My 1st 1911: and I want to know what its made from?

[oldspice man]

I am a big fan of colt and my first colt was a blued 4" python (which I still own & love). I just recently purchased a Colt XSE blued, and I noticed that the mainspring housing is made out of plastic. This is probably to cut costs. My real question though is what are all the other parts of the XSE made of (Such as Forged steel to bar stock to stamped to MIM to plastic)? I want to replace some of the parts on the colt XSE with more durable or expensive parts (like a steel mainspring housing). Any help is better than no help at all.

[Hunter]

Check this link.
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=33440

[oldspice man]

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. It is very well appreciated.

[OD*]

The mag catch is now cast and not MIM, list has been corrected. ;)

[paul45]

with more durable or expensive parts (like a steel mainspring housing).

FWIW......I wouldn't worry about Colts nylon MSH not being durable. They are lighter and last forever.

Oh, sure....I know it's a choice and some hate the nylon MSH. Just don't think it is not going to last.

[OD*]

FWIW......I wouldn't worry about Colts nylon MSH not being durable. They are lighter and last forever.

Oh, sure....I know it's a choice and some hate the nylon MSH. Just don't think it is not going to last.
Ditto, my '87 & '88 model year Colt's still wear their *plastic* MSHs, I also fitted a Colt *plastic* MSH to my Baer C-4, real blasphemy there. ;)

[egumpher]

I know it's a choice and some hate the nylon MSH. Just don't think it is not going to last.

Aren't Glocks and all new pistol frames made from the same glass filled nylon?

I would expect the nylon to last as-long-as or longer-than some metals.

Rgds
Eric

[oldspice man]

Thank you for your help :)

[spongebob]

I am a big fan of colt and my first colt was a blued 4" python (which I still own & love). I just recently purchased a Colt XSE blued, and I noticed that the mainspring housing is made out of plastic. This is probably to cut costs. My real question though is what are all the other parts of the XSE made of (Such as Forged steel to bar stock to stamped to MIM to plastic)? I want to replace some of the parts on the colt XSE with more durable or expensive parts (like a steel mainspring housing). Any help is better than no help at all.

Is the gun new?

Does it work?

Let me share my mantra with you:

Old engineering maxim;

NEVER attempt a perceived improvement to a working assembly. (That's the blue-sky development department's job)

Know your assembly’s weak links and its preventative maintenance schedule. Follow it, (did I mention FOLLOW IT?) and if signs of wear continue to degrade then, and only then consider part replacement. Always bag, tag and save the replaced part. Trust me on this one.

NEVER, (did I mention NEVER?) replace more than one part at a time. Again, trust me on this, multiple part changes are no problem when everything goes right. When has everything gone right? If you replaced all the parts you listed and the gun doesn’t work, what do you look at to repair?

If we follow these simple rules, our lives will be less complicated from bad choices made in our fascination with guns.

[Semi_auto]

Is the gun new?

Does it work?

Let me share my mantra with you:

Old engineering maxim;

NEVER attempt a perceived improvement to a working assembly. (That's the blue-sky development department's job)

Know your assembly’s weak links and its preventative maintenance schedule. Follow it, (did I mention FOLLOW IT?) and if signs of wear continue to degrade then, and only then consider part replacement. Always bag, tag and save the replaced part. Trust me on this one.

NEVER, (did I mention NEVER?) replace more than one part at a time. Again, trust me on this, multiple part changes are no problem when everything goes right. When has everything gone right? If you replaced all the parts you listed and the gun doesn’t work, what do you look at to repair?

If we follow these simple rules, our lives will be less complicated from bad choices made in our fascination with guns.

Your post reminds me of the Guinness commercials: "BRILLIANT!"

[spongebob]

Thanks Semi auto

I never could understand someone that is in a hurry to fix a running gun.

Don't get me wrong, change for aesthetics is a different story.

Merry Christmas and be safe in the New Year!

[oldspice man]

Its because I don't like an off the shelf pistol that everybody else has. Come on now there had to be a time in your life where you wanted to customize something that was not broken. Plus its just a main spring housing and some night sights.

[frsorrow]

nothing wrong with tinkering .... most of us cant have a gun for more than a month or so before we start thinking of doing this or changing that or in some way or another molding the weapon in to what we want it to be. the key thing to remember is not to get carried away or to get in over your head. if you want a new msh or new sights, go for it,have fun and learn as much as you can.

[7790314]

I used to get all worried about them plastic housings too. They seemed to insult my sense of Old World Craftsmanship or aesthetics. Now I use them as they make the gun a tad lighter and they don't rust. Plus, folks love to throw them away on Gunbroker for next to nothing.

I think a Plastic GS with a steel or aluminum insert for the hole and up front would be good. Plastic recoil spring guides were also heavily persecuted out of existence.

[spongebob]

Its because I don't like an off the shelf pistol that everybody else has. Come on now there had to be a time in your life where you wanted to customize something that was not broken. Plus its just a main spring housing and some night sights.
Guilty:
http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp225/canebreak45ACP/DSCF3234-1.jpg

[oldspice man]

[QUOTE=7790314]I used to get all worried about them plastic housings too. They seemed to insult my sense of Old World Craftsmanship or aesthetics.

Bingo

P.S. That is a good looking pistol spongebob. Does it sing as good as it looks?

[Dial 1911 for help]

Its because I don't like an off the shelf pistol that everybody else has. Come on now there had to be a time in your life where you wanted to customize something that was not broken. Plus its just a main spring housing and some night sights.

That's kind of funny. With cars and guns, I like the stock look. If I want to upgrade my radio, I'll look on Ebay for a OEM one to preserve the stock look. I don't mind upgrading the design of something if the original was underdesigned (I'm an ME, and I have my own opinions about when a certain piece is underdesigned), but even if I do, it will still LOOK stock. :D

[frsorrow]

very nice pistols gentelmen