Would you buy a new part or leave this on a 1911?

[DasFriek]

It seems i ordered the wrong grip safety for my PT1911 and fit it anyhow, But it has a 1/4" gap between the tail and frame.
I think i should have ordered this one: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=315809

Would you replace it and eat the $40 the part cost and chalk it up to experiance in fitting grip safeties?

 

[DasFriek]

Well carp!
I couldnt take it for even a few hours knowing the part was wrong, So i researched the crap out finding a correct fitting part someone successfully fit to a PT1911 and this is a proven part.
Ed Brown Beavertail Grip Safety with Memory Groove 1911 Series 80 Blue
Product #: 292223Manufacturer #: 867-1
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=292223

 

[MattTheHat]

If it makes you feel any better, I can relate a more expensive beavertail fitting story...

After getting a really nice fit on my first grip safety, I used a sanding drum on a Dremel to blend the top profile. Long story short, I somehow managed to cut one side too far. The pistol was still shootable, but it sure was ugly. The story ends well as the pistol eventually found its way to Heirloom Precision, where Ted had the frame welded up, and then he finished the install properly, and then applied all manner of other love to the pistol.


-Matt

 

[DasFriek]

Now that makes me even more nervous to attempt doing a bobtail on the gun im on the fence about next month. But anything can be fixed as long as you have money

I can say the grip safety has to be one of the harder things to get right on a 1911 as none seem to be alike. But im sure barrel lugs and lockup would be worse but i have no plans to attempt that anytime soon.

BTW ive seen a few guns Heirloom Precision has done on here and they are spectacular.
Mine being a lower end gun would never get that kind of rescue, It would just have to look ugly.

I gotta say one thing tho, The Taurus PT1911 is a decent 1911 for the money.
But when you do a full rebuild on one like im doing where im only saving the frame/slide/barrel the gun turns into an amazing feeling gun.
Its got 2k rounds threw it before i started this gut and restore for the main reason of learning and purposely burying myself money wise into it so id never get rid of it as its my first 1911 and is teaching me everything about them.

The gun feels nothing like it did new out of the box, Its so tight with all new pins and springs and all hand fitted new high end parts its gonna take several hundred rounds just to loosen it up.
Ive put $400 just in parts in it, The barrel being reused saved me alot, But it was so accurate i would have only made it worse.

Next mods/work which is all undecided yet is the bobtail and a carry melt job and then a refinish.

Pic for reference as it sits now.



I really dislike the large silver surface of the trigger with the current finish, But love the trigger its self function wise. It just looks out of place at this point. So it will be refinished to match the gun along the way.

It doesn't show but my Wilson Tactical extended slide stop and matching single sided safety both of which are very thin for carry should arrive tomorrow and the new grip safety should arrive before the weekend.

Sorry to just post a big post no one asked for but once i get talking about all the fun i been having trying my hand at 1911 smithing i get carried away.

And for the love of god im getting the slides billboards on both sides either hand sanded off or milled off as i can stand those. Im not embarrassed its a Taurus, But i don't need it screamed at me every time i use my gun.

 

[DasFriek]

Here is a list as to its innards as just by looking at it it looks like i just put a big trigger on it and thats it.


1.8 EXTRACTOR ---- Wilson HD ----
1.9 FIRING PIN STOP ---- EGW OVERSIZE FIRING PIN STOP ----
1.10 FIRING PIN ---- Ed Brown Firing Pin Stainless Steel ----
1.11 FIRING PIN SPRING ---- Wilson HD ----
3.2 RECOIL SPRING ---- Wilson 18.5lb ----
4.2 SLIDE STOP ---- Wilson Combat Extended Slide Stop ----
4.4 SLIDE STOP PLUNGER ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.5 PLUNGER SPRING ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.6 SAFETY LOCK PLUNGER ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.7 HAMMER PIN ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.8 SEAR PIN ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.9 EJECTOR PIN ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.10 MANUAL SAFETY LEVER - LEFT ---- Wilson Combat Tactical Thumb Safety ----
4.15 DISCONNECTOR ---- Les Baer Custom Disconnector 1911 ----
4.18 SEAR ----- Ed Brown Match Grade Sear 1911 ----
4.19 MAGAZINE CATCH ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.20 MAGAZINE CATCH SPRING ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.21 MAGAZINE CATCH LOCK ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
4.23 MAINSPRING HOUSING PIN ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
5 SEAR SPRING -- Cylinder & Slide Sear Spring 1911 ----
6.1 TRIGGER ---- EGW SOLID BLANK TRIGGER ----
7.2 HAMMER ----- Wilson Combat Value Line Speed Hammer ----
7.5 HAMMER STRUT ---- Wilson Combat Factory Plus Hammer Strut ----
7.7 HAMMER STRUT PIN ---- Wilson Combat Factory Plus Hammer Strut Pin ----
8.1 MAINSPRING CAP ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
8.2 MAINSPRING ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
8.3 MAINSPRING HOUSING RETAINER ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
8.4 MAINSPRING CAP PIN ---- Ed Brown Frame Rebuild Kit ----
8.5 MAINSPRING HOUSING N/A
9 GRIP SAFETY ---- ED Brown Beavertail Grip Safety ----
10 Magazine ---- Wilson 47D ----