Need help with a Series 70 GCNM sear assembly

[v1rotate]

Wow is there a wealth of information on here... I have been lurking on this site for years, and have finally come across a stumper.

Long story short, my Dad sent his Series 70 Gold Cup National Match off to Colt for a repair. They returned it in a plastic bag stripped down to the bare frame (grip bushings even out of three of the four holes) . A letter sent with it said they had magnafluxed it and found damage beyond repair.

The slide-to-receiver fit is still flawless so their letter raised my curiosity. I took the GC to work and a co-worker used a penetrating dye and a blacklight to find the supposed damage. We found no such damage to the firearm after really searching.

So I delved into returning the gun to service. I had it mostly re-assembled and found this little black part remaining on my bench. Came to discover it somehow helps hold the sear in place? I have found a lot of reference on this site regarding what a pain this assembly can be... Does anyone have some advice or pictures on how the sear is to be properly placed? Also, does anyone have any knowledge of the difference between a magnaflux and penetrating dye to find metal fatigue?

Thanks for your help.

[tenx]

I guess you are talking about the sear depressor.

There is also a tiny spring that goes into a tiny hole in the sear. The depressor fits over the the sear and holds the spring in the sear. There is only one way to line them up correctly. The hole at the bottom of the depressor lines up with the hole that goes through the sear.

You need to make a slave pin (piece of a Q tip or toothpick will work) to hold the sear/sear depressor/spring assembly together in the frame while putting in the sear pin.

Look in the technical section of this forum. Home page, technical section, special sear parts in Gold Cups to get a picture.

What was the repair that required the gun to be sent in for?
Magaflux would show internal (below the surface) metal problems. The dye would show external problems such as cracks.

[kjh]

One ear of the depressor holds the spring in place. The other goes around the bottom of the sear. I use some grease to hold the spring and use a cut to size Q tip as a slave pin. You can put it together in a plastic bag so you don't loose the spring.

[v1rotate]

I guess you are talking about the sear depressor.

Yep, that is what I was talking about. Thank you.

Look in the technical section of this forum. Home page, technical section, special sear parts in Gold Cups to get a picture.

I did find the section you mentioned, for anyone else reading this here is the link tenx referenced.
http://www.m1911.org/technic16.htm

What was the repair that required the gun to be sent in for?
Magaflux would show internal (below the surface) metal problems. The dye would show external problems such as cracks.

It was from an over-pressured round. Most likely a double powder charge in a reload. I was not present when it ocurred.

Thanks for your replies. I will try and install the depressor tonight.

[texagun]

If the gun was sent to them assembled, it is surprising that they would return it to you in that condition. I would be unhappy.

[v1rotate]

If the gun was sent to them assembled, it is surprising that they would return it to you in that condition. I would be unhappy.

The gun was sent to them assembled.

Unhappy is not quite the word I have used. Needless to say I have not been speaking kindly of Colt lately.