I found myself an old 1911 but have no clue what I got.

[WC145]

Clearly old is a matter of perspective. In Colt 1911 years that gun is just a tyke.

 

[Orkanen]

And that rear sight - can you show a better detailed picture of that?

Your wish is my command.

I paid $ 250,- for it with a homemade shoulder holster, so I ain't complaining. No extra springs or other parts. Previous owner is a long time member of my local gun club and well up in his -70s. Having decided to slow down a bit, he's selling off some of his toys. He's well known among the older members of the club, and since they vouch for him, I trust him.

I think most folks would overlook that when looking at the non-blended beavertail

Off the top of my head the loads you speak of sounds very light, so I suspect the previous owner must have put in a lighter spring to get it to cycle reliably.

It seems the spring is either cut or broken. I'll test the gun first, both with accompanying ammo, factory and whatever I end up making. If it works, it works. If not, there's always local gunsmiths and Brownells. A friend suggested I go for 200 grs SWC and 4.8 to 5.0 grs of N-320 as our preferred lead supplier doesn't have 175 grs SWCs. I'm aiming at surpassing minimum required competition velocity

I assume the previous owner had to fix the front sight at some point, and having tools laying around, he did it himself.

Keep us in the loop as to what you're planning on doing with your new Colt and how you actually go about it!

My aim with it is practice and competition, CC and hunting being illegal in Norway. Yes, lots of scuff marks and scratches, but I'm not yet sure if I'll shine it up or just keep it as is and maintain the innards. I have a Dremel and polishing paste in the basement, and I'm not afraid to use it. But not yet, not today. The outside was dirty when I got it, yet the inside looks clean. I'm not entirely satisfied with the filed down trigger, so I may replace it.

Yet all in all, idiot marks or not, I'm happy so far.

 

[Electricmo]

Looks like he did alittle work on the ejection port also. Please install a new recoil spring before shooting heavier loads.

 

[bannockburn]

Orkanen

I have found Flitz to be good at cleaning up a lot of the minor scrapes and scratches on stainless steel. Now if you want a nice shiny, looks like it's nickel plated kind of shine, then use Mother's Mag Polish. Don't even need your Dremel; just a clean cloth and keep doing the applications til you get the level of shininess that you want.

S&W Model 686 and a S&W Survival Knife; just used Flitz on both:


S&W Model 649: several applications of Mother's Mag Polish:


Ruger Vaquero: too many to count applications of Mother's Mag Polish:

 

[bikerdoc]

@bannockburn got it right all I use is flitz and mothers

 

[maxxhavoc]

paid $ 250,- for it with a homemade shoulder holster,

You bought a great gun at a great price. Don't let anyone tell you different. If you don't like something then change it. .

 

[Orkanen]

So, what's the real question here? Its a Colt Series 80 1911 with some custom touches.

I wish to know the benefits of what's done to it. I take it the added mag well makes magazine switching easier and the magazine rubber protects it from being dropped. I assume the trigger work is done to perfectly fit former owner's finger, 'cause it sure doesn't fit mine. The altered thumb safety switch is probably easier or quicker to operate than a regular one, I'd assume it's used in competition where time is essential and one starts out with chambered round. Beyond that, I don't know.

Looks like he did alittle work on the ejection port also.

I'm sure there's a reason for it.

Please install a new recoil spring before shooting heavier loads.

Perhaps I should replace the spring before shooting at all. I can't tell how much of that spring is missing, having nothing to compare it with. My impression is that he's been using it with light loads for a while, broken spring or not.

 

[Jim Watson]

In the USA, $250 for a functional Colt would be an unbelievable bargain, even though amateurishly modified.
I don't know what parts might be available there, but I would start with a fresh recoil spring.
Either pick the spring to suit the ammo or adjust the load to the minimum that will function the action with the ordinary spring.

 

[shoobe01]

Yup, $250 is sort of amazing.

For essentially all used guns: replace the springs. At least critical safety/wear ones like the recoil and (in this case) mainspring. For a probably-match 1911, indeed you have no idea if they had it configured for some funny load so replace before firing one shot. I'd give you a spare 18# I have if shipping wouldn't make it not worthwhile.

 

[Orkanen]

Flitz and Mother's Mag

Alas not available here in Norway. I'll ask for recommendations at the local gun shop and the nearby gunsmith.

I'd give you a spare 18# I have if shipping wouldn't make it not worthwhile.

Thanks for the offer. Quick check at local Brownells tells me I'll probably get both springs for less than the cost of shipping from Missouri alone.

indeed you have no idea if they had it configured for some funny load so replace before firing one shot.

I know which loads, powder, bullets and seating depth he uses, as he wrote down his setup. I also have a handful of rounds that came with the gun.

I'm in no hurry presently. Wife's away with son and will be away for a good while. I'm taking care of our daughter of 4, so not going to the firing lane any time soon.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

The staking on that rear sight is garage-cool.

That pistol is one funky time-capsule. Again, I dig it!

Todd.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have a Dremel and polishing paste in the basement, and I'm not afraid to use it.

