Added a Colt to My Stable

[Deacon Aegis]

Howdy all you Colt owners,
I thought I'd show you some pics of the new Colt I added to my stable. Rest assured, this one has got to get some time with the smith, but here's some pics as it sits right now.

http://webpages.charter.net/papaserph/images/Off-01.gif

http://webpages.charter.net/papaserph/images/Off-02.gif

http://webpages.charter.net/papaserph/images/Off-03.gif

http://webpages.charter.net/papaserph/images/Off-04.gif

http://webpages.charter.net/papaserph/images/Off-05.gif

http://webpages.charter.net/papaserph/images/Off-06.gif

Naturally, I must change it, enhance it, improve it for my ends.... Mwahahaha

[mo' guns]

Congratulations! She looks good right now! Reflecting on your past projects, ;) , I can't wait to see her when your done. Shoot Well! :D

[Hunter]

Nice Colt! I have the same one and it has been reliable since I got it from my 185 LSWC to Federal Hydra Shocks without a hitch. I would suggest a Ed Brown reverse plug. The current recoil spring plug indexes on the spring channel with a tab and I have heard the tab can sheer off the recoil spring plug. I shot mine right much and that never happened but she is my primary carry so I did not want to take any chances.Other than that I would not change a thing except back to original Colt grips.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/Hunter1911/Gun60.jpg

[Deacon Aegis]

Hunter, thanks for the head's up on that, yeah I'm not fond of the grips myself and honestly, that rear sight catches me every time I try and rack this beast. I'm thinking of going with some Novak sites on it. Other than that, this begs for a melt and bevel job in my opinion and mine shows quite a bit of wear from the old pawn shop where I found it lurking. ;)

[Hunter]

You see the tab on the recoil spring plug that indexes on the bottom of the spring channel I was talking about? The Ed Brown reverse plug requires about 90 thousands to be removed from the spring channel to accommodate the reverse plug. I done mine with a safe file in about 45 minuets. I cut a little then checked. Be sure to get enough clearance to insert the FLGR the only part I did not love. The reverse plug shows a little past the dust cover but a little black paint hides it well. I figure function over form.

[Hawkmoon]

Deacon --

Yours is a twin to the one I bought a year+ ago. Right down to the Pachmayr grips, which I think are about the ugliest thing that ever came down the pike. That's the only thing I changed on mine, and the only thing you really need to change on yours.

That said ... should you feel an irresistable compulsion to change the grip safety, just send the old one to me. I may need one and Colt doesn't supply them any more.

[Deacon Aegis]

Hawkmoon, actually I was thinking of swaping that grip safety out. If I do, I'll ship you my old one. :D

[Hunter]

Hawk do you think it is a good idea to go with a reverse plug on the Compact for the chance the tab on the recoil spring plug could sheer off of not? I had heard this from several folks a few being gunsmiths to be on the safe side especially for a carry pistol?

[Hawkmoon]

Hawk do you think it is a good idea to go with a reverse plug on the Compact for the chance the tab on the recoil spring plug could sheer off of not? I had heard this from several folks a few being gunsmiths to be on the safe side especially for a carry pistol?
Hunter, I have heard (seen it written, actually) that it can happen, but I have not yet found anyone who has had it happen to them, or who knows anyone who has had it happen to them, or who is a gunsmith and who has seen one come into the shop that has had it happen. So ... do I think it's a good idea to muck around with a full length guide rod and modify the slide on the off chance that the part might fail? Absolutely not.

However ... I'm sort of a purist. There has to be a very good reason before I'll start making non-reversable modifications to anything, whether it's my guns, my Jeeps, or my computer. I'm just not wired that way. If I can't restore it to original, it's worthless to me.

My "solution" (to what appears to be a non-existent problem) was to buy a spare plug. I use the original when I go to the range for practice, and then I install the new one for carry.

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why the Officers models (and the M1991A1 Compacts) have that style plug. I don't understand why they couldn't have used a shorter version of a conventional recoil plug.

[Hunter]

You know I have never heard tell of it happening either just the possibility. When I was making my decision to cut the slide I thought about all that force induced on that tab and I did not want to chance it. I also found a replacement recoil spring plug that is made supposable stronger that the factory to reduce the possibility even more but the plug alone was more than the Ed Brown set up. I hated to do it but with Murphy a few steps behind me sometimes I went ahead. Like you said a solution to what could be a non existent problem.

[clughog]

Nice pistol, Matt...and nice photography as well. I see from your location that we're neighbors--I'm in Mesquite. Quite a few North Texans on the Forum!

[MDPuckett84]

Nice Pictures! I was going to post pictures of the Colt i bought yesterday but since its completely identical to yours (and your pics are much better) I'll hold out for now. All I plan for mine is novaks and an extended thumb safety.

[bslamb]

Nice addition to the stable - looking forward to seeing some pics when you get it done.