Is this normal for 1911's?

[Sharkmeat]

The hammer on my pistol is not quite centered. While cocked, it sets to the right of the beavertail. While un-cocked, it sits next to the right of the slide. Both areas show wear - not severe - just shiny spots. While the firing pin stop has a slightly uneven wear pattern, the gun operates fine. IS THIS NORMAL? I didn’t even notice until after I cleaned it for the first time. Now, of course, is bothers the heck out of me.

And, assuming a correction was warranted, would this be an easy fix for a gunsmith?

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[1911Tuner]

Catty-Wampus Hammer

Howdy Sharkmeat,

It's not normal. Sounds like either the hole in the hammer or the holes in the frame weren't drilled straight. Really hard to say without seeing the gun. By slide stop, I'm assuming that you're describing the firing pin stop...the plate with the hole in the middle at the back of the slide.

If the hammer is drilled wrong, it's an easy fix. If it's the frame...not so
easy. If the gun is under warranty, you'll probably want to return it
to the manufacturer. Even if it isn't under warranty, they still may repair/replace the frame on their dime. Cross your fingers that it's the hammer and not the frame...but my money is on the frame. In any case,
there's an uneven stress on the hammer pin, which will probably lead to premature failure.

Just for the record...Who made the gun?

Luck!

Tuner

 

[stans]

Most likely it is the hammer. Many 1911 manufacturers, maybe all by now, do not make their own small parts, they purchase them in bulk from other vendors and the quality can and does vary dramatically. It ain't lowest cost bid for nothing!

 

[Sharkmeat]

Geeez... don't know why I said "slide stop." Must of had that on the brain at the time

Yes, I meant the "firing pin" stop. I know better, too... Just a cranial - rectal inversion, I guess

Thanks for the replies, guys. The gun is a Sig GSR. I intentionally left that part out to (perhaps) aid in the objectivity of the responses, as I have heard others complaining about this same problem. (and many others concerning this model) I actually DID get a return authorization for the gun when I was at the height of my anxiety about it one afternoon. I just have not been sure if I was ME being nitt-picky, or, if I should actually be concerned about this. As a result, I have not yet sent it into Sig and, instead, are posting on this board to see if it is I who has the problem

Again, I do appreciate the replies. I guess I'll get the thing sent off!

 

[1911Tuner]

GSR

Howdy Sharkmeat,

You mentioned that you had heard of the same problem in other Sig 1911 clones...If that's the case, it could very well be the hammer, since they
don't make the hammers, but rather buy them from a vendor. Could be
that whoever made a particular run of hammers got the holes all cattywampus.

When it happens to the holes in the frame, it's usually an occasional thing...probably caused by a burr or metal chip between the frame and work table when the machine operator put the frame in the fixture before
drilling the holes. It doesn't take a lot of misalignment to cause a problem
with a hammer or sear pin.

Let Sig hear from ya. This needs to be fixed.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[Jim Watson]

Cockeyed hammers and crooked beavertails are standard equipment on GSRs. The one at FLD is already burred from the hammer hitting the edge of the recess in the beavertail just in prospective customers' handling. It looks to me like the beavertail is off by more than the hammer.

Sigarms will replace them on demand and supposedly have a new source of beavertails. I would let them fix it. A competent gunsmith could replace the hammer and beavertail but it would be at your considerable expense. I don't think they are repairable within the value of the parts.

For a long account of GSR troubles and corrections by the expert hired by Sigarms to ensure they turned out a good 1911 mutant, ref:

http://sigforum.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=674608412&f=430601935&m=91310994

 

[1911Tuner]

GSRs

Well...So much for all the giddy anticipation and smug predictions that Sig's
superior QC and engineering would "straighten out the flaws" in the decrepit old 1911...

Yeah...I know that Sig doesn't build the guns and they don't actually make anything in-house...Seems like somebody woulda noticed that the hammers and grip safeties were on crooked though.

Ah well...back to the drawin' board. Norinco anyone?

