The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site

Shipwreck

5th February 2006, 02:42

Ok, figured out how to remove an ambi safety. Got both pieces off, but this strange spring part came out too. What is it?

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/6346/what12et.jpg

Shipwreck

5th February 2006, 02:46

Damn, never mind again - I see it's the plunger spring from the frame - I'm an idiot :p

Alaskan00

5th February 2006, 05:27

Don't sweat it dude, it only took you 4 min. to figure it out!

Shipwreck

5th February 2006, 12:55

Haha, it was less than that. After I made the post, I went back to the frame and saw what was missing. At first, I thought it fell out THRU the hole where the ambi safety was...

I was like "this isn't good." - I thought I was gonna have to take the parts to a smith later to reassemble it for me at first :p

scooter

5th February 2006, 14:01

welcome to the world of 1911...http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon10.gif

1911Tuner

5th February 2006, 15:10

Ok, figured out how to remove an ambi safety. Got both pieces off, but this strange spring part came out too. What is it?

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/6346/what12et.jpg

Another example of current manufacturers failing to follow the design specs. If the spring had been dog-legged at the mid-point, the assembly wouldn't have left the tube at high-speed. *sigh* Well...At least Colt has returned to the captive cut in the end of the recoil spring plugs. A step in the right direction, IMNSHO.

OD*

5th February 2006, 15:18

At least Colt has returned to the captive cut in the end of the recoil spring plugs.
I'm not sure it's on all of them Johnny, my NRM '91A1 has it, a friend's, whose dates as a later manufacture doesn't. Mine also had the checkered mag release button, his didn't. Made me think Colt might have been cleaning up parts from the WWII run?

RickB

5th February 2006, 15:18

Not too long ago, one of the big gunrags ran a review of a new Springfield/Kimber/Para, and the reviewer commented that he had replaced the "damaged" plunger spring - presumably with a nice, straight one :confused: - before even firing a shot.

OD*

5th February 2006, 15:19

Azrael256

6th February 2006, 00:35

the reviewer commented that he had replaced the "damaged" plunger spring - presumably with a nice, straight one I thought mine was damaged when I first looked at it. Tuner set me straight on that point. 'Course I don't claim to be a professional gun rag review type.

1911Tuner

6th February 2006, 08:05

I'm not sure it's on all of them Johnny, my NRM '91A1 has it, a friend's, whose dates as a later manufacture doesn't. Mine also had the checkered mag release button, his didn't. Made me think Colt might have been cleaning up parts from the WWII run?

All the most recent Colts...likely made in the last year or so...do have the cut.
My 2001 production NRM doesn't have it. Two recent-production Colts that I've seen...a GM and Combat Commander...both do. All the WW2 contract parts have long since been used up. Evidently, Colt has been monitoring these forums and paying attention...which makes me believe that they're serious about
producing a really good pistol again. Goodonya, Colt. Kudos!

Footnote: I had to work on the Commander a little to get it to run
reliably with hardball...but it was a fairly minor tweak. The new "Dimple" throat was offset to one side and cut at too steep an angle. The gun belongs to kartracer. Had no further bad reports from him, so all must be well.

Personally, I'd like to see Colt bump the others back into the "Also-Ran" category. ;) As things stand, Colt is making the strongest
hammer strut in the industry, bar none. They've apparently returned to spring steel for their extractors, and rumor has it that they're moving back to steel plunger tubes. Steps in the right direction.

screwman

6th February 2006, 10:03

Another example of current manufacturers failing to follow the design specs. If the spring had been dog-legged at the mid-point, the assembly wouldn't have left the tube at high-speed. .

There we go again!! Another much appreciated piece of 1911 info for a 1911 rookie. I was wondering how the plunger spring in my Kimber got so bent up when I had't even touched it. Many thanks again for sharing, Tuner!!!

Mike

OD*

6th February 2006, 10:09

Interesting Johnny, my buddy's is a 2005 and doesn't have it. Have you seen others with the checkered mag release button also?

DanR

6th February 2006, 10:36

Nice to know I am not the only one here who has to look at a part twice before I figure out what it is, or does.

Dr. Dickie

6th February 2006, 11:03

Interesting Johnny, my buddy's is a 2005 and doesn't have it. Have you seen others with the checkered mag release button also?

I do not have my 1991A1 here (it was made in 2005--Colt says) but I am pretty sure it does not have the the retaining cut. I twisted the recoil spring plug to try to get it to catch on the spring and it did not (that is the correct way to get the spring caught on the cut--right?)
My Series 70 definitaly does have this.
As soon as I get the 1991A1 back I will check.

OD*

6th February 2006, 11:07

I would be real interested in knowing what yours has Doc, my Series 70 reissue does not have it.

(that is the correct way to get the spring caught on the cut--right?)

Yes sir.

Dr. Dickie

6th February 2006, 11:14

I would be real interested in knowing what yours has Doc, my Series 70 reissue does not have it.

