Let's see all the 1911's!

[mtngunr]

First 7 rds/20yds from peened rail junker mentioned above, the high shot was where slide did not quite fully close for 1 sec and then closed. No further malfs, including speed dump, hit empty ammo box 4 for 7 at 50yds. I do believe it's time to parkerize frame. Past the late issue slide, the gun all RR WWII issue including High Standard barrel whose lugs not even in same zip code as slide stop.
PS- looked up the cage code for GI slide, and it would not pass for a Vietnam rebuild, this supplier was assigned their long lapsed code in 1974...but, close enough for government work...I do know one guy stationed in Afghanistan rooted through about 1/3 of his unit's 1911s and of circa 90 inventoried, between 30 and 40 had this slide on the guns...

PPS- there was no special skill involved past using the right file for the job and having some idea as to smoking parts or using DyeChem to look for interference/high spots. Maybe knowing peened rails most likely to be lower and wider so that bottom and sides of frame rails the areas most likely to need filing, and that doing anything much to top of frame or slide would only lower slide and have maybe center then hitting....no barrel lug or hood welding/recutting...just get the slide on...and then it shot like this, without even any sight adjustment, where I was truly expecting a lot more problems as for function, as well as buckshot patterns only hopefully somewhere on the paper, maybe...so, maybe I should have played the lottery instead, except I just did and won.

 

[red442joe]

I fixed a couple "drop in" barrels, where the lug and slide stop were on opposite sides of the county, if in the same zip code...
Drop in barrels are like a set of drop in shoes for the family...get a pair of 15's, everbody can wear them.
I was able to mig the lugs, with a brass rod to protect the pin hole. I filed to fit. Both barrels shoot well.

Joe

 

[mtngunr]

I fixed a couple "drop in" barrels, where the lug and slide stop were on opposite sides of the county, if in the same zip code...
Drop in barrels are like a set of drop in shoes for the family...get a pair of 15's, everbody can wear them.
I was able to mig the lugs, with a brass rod to protect the pin hole. I filed to fit. Both barrels shoot well.

Joe

We formerly used a torch and GI magazine spring to build up lugs and hoods...still would sometimes end up with a carbide clump that would knock the teeth off a file. Nowadays, even a true GI magazine is getting harder and harder to find among all the fake ones, so no living in the past, even if someone wanted to do that. I don't know who invented the lug cutter for perfect mating of lugs with stop for particular frame/slide/barrel, whether Air Force gunsmiths for the team at Lackland, or somebody else, but Bob Day (Distinguished shooter and retired team gunsmith) in San Antonio certainly had one in his shop in the mid-70s, and HE learned from masters.

 

[Gunbuffer]

AI Colt Commander
View attachment 89603

Hey I built this

 

[mtngunr]

Well, finished up the junker shown prior at top of pp38 and bottom pp37...
PS- with all the bare metal, and this time of year folk busy who could parkerize, did it myself on the kitchen stove. All I did was frame and thumb safety, everything darker than it seems in photo. Now, I finally have a 100% GI parts gun I can range blast and carry, and not worry.

 

[mtngunr]

Had mentioned earlier regarding the junker I now have named Old Blotchy, that no few military target pistols were returned to service and featured stippling. Or, were maybe allowed to be stippled in some top units.

No idea what happened with these or when, three photos are of 1911s taken in Afghanistan of guns in inventory with the 5th SFG(A) at that time, where they were allowed to parts swap, but, no permanent alterations to slide/frame were allowed. Would first guess skateboard tape, but skateboard tape does not rust. Who knows? As an fyi, quite a few guns of that 5th SFG(A) inventory photo shooting turned up last CMP sell off a year ago in the "Range Grade" bracket of mixmasters with commercial parts, indicating that after 100yrs of service (yes, original 1911 frames and slides were in that inventory), that the old war horse has finally been put out to pasture as younger soldiers gravitate more to Glocks and Sigs when given a choice.

Anyhow, Old Blotchy fits right in...and with its ex-GI current owner who carried one while playing looking-for-Noriega, and found it worked as advertised.

Again, could have blasted the frame for a perfect even finish, it been the only perfect finished part of the gun, and would have lost original marking/metal texture definition, and likely would have lost entirely the always-faint circular Ordnance acceptance stamp with crossed cannon just visible above sear pin on right side.