That has been the demise of many good guns. Be careful if you break out the high speed rotary tools, but before you do that try a polishing compound on an old rag. I like Flitz metal polish but there are many options, surely several of which are available in your area... provided your not already on coronavirus Armageddon lockdown.

 

[bannockburn]

Orkanen

Alas not available here in Norway. I'll ask for recommendations at the local gun shop and the nearby gunsmith.

Try looking for Mother's Mag Polish at Walmart; they may also have Flitz which is available through Brownells as well.

 

[Jim Watson]

Quick check at local Brownells tells me I'll probably get both springs for less than the cost of shipping from Missouri alone.

The Recoil Calibration Pack might be worth having. You could select the spring suited to your gun and load combination.
This the reduced spring set, meant for target loads. What velocity or power factor do you need?
https://www.brownells.no/epages/Nor...ICShowAllFacets=1&SearchButton=&SearchButton=

I hope 350 Kroner isn't as much money as it sounds like. It is US$22.99 here.

Shoobe01's 18 lb spring is way more than you need, it is a "heavy duty" spring for high powered police service loads.
Wolff says 16 lb is standard, but Colts are sold with about 15 lb and the original 1911 production had 13.75 lb springs.

I doubt you need a mainspring, that is normally a lifetime part. The one in my 1918 Colt is fine, although it might have been replaced when overhauled at Augusta Arsenal for reissue in Korea.

The firing pin spring that comes with Wolff brand recoil springs is desirable

 

[nofendertom]

That rear sight could possibly be a Millett (?) other people made similar ones---touted to give the Bomar sight picture and increase sight radius somewhat.
That sight appears to have 2 setscrew holes that are filled. (?)
The beavertail appears to be a drop-in so no fitting. I have seen that method of staking the front sight before when you don't have the staking tool. The
ejection port is modified to aid ejection and not dent the brass. The combo of lowered safety, shortened trigger and wear on the checkering might indicate
the shooter had a small hand.

Orkanen that is a nice pistol built by someone to copy what the big name people were doing. I would definitely install a new recall spring before shooting
any ammo. (16lb ?) The gun looks like the previous owner was more interested in shooting it than just having it and with that comes scratches.

Gotta love it !

 

[Mike J]

I am far from a 1911 expert. There are many others here more knowledgeable than me. With that said. I like it. For $250 I think you got an excellent deal. I would probably replace the recoil spring & go shoot it. See what about it you like & what you don't. Make changes as needed. There is a certain retro cool appeal to it.

 

[jonb32248]

Complaining is the easy part.

 

[Orkanen]

I hope 350 Kroner isn't as much money as it sounds like.

It's presently around $35,- Money wise it costs more, according to hamburger index, it's more or less the same. Might as well order it right away.

 

[bnolsen]

250usd is good as far as 1911's go, as long as parts don't fall off it. I remember those days when gun shows had multiple vendors with everything 1911 parts. My dad has my old parkerized series 80 colt. It's actually a good reliable pistol as far as 1911's go. I couldn't hit the side of a barn with one, moving over to a full sized glock 20 with added hogue grips to make it meatier helped tremendously with comfort. Being in the golden age of very reliable and robust semi autos makes the 1911 a quaint, very overpriced pistol.

 

[Orkanen]

I couldn't hit the side of a barn with one

A mate just told me there are easier guns to shoot than the 1911. A cousin let me know that no good home is complete without one, so he has 4, including a 1914 Kongsberg. Either way, I expect to get more enjoyment out of it than I paid for.

 

[Jim Watson]

A mate just told me there are easier guns to shoot than the 1911.

Yes, but most of them are .22s.

There are easier guns to OPERATE without so many confusing buttons and levers and easier to field strip, but there are few full size service pistols so easy to get hits with.

 

[Waveski]

$250 ???

That should calm down the naysayers.

 

[Texas10mm]

Orkanen



Try looking for Mother's Mag Polish at Walmart; they may also have Flitz which is available through Brownells as well.

I'm not sure if they have Walmart in Norway.

 

[Orkanen]

There are easier guns to OPERATE without so many confusing buttons and levers and easier to field strip, but there are few full size service pistols so easy to get hits with.

I got to play a little with a Pardini GT9 last year and did fairly well. Owner told me the GT45 is just as target happy. Yet one will at least cost 7 to 10x more.

I'm not sure if they have Walmart in Norway.

I checked. No Walmart in Norway, and Brownells in Norway only have Flitz microfiber cloth and tumbler media. Anyhow, there's a decent gunsmith just over an hour's drive from here. I'll call and ask what he suggests.

I support the Second Amendment but...

sadly there's no such thing here in Norway.

 

[bannockburn]

Texas10mm

You are correct sir, Walmart does not have any stores in Norway. Closest thing I could find was Asda in the U.K. which is owned by Walmart and it doesn't look like they carry any automotive products. His best bet might be a store called Biltema which appears to stock automotive parts and accessories as they could have some sort of equivalent product to Mother's Mag Polish.