Looong Recoil Spring

[Dean Hoffmann]

My best friend just aquired a pre WWII Colt 1911 and he wants to replace the springs since many are rusted. Everything looks normal in this gun except the recoil spring which is almost 9 inches long. It is a lighter gauge wire than any of the springs I'm familiar with, and judging from the feel of the slide is probably in the 18- 20 lb range. My question is this: Is there some reason for this oddball spring? Was it the norm in the older guns or was it a field expedient substitute for a broken spring, and perhaps comes from some other piece of equipment entirely? Color me curious. Thanks, Dean

[wichaka]

The average 16lb recoil spring runs around 6 3/4", so not sure what he's got in there. It definately isn't factory.

Color u curious...........would that be a nice shade of mauve? :D

[Dean Hoffmann]

I didn't think it was stock, but never having roamed around the guts of a 1911 that old I wasn't sure. His dad was a tank mechanic in WWII so it could have come from anything. If I had put the spring under high magnification before, I would also have noticed that one end appears to be abraded, so it may have been cut from an even longer spring. thanks again for the comeback Wichaka. Stay Safe. Dean