Parts for an Auto Ordnance 1911A1 PKZ?

[Chris_Blair]

Hi

I really like my AO 1911A1. However, the trigger is something I'd like to change. I'd prefer a shorter trigger, checked face, radiused, rounded on the forward edge instead of the long, grooved, and crisp edged one that came from the factory. No skeletonized trigger for me. I want it to look USGI

Who has these triggers? I would like to assume that a USGI trigger will work, but I don't prefer to assume. I've seen lots of places selling triggers and they are not what I want. What are my options here?

Also, I have the 'diamond' checked hardwood grips. Gorgeous. But I would like the non diamond grips. I saw just what I would like at Cylinder & Slide. would those grips fit an AO 1911A1? I can contact them but I was wondering if anyone here has that experience. Measuring center to center on the holes in my grips is no big deal; I just wanted to ask if anyone has used those grips on an AO and how they were. They look fantastic

Thanks

[John]

AO pistols are relatively standard (some of them have the S80 firing pin safety mechanism, but this is more or less standard too these days). So the grips should fit without a problem. As for the trigger, I do not know what AO model you have, but I am sure AO can send you one of the short triggers that they use on their GI models.

[Chris_Blair]

Hi John. I think I'm confusing you

AO lists only two models that I see; the 1911 PKZSE and the 1911 PKZSEW. I think they call their Custom 1911 a Thompson for some reason. Kahr seems to regard Thompson as high end so I guess they feel their Custom 1911 need to be associated with that name?

I imagine for the AO pistols that the PKZSE is "Pakerize" and the "W" is for "Wood grips". Since mine has the wood grips it must be a 1911PKZSEW unless somebody swapped them out but both pistols should be the same aside from that as far as I can tell from AO's literature and website. AO lists the same specs for both on their site but simply notes one has plastic grips while the other has wood. I also think with the finish of my pistol, the "non-diamond" grips are the appropriate ones, is that true? The parked ones should probably have those grips or plastic ones, while blued ones would more usually have the diamonds?

I found what looks to be the trigger I want, at this site:

http://1911partsplus.com/genuineusgiwwiitrigger--newcondition.aspx
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/DSC_00622.jpg

Here's what I have now:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/trigger.jpg

I just don't know if I can really swap it out. With the trigger now I need to put the pad of my finger on the trigger in a very certain and un-natural feeling spot so I don't push the pistol left or right as I fire

[Chris_Blair]

Jeez, sorry for the huge pic!

(edited it down)

[SharonAnne]

Learn something new everyday. Although it is not checked, the pictured trigger is the first of its kind I have seen. I guess all that I have seen are a bit too 'modern'.

[John]

Interesting. AO seems to offer two different triggers with their pistols, or at least that's how they apprear to my eyes.

In any case, the trigger shown in the link above should fit your pistol. And even though a trigger should be the most ... drop-in part in a 1911, remember that there are no drop-in parts. If you are lucky, it will drop in and pass all safety checks. But that's not what you should expect.

[Chris_Blair]

Roger that, John!

I picked up a WWII USGI M1911A1 trigger today for 15 bucks. I'll get a gunsmith to install it

[Chris_Blair]

Learn something new everyday. Although it is not checked, the pictured trigger is the first of its kind I have seen. I guess all that I have seen are a bit too 'modern'.

I think it's actually knurled. The WWII example I got today is identical to the one in the photo except for the wear on mine

[Chris_Blair]

Well, slight change of plans. I had a rotten day today and I needed to accomplish something. So I decided I'd go to a gunsmith if I couldn't get the trigger in properly

I disassembled the pistol, fairly straightforward. I used the animations here and an Auto Ordnance owner's manual for reference. Some parts are in the pistol that are not on the manuals or animations. These are, I believe, Massachusetts-compliant safety features

No problem, I build engines for fun...except that by getting the parts out I mis-aligned everything. The light's so bad here I didn't notice. I never should have started without proper lighting. But now it was apart...

Anyway, I took the GI trigger and test fit it. A little tight. I sanded the part that surrounds the magazine then polished with 000 steel wool until it was slick as snot and then re-assembled. After two misalignments of parts that would not let the magazine go in, I figured out how to assemble the two small pawls that work together with the disconnector and sear. Seems it is a system that will prevent full-auto fire! A handy feature for the safety conscious and for those that don't like jail. Yes, I tested it's functionality without chambering a round, as follows-

I have a mag that will not lock the slide back when empty, so I used that. I gripped the pistol, disconnected both the safeties (slide and grip), and worked the action. It cocked the hammer as normal but since this mag does not stop the slide when empty, I allowed the slide to go forward under my control. I pulled and held down the trigger to drop the hammer, and while holding it positively down moved the slide back by hand, to cock the hammer. The hammer will cock and will stay cocked without falling under those conditions, even with the trigger still pulled, restricting the pistol to semi-automatic fire only

The replacement trigger seems a large improvement to me. It is smooth and natural feeling. The shorter pull makes the trigger feel lighter, even with the same spring. I am hopeful that this USGI trigger will help me at the range. I might go tomorrow

Yes, I will load only two rounds on my first magazine I fire and will do safe function checks since the pistol was just fully disassembled and reassembled with an old part, by a non-professional :)