Good morning, all, I have a steel 5" Colt Series 80 1991 model that I got in 2011. It has run like clockwork since I figured out the right extractor tension (more than it came with) and I've got about 6000 trouble-free rounds through it. Recently, I saw what I thought was a vertical scratch on the left/port side of the frame, just forward of where the frame rails end. Upon closer inspection, it looks like it's a crack in the frame at the junction of the slide rails and the back of the dust cover. I've been searching around this forum, and apparently these cracks aren't all that uncommon. I a ..read more

Hi guys, I have already fitted a new Commander upper to my Government frame, and am having cycling issues. I do not want to modify the frame because I still use government uppers on it as well. I read on here that I can modify the guide rod to give the commander slide more room to cycle back and load a round, can someone help me understand this possible fix? I saw a post here: https://forum.m1911.org/showthread.p...368#post722368 Is the poster saying I should remove material on the guide rod head making it smaller so it can essentially fit inside the recoil plug area and give more room for t ..read more

This applies to 1911s that do not have an integral plunger tube cast into the frame. The original design of the 1911 specified that the left grip was to support the plunger tube to prevent it from dismounting due to a poor staking job. Manufacturers have long been known for not always doing a good job of staking plunger tubes securely to frames. Some are known to not even countersink the holes through which the tube rivets pass. If a plunger tube comes loose and is not retained by the left grip panel, this is what happens. When this happens the thumb safety cannot be swiped down into the fir ..read more

Hi, I am searching for information regarding the procedure of checking the headspace in military used M1911. I didn´t found any information regarding headspace in official military manuals of this weapon. Was there no intention for such a procedure? I understood that there was not such a check determined on troop-level up to maintenance-level 4. But wasn´t there a check at Depot-Level? If there was a such a check, how looked like the gauges for this. Is there an armourer-toolset or a depot-maintenance-toolset with .45 headspace-gauges. I am only interested in the military-issued gauges ..read more

Hi. New to the forum but I was hoping to hear some opinions on the condition of the lug recesses in the slide on the latest 1911 I acquired. This is a CMP service grade from the latest round of sales. The frame is a 1940 production colt serial 717xxx and the slide is a post ‘43 as it has no serial number under the FP retainer. The pistol is quite nice in appearance for refurbed surplus and I bought it with plans to shoot it and save my correct ‘45 Remington Rand and Ithaca for collection. After I picked it up I tore it down to go through it and I have some serious concerns about the wear in t ..read more

Another question. I have a Tisas 1911, and when I dry fire it I can feel a slight ‘tic’ or feedback, through the grip safety. It doesn’t seem to hurt anything, and doesn't affect the shooting, just curious what is going on? None of my other 1911s do this ..read more