As a late addition, took Old Blotchy to the range again for function tests thru 7 magazines, zero hiccups at all, even when holding it with arm extended to side and me looking at side of gun, wrist cocked and limp, and doing magazine dumps...and it still was regularly whacking drink bottles and empty ammo boxes at 50yds. My old 681 and Old Blotchy are going to be my daily drivers, for sure.

Best (and last) attempt at true to life colors of Old Blotchy, which would change the instant I oiled it, but this is pretty much what it looks like day to day...I love .45 automatics, the first handgun I ever fired as a kid, and truly feel blessed to have a WWII issue gun where I can order a case of FMJ to blast through it, and carry it daily...how many other folk are actually carrying a totally GI parts .45? I feel like the luckiest man in the world.

 

[Wojownik]

Colt Combat Unit and Springfield Armory Operator

 

[Wojownik]

Wilson Combat CQB 1911 45acp
View attachment 523267

Looks good, especially displayed on the stand.

 

[Wojownik]

I’ve read and have heard a lot of good things about Tisas 1911’s. I came across a pretty good Black Friday deal on one so I decided why not, let’s check it out.

When I received it, I was actually pretty amazed at what you get for the cost. Even though I got it on a Black Friday deal, I feel the normal cost would be worth it no problem.

You get a pretty nice case with the foam cut out to hold everything. You get the pistol with magazine, an extra magazine, cleaning brush, cleaning rod, spare set of grips (rubber ones comes on it and are pretty sweet really, spare are plastic), bushing wrench, and a trigger lock if you’re one that might need to use it. There are no issues with the fit and finish at all.

Just looking it over and fondling it some, it is nicer than the Colt 1911 I bought. After buying several Colt firearms, I’ve come to learn Colt’s quality is straight and you’re absolutely paying for the name. My personal experience so don’t hate on me haha. I’ve since had the Colt worked over and many parts replaced to make it top notch, but still, out of the box, the Tisas is actually pretty nice.

I bought the B45 and am now thinking I might just go ahead and get the B45R as well. The B45R is the railed version in case you’re wondering.

Lots of good reviews and lots of good videos out there talking about how these 1911’s are worth getting.

There are those the talk noise about them and about them being a Turkish gun because
“ ‘Merica, f*** yeah! “. I just look at it as they are at least a NATO country. Although some also talk noise about NATO, I feel it has at little merit to it.

 

[mtngunr]

I’ve read and have heard a lot of good things about Tisas 1911’s. I came across a pretty good Black Friday deal on one so I decided why not, let’s check it out.

When I received it, I was actually pretty amazed at what you get for the cost. Even though I got it on a Black Friday deal, I feel the normal cost would be worth it no problem.

You get a pretty nice case with the foam cut out to hold everything. You get the pistol with magazine, an extra magazine, cleaning brush, cleaning rod, spare set of grips (rubber ones comes on it and are pretty sweet really, spare are plastic), bushing wrench, and a trigger lock if you’re one that might need to use it. There are no issues with the fit and finish at all.

Just looking it over and fondling it some, it is nicer than the Colt 1911 I bought. After buying several Colt firearms, I’ve come to learn Colt’s quality is straight and you’re absolutely paying for the name. My personal experience so don’t hate on me haha. I’ve since had the Colt worked over and many parts replaced to make it top notch, but still, out of the box, the Tisas is actually pretty nice.

I bought the B45 and am now thinking I might just go ahead and get the B45R as well. The B45R is the railed version in case you’re wondering.

Lots of good reviews and lots of good videos out there talking about how these 1911’s are worth getting.

There are those the talk noise about them and about them being a Turkish gun because
“ ‘Merica, f*** yeah! “. I just look at it as they are at least a NATO country. Although some also talk noise about NATO, I feel it has at little merit to it.

View attachment 534860

I have had exactly one bad Colt, a WWI Repro which used a wide spur outsourced hammer. The other three have been functionally perfect, two had purely cosmetic issues common as long as Colt has produced military guns. What problems did you have besides generic trashing of the brand?
Colts still use the least amount of cast and MIM parts of any brand, fyi, including forged/machined slide stops, extractors, hammers, frames, slides, etc., which generally means prettier guns made otherwise don't hold up to extensive shooting. Colt got sloppy about 20yrs ago, but my 2016 gun is utterly perfect in build and function.

Tisas has a good rep, most brands do, but most the folk praising them don't shoot them all that much or try to induce jams by limp wristing when fouled to see what happens in worst case.
Keep us posted on what shooting you do and how it holds up, as I certainly think the Tisas likely built as well or better than most standard production non-Colt 1911-type guns.