a polish job with a dremel on the stock sear/hammer but I didn't really know what I was doing other than trying to leave the original shape and strictly polish. You guys have me tempted to go get the RIA tomorrow..
I did a polish job with a dremel on the stock sear/hammer but I didn't really know what I was doing other than trying to leave the original shape and strictly polish. You guys have me tempted to go get the RIA tomorrow..
1stCavLRRP
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- Aug 18, 2013
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Me too, especially 50's vintage Math Analysis, and I think you're gonna love this one.
You need a good set of well-dressed stones to do sear work, got my from Brownells back in the 80's before I discovered Midway. Had most everything I needed along that line by then so I can't tell you much about Midway's gunsmithing products. BTW, whenever I've done a trigger job on a 1911, I've always used what he calls a 'sear spring pattern' on page 141 as a starting point template for all three springs and it's always put me with VERY close to where I wanted to be (using John Masen springs).
You need a good set of well-dressed stones to do sear work, got my from Brownells back in the 80's before I discovered Midway. Had most everything I needed along that line by then so I can't tell you much about Midway's gunsmithing products. BTW, whenever I've done a trigger job on a 1911, I've always used what he calls a 'sear spring pattern' on page 141 as a starting point template for all three springs and it's always put me with VERY close to where I wanted to be (using John Masen springs).
Well I woke up this morning thinking about the RIA. Drove 45 mins (I estimated poorly earlier in the thread) to pick it up. The owner wasn't in when I went in last time and only picked up one of the two weapons they were working on for me. I explained what was going on and come to find out they never sent the bill to Larry. They thought I was sending it and I thought they were sending it. :/
Anyway I picked up some other semi-pricey items just to show my appreciation and paid cash as I feel that is the only way to show true appreciation to a small shop. The owner of the shop said he would personally call Larry and talk to him and see to it that he gets a copy of the bill if he wants it.
I told the owner that I was done with Larry and that if he paid anything great. If not it isn't a big deal. So we shall see.
Anyway I picked up some other semi-pricey items just to show my appreciation and paid cash as I feel that is the only way to show true appreciation to a small shop. The owner of the shop said he would personally call Larry and talk to him and see to it that he gets a copy of the bill if he wants it.
I told the owner that I was done with Larry and that if he paid anything great. If not it isn't a big deal. So we shall see.
BigHossCCF
Member
Pripyat, I know you said earlier in this thread that this is/was not a "what you could have/should have done" thread...but one question: With what you said above in post #100, why didn't you take your gun to this guy in the first place? Was it his/their fees or the distance at the time? I'm just curious...thanks!
Again, like I've said before...I'm sorry you've had to deal with this...hoping you get this behind you SOON!
Long story short: I just moved back home. I was living in Larry's town (4 hours from my hometown) and just dropped by during my lunch break one day. He had good Google reviews and was a "certified" gunsmith so I didn't have any reason to believe he was incompetent. My wife and I just got in a temporary living situation in my hometown maybe 2 weeks ago. We are 45 mins from the new smith now (the one my dad has always used).
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Who's the new 'smith? Nothing wrong with giving him a boost. 
Southland Gun Works in Darlington, SC. Directly across the road from the Darlington race track (NASCAR).
There are actually 2 great smiths in the area. There is another shop, Darlington gun works, whose smith, from what I've heard, is world renowned for building custom rifles. I called and asked if they sold lower receivers the other day and the woman said, "No, we don't sell or work on AR-15's". Shocked me. I guess they have plenty of business working on long guns..
There are actually 2 great smiths in the area. There is another shop, Darlington gun works, whose smith, from what I've heard, is world renowned for building custom rifles. I called and asked if they sold lower receivers the other day and the woman said, "No, we don't sell or work on AR-15's". Shocked me. I guess they have plenty of business working on long guns..
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Yep. I've done business with Jim several times over the years, good folks.
So do you just happen to live near Darlington or is he just that good?
BTW I haven't heard anything about Larry. Half expected Mike from Southland to call with an update. My attitude regarding the whole situation probably led him to believe I did not wish to be troubled about this situation unless something significant happened (they got a check in the mail).
BTW I haven't heard anything about Larry. Half expected Mike from Southland to call with an update. My attitude regarding the whole situation probably led him to believe I did not wish to be troubled about this situation unless something significant happened (they got a check in the mail).
{{"I remember one time when a customer brought in a 7" barrel Ruger .22 auto that he had dropped and the bolt would not retract. The boss brought it back to me and I waited until the customer left before I rapped the barrel on the bench. That fixed the problem and it took about one second. But no way was I going to let the customer know what I had done or how easy it was. I didn't know (or care) what the boss charged him, but everyone was happy.
A side issue is that had the customer seen me "abuse" his pistol, he would have been shocked. (Auto body shops won't let customers watch while they adjust car doors, either.)"
Jim}
When he asks what you did you tell him it was a 'trade secret'.
A side issue is that had the customer seen me "abuse" his pistol, he would have been shocked. (Auto body shops won't let customers watch while they adjust car doors, either.)"
Jim}
When he asks what you did you tell him it was a 'trade secret'.
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Well I made it to the range with the RIA today. Functioned flawlessly as usual. The trigger isn't anywhere near like I would like it but that is why I bought the 45 auto handbook. It has some creep to the point that the trigger would jerk back a mm or so but it would take just a little more force to get the hammer to fall. If I was doing quick follow-up shots I didn't notice this at all. Here is a clip of 7 at 15 yards, standing with about 2-3 seconds between shots.
Nothing to brag about but consistently consistent. God I love this gun.
Nothing to brag about but consistently consistent. God I love this gun.
You finally got it back and are enjoying it. What a long strange trip it's been...
OT, but might sell my RIA and R1S and try out a used prancing pony. Shot it a couple of weeks ago, first four shots were touching each other at 7 yards..
OT, but might sell my RIA and R1S and try out a used prancing pony. Shot it a couple of weeks ago, first four shots were touching each other at 7 yards..
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