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

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Orkanen said:
I wish to know the benefits of what's done to it.

I'm sure there's a reason for it.
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GI (Government Issue) and early commercial Colt ejection ports were considered too small, and some number would, in fact, ding ejected cases on either case mouth or case rim. Most smiths limited the change to only 1 or 2 mm on Series 70s; GI slides 3-5mm.

Question, is 11.45mm ammo much available over there in Norge?
 
9mmepiphany said:
The smaller ejection port could also interfere with ejecting loaded rounds
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While a tiny bit of extending and chamfering was a Combat Upgrade® (before "tactical" was the word) the big ejector port expansions were for competition. You'd stand there looking silly or get glared at or worse from the SO for not being able to show clear quickly and smoothly. And stoppages could cost you the match.

Back at the end of this era (I am tidge too young to have been shooting for sport in the 80s) there were people with REAL big ejector ports on their match guns, and then they'd switch to the carry piece with stock or at least nowhere near that big a cut to go home.
 
shoobe01 said:
then they'd switch to the carry piece with stock or at least nowhere near that big a cut to go home.
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The ejection port enlargement from that of the Government Model to that on the Commander was considered optimal. The "flaring" of the trailing edge was first to prevent the mid-case creases from ejected cases impacting it...elongated flares are stylistic additions
 
ApacheCoTodd said:
What a bunch of crotchety old, winter-weary curmudgeons y'all sound like.

The guy found a cool old project gun and all anyone notices are the already obvious *flaws*.

Heaven forbid anyone has a mar or imperfectly fitted part.

What I see is some fella had an apparently good time shooting a lot through a budget-custom and now another fella owns it at a price he hasn't thought twice about.

Well..... maybe hasn't thought twice about until reading some of the comments here.

It's still a Colt and being a straight Series 80; no priceless, vaunted nor otherwise sought after guns were harmed in bringing this to our attention.

For my part - I get more honest joy outa looking at this than yet another perfect safe queen or pampered show-pony. I can find those in books and in my own rack.

I always reserve *Bubba* for something I can't really find any virtue in and has in fact degraded my own perceived value of an item. The noting that maybe some guy or gal wrung the snot outa this at club-matches or just matched targets with his or her buddies makes me happy.

And almost everyone here cries tears of joy every time someone else takes a soldering iron to a Glock - go figure.:evil:

Todd.
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I was going to say something but you nailed it perfectly . My sentiments exactly .
 
I bought the gun, well knowing I might find something I'd want to fix before putting it to good use. Popping by the local gunsmith yesterday, I was informed that what's left of the recoil spring measures to around 9 lb. Sufficient for previous owner's loads together with the added plastic dampener fitted on the recoil spring guide. I'd better wait for new springs to arrive before feeding it factory ammo. He only had a couple of heavy duty springs in store, 18 lb and the likes, so nothing I could use. The slide stop doesn't fit very well, so he suggested I sand off a bit at the end. That may very well explain the idiot mark. Beyond that, the rest of the gun seems to be in good shape.

I highly appreciate your input on what's done to my new gun. As I wrote before, I don't yet know if I want to fix scratches and shine it up or if I want to leave it the way it is.
 
Orkanen said:
I was informed that what's left of the recoil spring measures to around 9 lb. Sufficient for previous owner's loads together with the added plastic dampener fitted on the recoil spring guide.

The slide stop doesn't fit very well, so he suggested I sand off a bit at the end. That may very well explain the idiot mark.

As I wrote before, I don't yet know if I want to fix scratches and shine it up or if I want to leave it the way it is.
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I come across items in a state like yours from time to time. Once I've determined it is a worthwhile piece, I keep any modifications which I might have removed just to have a complete *period* package representing the previous owner's intent and use.

As to the slide-stop. I'd see if the guy won't let you buy the previous component. Looks to me like the *standard* replacement piece was installed to sell the gun and maybe the previous version more closely mimicked the safety.

As to appearance - maybe leave it be for a time until you've got some rounds through it to be certain which way sou really want to go.

Fella steps up beside me at a range with that gun and I'm going to want to talk to him about it (for good or ill, with some folks:evil:) but a perfect factory pistol?..... Whatever.

Todd.
 
Orkanen said:
Sufficient for previous owner's loads together with the added plastic dampener fitted on the recoil spring guide.
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That is more than likely a Wilson Shok Buff or close facsimile. When you get your new springs, I wouldn't re-install the Shok Buff. They have a tendency to disintegrate with use and impede function
 
9mmepiphany said:
That is more than likely a Wilson Shok Buff or close facsimile. When you get your new springs, I wouldn't re-install the Shok Buff. They have a tendency to disintegrate with use and impede function
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Don't they though?:thumbup:

It can really get messy in there with regular disintegration and then add some of the modern fluids used in the las 20 or so years.

Todd.
 
ApacheCoTodd said:
As to the slide-stop.
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Perhaps a good idea to ask him if he still has the old parts laying around somewhere. I'll do that.
ApacheCoTodd said:
As to appearance
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I bought a battered motorbike 30 years ago. Back then I kept it as it was, just keeping it in good working order, but later I decided to return it to stock. Finding the parts isn't easy though, so it's a work in progress. Probably a lot easier with a 1911, nomatter how old.
ApacheCoTodd said:
Fella steps up beside me at a range with that gun
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Got the t-shirt.
9mmepiphany said:
That is more than likely a Wilson Shok Buff or close facsimile.
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Mine is near the end of its life and will soon be discarded or replaced. I've heard they come in various materials, and want to look into pros and cons. I assume the alternative to be switching to a stiffer spring whenever I want to replace lost brass, or am I mistaken?
 
It's been a busy summer and no time for play, yet wife eventually returned home with son from working abroad and I finally got to lay my clammy hands on a few springs for my Colt. A 10 lb, 16 lb and 18 lb, as well as a couple of new buffs. I ordered and paid for a set of springs from local Brownells in April, ranging from 11 lb to 15 lb, they told me they're in back order and have been quiet ever since. The accompanying spring turns out to be more than an inch shorter than my new ones, so I've laid it to rest in lush meadows. The gun flinches with the 10 lb spring on my home made ammo with limp wrist, but reloads well with a firm grip, so I guess it's a keeper. A tip from a friend of mine. I hope that's the right way to go about it. The same goes for Magtech 230 gr FMJs on 16 lb and Winchester 230 gr FMJs on the 18 lb spring.

Accuracy seems good so far. I'm at dead centre at 25 yards with home made and around 3 inches above with factory ammo. The lowered safety switch takes getting used to. I'm not yet entirely comfortable with thumb placement, but I'll leave it for now. The original slide stop was broken, so previous owner put on something he had laying around. An arched main spring housing will likely give me a more fitting grip, it feels as if something's missing there. Probably because I'm so used to the stock grip on my Pardini SP. I'll also need to locate a shop with triggers in store to find a better fit. With such changes done, I'll reconcider the safety switch.

I tried metal polish and cloth on the gun and some of the scratches went away. A toothbrush with polishing paste cleaned well where the cloth didn't reach. Repeat the process a few times and it will probably shine too. The "idiot marks" may linger though. We'll see.
 
I picked this up in a deal a long time back. Guy was getting divorced and I paid $200 for it. It had bright polished flats and had a matte finish around the radiused edges. All of which were scratched and scuffed up a good it worse than what yours looks like.

I bead blasted it in my buddies glass bead cabinet and this is what it looked like when it came out.

enhance.jpg

If you wanted to clean it up, Im sure any smith could do it for you, or send it out, for a reasonable price.
 
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