Who makes a bolt-on light rail?

[nicholst55]

I want to add a light rail to my Colt Combat Commander (steel frame), and I recall seeing some aftermarket bolt-on types. I suffer from CRS, and can't remember who had them. Didn't Caspian offer one at one time?

:confused:

[John]

There are two bolt-on light rails, as far as I know.

- Caspian's: it's screwed on the dust cover, with screws going through from the inside. It's a full-width rail, which means that you can mount any light you want. Caspian suggests that for heavy use (lot's of shooting) the rail is either welded or silver-soldered. The rail needs some fitting to the pistol, apart from drilling the holes through which the screws pass.

- Dawson's: This is a mini rail, which is much less obtrusive than the Caspian's full-width one. However, it has the disadvantage of allowing you to mount only one particular light, the Surefire X200. This one gets screwed from the outside of the dust cover. It's fit is much better than the previous one requiring absolutely no other modification, but drilling and taping the frame (drill bit or taping tool are NOT provided).

There are some other kind of rails, which secure on the pistol with a different slide stop. I haven't tried any of these, but I won't trust them anyway.

Here is another thread that centered on that topic.

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=9000

[wichaka]

Im working on putting a Caspian rail on a full size now. It takes more fitting that I think should have to be done.

The two tips that go on either side of the trigger guard have to widened out a bit........and between the two tips, has to beveled to match the angle where the trigger guard meets the frame..........not sure why Caspian doesnt have that already done.........a lot of prep work, before you ever get to the mounting step......

Then it hangs forward of the frame a bit too, so I will be bringing that back to mate up with the front edge of the frame better.

Will take pics as I go........

[Hawkmoon]

Be sure to mount a light on it and test how far back it can sit before you drill the holes. Don't forget that rail is designed for the lights that have a rotary switch that straddles the trigger guard. If you set the rail back too far the switch will be an interference fit on the trigger guard when the light locks into the slot on the rail (or wants to lock, and won't go far enough back).

[nicholst55]

Thanks for the info, guys. Right after I posted I had a blinding flash of the obvious and googled the subject. I very quickly found both the Caspian rail and the Dawson rail.

If money were no object and I didn't have too many 1911s now, I'd just add another one with an integral rail to the collection. As it is, I am right on the verge of having 'too many' guns.

:D

[Hawkmoon]

If money were no object and I didn't have too many 1911s now, I'd just add another one with an integral rail to the collection. As it is, I am right on the verge of having 'too many' guns.
Is that even possible? Whenever I see that sentiment I have to struggle to conceive of what "too many guns" might represent. The best definition I can come up with is that if you have so many that you can't complete the annual inventory before the end of the year and time to compile the NEXT annual inventory -- then maybe you have too many.

I think John Holbrook is just about there :D

[recoil]

Brownells sells one also but I don't know the mfg.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=22337&title=BERETTA+92%2f96+%26+1911+AUTO+LIGHT+RAIL+MOUNT
I also found a few others by serching online but they look too obtrusive.