 

[stans]

All the engineering in the world can't make up for shoddy workmanship and poor quality parts.

 

[Jim K]

At least the gun worked. That is not true of all cases of "shoddy workmanship and poor quality parts."

Jim

 

[Sharkmeat]

Thanks for the info and link to Matt McLearn's thread. It seems he is pretty committed to the success of the GSR project. That's good to know that they are trying to do things right.

I waited some time before actually picking up a 1911 - this is my first. You must admit, it looks pretty good on paper. If all these "high-end" pieces get put together right, I would think it should be a keeper. It actually has shot great for me. Hopefully, when I get it back, things will be right and I won't have to scratch the itch to get something like one of the Colt 70 series reintro's. I know, totally on the other end of the spectrum as far as 1911 models go...I just love that classic look and I have read good things about the new Colts. I will probably only have the option of having one 1911, so, after much ado, I went with the model I thought would give me everything I would probably ever want, and not break the bank. (Reeeeeeally wanted a Baer TRS but only had 1000 dollars to spend) But, if this GSR doesn’t work out, I’ll probably head in the direction of the Pony.

Thanks again fella’s,

Sharkmeat

 

[Dave Sample]

I took a real close look at the SIG 1911's at the Shot Show. No Comment.

 

[Brian D.]

You gonna drop that other shoe?

C'mon, Dave Sample, folks around here respect your opinions and experience, even when we have to agree to disagree about this or that. Tell us what you saw. Otherwise it's like you had us over to your house, showed us a big pot of somethin' cookin' in your kitchen, then wouldn't open the lid or tell us what was in there. Kinda frustrating, you know?

 

[Dave Sample]

Sorry Brian. I really do not wish to denigrate any factory 1911's. If any of them were suitible for my needs, I would not build my own. Dean P10 and I spent an hour there and examined both the black and the Evil Mojo versions. I was turned off by the 18 LB recoil spring, the flashlight rail, the poor workmanship, the parts selection, and the so called smith that helped make these weird. I found them crunchy and crude and would not spend my hard earned money on anything this new in concept. Like Kimber, the first ones are Caspians, and when they get in production in Germany, they will be another German gun sold here for Yankee Dollars. Kimber went to Jerico Precision's foundry as soon as they could and now they make a great deal of different models, most of which people really seem to like. One thing we know around here is that Caspian Parts are raw material and have to be finished. They do not fall together as some of our Online 1911 students can attest to, having spent 100-150 hours building their first 1911 from parts. The grip screws drop in, nothing else. I cannot imagine any thing more useless to me personally, than a 1911 with a Surefire flashlight on it. I have Green Eyes so I don't need it! These are only two 1911's that I recommend. Colt for the new guys and Ed Brown Models for the more experienced. I am certain that the value is these in both cases. Take what I say with a grain of salt. I only speak from experience.

 

[Brian D.]

Thank you Dave! See, that's what I look for on these forums--a straight-from-the-hip opinion, in some detail, delivered without any untoward harshness. And fwiw, being poor and chea--uh, value driven--I'd add my Norinco 1911s to the brands you just mentioned. Oops, didn't mean to drift thread, back to Sig's entry.
Only one pal of mine hereabouts has bought the GSR. His hasn't been shot much yet, so no issues with it. However, one of the IPSC folks at my club reports that one of their shooters had to send his back pretty quickly due to some parts problems. Firing pin stop and thumb safety weren't behaving if memory serves.

 

[Rich in VA]

Jim Watson

Cockeyed hammers and crooked beavertails are standard equipment on GSRs. The one at FLD is already burred from the hammer hitting the edge of the recess in the beavertail just in prospective customers' handling.

What/who/where is FLD ?

Thanks.

Rich

 

[Brian D.]

Rich in Va...

If my translation into Watson-speak is correct, "FLD" means 'friendly local dealer'.

 

[Rich in VA]

If my translation into Watson-speak is correct, "FLD" means 'friendly local dealer'.

Thanks, makes sense now................

Rich