I am still addicted!

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
The oil boom is on again in West Texas and I received an offer I could not refuse for a mineral interest we owned. After sharing it with the various heirs I still had some left and a part of it fell off the table on the way to the bank. There was a guy on gunbroker selling all kinds of Colt goodies that he bought from a retired Colt executive 20 years ago.

I bought a complete 1994 Colt 1991 frame with all internals and Colt USGI replacement hard slide from the early 50s. I had to remove the series 80 levers and use a filler in the frame for the slide to work properly. All the other parts came from my Colt parts box. I did add a set of vintage Westinghouse Micarta grips and have the barrel throated in front of the chamber. I was amazed that Colt parts from over a 60 year period went together without fitting into a tight and accurate pistol. This one is a keeper. Frankenstein Colt small.JPG
 

Ian

Notorious member
That Micarta sure is purty.

After all that improvement, I would simply HAVE to ditch that plastic 1991 trigger, they feel horrible to me. Would you share a little more detail of the 80 to 70 frame filling procedure? I have a M1991 stainless which as it came from Colt was a total fit/finish disaster (worse than RIA). I have fixed most of it but really want to chuck all the innards and start with some decent series 70 parts and a new trigger.
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
That Micarta sure is purty.

After all that improvement, I would simply HAVE to ditch that plastic 1991 trigger, they feel horrible to me. Would you share a little more detail of the 80 to 70 frame filling procedure? I have a M1991 stainless which as it came from Colt was a total fit/finish disaster (worse than RIA). I have fixed most of it but really want to chuck all the innards and start with some decent series 70 parts and a new trigger.

I didn't have another long trigger in my parts bin, so the original stayed. I did allot of work polishing the trigger stirrup for an easy slide in the frame and used a trigger anvil to straighten every thing out. The result works for me. On a series 80 frame you must remove the two little levers and replace them, with a filler plate sold by Brownells. If you use a Series 80 slide, you must remove the punger and spring. I used an old slide so that was not necessary. The only part of such a modified pistol that will remain is the hammer which has a detente instead of a half cock notch. That doesn't bother me enough to want to change out the hammer and perhaps other parts as well. I really have not looked that deep into the subject.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I agree on the long triggers, they make the LOP correct for my hand shape. Thanks for the tip on the filler plate, I didn't realize there was a ready-made part to replace the mickey-mouse disconnector actuator thingy and keep the replacement series 70 sear in place. The half-cock notch won't be missed by me, either, I've found the quickest way to ruin a trigger job is to try and use the safety notch as an actual half-cock notch just one time! I read somewhere, maybe Col. Cooper's writings, that the notch is actually only a safety feature to catch the hammer if the sear tip or full-cock lip breaks due to a drop, so I quit trying to use it at all and just allow it to be a passive safety.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My only 1911 is a series 80. All original parts. I have never fired one without those little levers so I suppose I don't know the difference?

May need to get another someday?
 

GaryN

Active Member
Being fairly new to the whole auto pistol thing I don't have much to add. I have shot revolver for forty years. I figured I didn't want to go fetch brass. Then I picked up a Ruger SR1911 a couple of years ago and started to play with it. What a blast. I missed out on a bunch of fun. Now I picked up a Springfield Range Officer Compact. The Ruger was a little heavy to carry concealed. I like to shoot both of them. I guess this is the beginning of my auto pistol journey.

I do enjoy your posts Charles.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
My one and only 1911 is a Kimber Custom Classic. It's a 5" Government model I bought about 20 years ago for $500 NIB.
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
I agree on the long triggers, they make the LOP correct for my hand shape. Thanks for the tip on the filler plate, I didn't realize there was a ready-made part to replace the mickey-mouse disconnector actuator thingy and keep the replacement series 70 sear in place. The half-cock notch won't be missed by me, either, I've found the quickest way to ruin a trigger job is to try and use the safety notch as an actual half-cock notch just one time! I read somewhere, maybe Col. Cooper's writings, that the notch is actually only a safety feature to catch the hammer if the sear tip or full-cock lip breaks due to a drop, so I quit trying to use it at all and just allow it to be a passive safety.

Ian....for the first 50 years, I thought all Colt 1911 pistols had to have short trigger and arched main spring housings. Then one day, I changed my mind. I think arthritis brought me to my senses. I have now changed out all triggers to the long variety and flat mainspring housings. I also changed out all main springs to 19 pounds. This makes for an easier trigger but with 100% reliability of ignition. Of course the main spring housings need the lanyard loop to open beer bottles.
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
I agree on the long triggers, they make the LOP correct for my hand shape. Thanks for the tip on the filler plate, I didn't realize there was a ready-made part to replace the mickey-mouse disconnector actuator thingy and keep the replacement series 70 sear in place. The half-cock notch won't be missed by me, either, I've found the quickest way to ruin a trigger job is to try and use the safety notch as an actual half-cock notch just one time! I read somewhere, maybe Col. Cooper's writings, that the notch is actually only a safety feature to catch the hammer if the sear tip or full-cock lip breaks due to a drop, so I quit trying to use it at all and just allow it to be a passive safety.

I have a Colt Series 80 Government Model circa 2005. It is a very good pistol and I have never felt the need to do away with the Series 80 features. I did fit a good aluminumColt GM small.jpg target trigger. Since this pic. I have also changed out the mainspring housing to a flat one.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
Like I said. I have only owned a 5" 1911.
Maybe I owe it to myself to pick up a four inch pistol.
Too many guns, not enough $$$
My rifle/scope addiction right now eats every bit of gun budget the boss allows me....:oops:
 

Intheshop

Banned
There's a few around here.Gdads pre A1 circa 1917.... He bought prior to entering Army air corp WWI...Anyhow,it's fit and finish is on a whole nuther level.If ya'll ever get a chance,handle and better yet shoot,a pre A1.Load up a H&G 68 over 5g of 231.It'll cycle and is a jawdropper on acc.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
well since we are talking 1911's I might as well go ahead and say what I got.
an auto ordinance copy of the A-1.
a norinco.
and a para ord I got on sale after it went back to the factory to have the magazine catch repaired.
actually 2 para's the second one is a double stack 9mm which went back to them for the same thing.
I got them both for about the price of one new one.
they all shoot somewhere behind the front sight.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
If anyone has a short Gold Cup trigger I would love to have it, SS if possible. The only ones I can find are plastic shorts, they don't fit my frame.
 

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
Know what you mean by "addicted". Although I am a revolver guy, I thought you guys might want to see this National Match Wad Gun I picked up a couple of weeks ago. It's a sickness, I tell ya.

Don
Colt NM Bullseye Pistol1A.jpg
Colt NM Bullseye Pistol1B.jpg
 

gman

Well-Known Member
Using the 1911 as my ccp I have come to appreciate a long solid trigger. It's amazing how much lint and crap gathers around that trigger and those nice target triggers with all the holes that were such the rage back when collect like a magnet. Nice 1911's by the way. Everybody should own more than one!
 
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fiver

Well-Known Member
nice pistol Don.
I always wondered how a dot or a scope would hold up riding the slide like that.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
And Charles, some addictions can't be stopped. Not should they.

If a guy has to have a gun to be addicted to the 1911 is never a bad choice.