1911 Grip Screw Seized in Stripped Bushing

[Landman]

I purchased two sets of some beautiful older 1911 grips that each have a grip screw seized in a stripped bushing. I would like to salvage these old grips and wanted to know if anybody has a secret to loosening the grip screw from the old bushing. I tried lightly tightening the base of the bushing in a vice and unscrew the grip screw but that didn't work, the bushing just stripped more. Would anybody have any suggestions? Thanks for your help.

[Hawkmoon]

Are you saying the threads of the screw into the bushing are stripped? That should be no problem. Clamp the busjhing in a pauir of Vise Grips and push the end of the screw with a fine punch or drill bit from the back while unscrewing from the front.

[Landman]

Hawk,

No, the screw is seized in the bushing and the threads on the outside of the bushing are stripped. When you turn the screw, the bushing turns. I tried holding the bushing with a vice and then unscrewing the screw but the bushing just strips more. I guess the bushing steel is too soft to hold it tight enough.

[robalo23]

I hate to suggest using a Dremel, you might try to very carefully use a dremel with a cutoff wheel to cut the bushing cutting from the backside and cutting down from the top of the bushing/screw. if you can split the bushing you can pull the halves off and then pull the screw out

[John]

From your saying, I assume that the bushing is now off the frame, right? Well, if the threads on the frame are OK, get a new bushing and a new set of screws and call it a day.

[Landman]

John,

These are some old grips I bought for a few dollars at a gun show that somebody else took off their gun. I'm just trying to salvage the grips to put on another gun.

[John]

Drill the screw out of the bushing. Or cut the bushing if you can, as Robalo23 said.

[Hawkmoon]

Drill the screw out of the bushing. Or cut the bushing if you can, as Robalo23 said.
Agreed.

You have access to the back side, and the screws are probably recessed just enough to center a drill safely. Clamp the bushing in a set of ViseGrips and drill out the screw shank from the back.

[Landman]

Thanks for your help.

[jwenum]

Robalo23 has the best idea---try to cut the bushings in half from the back side and everything should come apart..

[Landman]

Robalo23 has the best idea---try to cut the bushings in half from the back side and everything should come apart..

When I get a chance, that is what I am going to try. I can't get a good enough grip on the bushing to drill out the screw. The steel of the bushing is too soft and strips from the vice grip when just trying to unscrew the screw. Thanks.

[niemi24s]

I can't get a good enough grip on the bushing to drill out the screw. The steel of the bushing is too soft and strips from the vice grip when just trying to unscrew the screw. Thanks.
You have to remember your grips came with a crew & bushing because the screw was stuck in the bushing when the grips were removed. The vise grips did nothing more than increase the bushings's grip on the screw.

An emery cutoff disc and a Dremel like Robalo23 suggested are your best bet. Resist the temptation to use a bench grinder - the bushing & screw might get hot enough to char or melt the grip.