Question on 1911 slide rails.

[boogalou]

What is the typical slide rail measurement for a Colt 1911 & do most makers of 1911's follow these measurements?

Thanks in advance.

 

[1911Tuner]

Slide Measurements

Howdy boogaloo,

Which dimension are ya lookin' for? Width between rails?
Width between ways? Thickness? Distance from disconnector rail to bottom of slide rails?

 

[boogalou]

Tuner - Looking for the width of the "female" portion of the slide rail. What the frame "male" rail slides into. The typical depth of this dimension would also be appreciated.

 

[Dave Sample]

They are all different to some degree. I have never bothered to measure them. They are always very tight on my guns as I beat the two parts together with lead hammers until they do my bidding. There are ordance Specs for these parts in my Gun Room, but I am not sure they would help.

 

[1911Tuner]

Dimensions

Howdy boogaloo,

The specs for the slide ways is .753-.759 standard (Ordnance Spec)
and .750-.754 for National match. Clearance between slide and frame
runs .003 to .005 inch for ordnance-spec pistols, while National Match
clearances are generally about half that.

Colt tends to hold the tolerances closer to ordnance spec...looser... while the recent Springfields seem to tend toward a little tighter slide to frame fit than they used to...no doubt due to accurate CNC machining centers making it easier to keep dimensions very close to optimum print specs.

The recent Kimbers that I've seen are even tighter, and show very little
play between slide and frame. IMO the Kimbers are almost too tight,
but that;'s easy to take care of with a little J&B Bore Cleaner.

Dave is spot on in that different slide/frame sets vary a lot from maker to maker, and the important part isn't so much that they're perfectly dimensioned, but that they fit together well without excessive slop or
so tight that they bind or gall.

Hope this helps!

Tuner

 

[Dave Sample]

Thanks for the dimensions, Tuner. I am sure that will help. I always start a project with parts that are too big and too small and then kind of make them happy with each other. Works for me!