(that is the correct way to get the spring caught on the cut--right?)

Yes sir.
Thanks OD.
I know that my Series 70 re-issue (2006) does as the first time I broke it down, the plug did not come off the spring (I thought that most curious). I also remember that I really thought it curious that my 1991 would not catch the spring as I thought that would be a natural thing. I cannot remember if the 1991 plug has the little dimple in in it--like my 1918 M1911--I think it did, but I know it would not capture the spring!

OD*

6th February 2006, 11:30

I believe you Doc.
There are only two absolutes I know when dealing with Colt and Winchester firearms, never say always and never say never. :nono: ;)

1911Tuner

6th February 2006, 11:59

Interesting Johnny, my buddy's is a 2005 and doesn't have it. Have you seen others with the checkered mag release button also?

Likely Colt using up old stocks of the plugs that don't have the cut...Colt has been know for this practice...so for the next couple years, you may see two pistols with close serial numbers in which one has it and the other doesn't.

Seen a few new ones with checkered catch buttons...and a few without.
Got my fingers crossed that they'll go back to the machined mag catch...but i ain't gonna hold my breath. Meanwhile, I'll keep scratchin' through the parts bins at the shows... ;)

Soon as the weather breaks and I can get my shop squared away, I plan to
make up a punch and die jig that'll make the cut in the plugs that don't have it.

robertbank

6th February 2006, 14:18

Heck I thought extracting the recoil spring plunger from your ceiling and spending an hour looking for the safety plunger spring and little tit that goes with it was all part of the right of passage for 1911 owners.

Stay Safe

Azrael256

6th February 2006, 17:46

Yeah, that, and launching the mainspring cap and mainspring to parts unknown. I spent two hours searching for it. *sigh*

1911Tuner

6th February 2006, 20:55

Yeah, that, and launching the mainspring cap and mainspring to parts unknown. I spent two hours searching for it. *sigh*

A sort of Rite of Passage nowadays, I guess...and actually kinda fun in your garage or workshop...but not at all in the midst of a killing field...which is why it was put there to start with. Take heart though! In the event of a lost plug
far from home, a fired casing will replace it for an expedient field repair and work quite well.

scooter

6th February 2006, 20:58

scooter

6th February 2006, 21:00

Take heart though! In the event of a lost plug
far from home, a fired casing will replace it for an expedient field repair and work quite well.
Now theres another new one on me....Im startin to like this tuner fellahttp://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon10.gif

1911Tuner

6th February 2006, 22:46

Now theres another new one on me....Im startin to like this tuner fellahttp://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon10.gif

Reserve judgement 'til you've partaken of my turbocoffee. I've been accused of bein' a mad poisoner. :D

robertbank

6th February 2006, 23:01

Heard it disolves galvanized nails. Tough on stainless spoons as well. LOL Have a bunch of gas checks coming then the caster will be going full tilt.

Regards

Hunter

6th February 2006, 23:18

I have a good one. I took four of my Colt 1911s to the range a few months back. Everything was great we had a ball so I come home about 1300 on a Sunday with the rest of the day to do as I pleased so I figured a detail strip was in order for my Series 70 GCNM, Series 80 Combat Elite,Series 80 GCT, and Series 80 DGCNM. There was an Andy Griffith marathon on TV land so I was all fired up. I like to soak Hopps #9 for a little while on everything before I get to the serious cleaning. So I cleaned off my table in front of the couch and spread out a clean sheet to help keep up with everything. I do a bed check and my cat Leroy is fast asleep in another room (do you all see where I am going with this) so I detail strip each pistol very carefully and I have the sheet divided into 4 separate squares to help me keep up with all the little parts and this is how I usually clean though it is usually only two 1911s. Well I get everything taken apart and using me cleaning brush and bore brush I get a good coating on all my parts and pieces. Well I decided to get some sweet tea and see what is new with m1911.org as my Hopps is loosing up the fowling. I make me a glass of tea and as I start to head to the room where my computer is I spy Leroy the cat among my disassembled Colts. Well you all can imagine what was running through my brain. Well I still have the cat and was able to recover what he decided should be on the floor. I was very lucky as he only got to my Combat Elite and only knocked a few springs on the floor. It could of been much worse. I do shut Leroy the cat up now when any sort of firearm maintenance is going on. Lesson learned I reckon he likes Hopps #9 and Colt springs.

Shipwreck

7th February 2006, 00:05

Man, ya'll have taken my original message and ran with it :P

That's fine. I got my problem worked out anyway :p

1911Tuner

7th February 2006, 00:12

Man, ya'll have taken my original message and ran with it :P

That's fine. I got my problem worked out anyway :p

Sorry 'bout that. These things have a way of evolving until they don't even resemble the topic.

Glad ya got it resolved. Uh...Did ya put the dogleg kink in it? :p