Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!jade!jkh
From: jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard)
Newsgroups: mod.rec.guns
Subject: Re: Assembling a 1911...
Message-ID: <2164@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Sun, 11-Jan-87 04:01:56 EST
Article-I.D.: jade.2164
Posted: Sun Jan 11 04:01:56 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Jan-87 07:47:09 EST
Organization: U.C. Berkeley
Lines: 48
Approved: jkh@ucbjade
Author: voder!kontron!cramer@ucbvax.Berkeley.Edu (Clayton Cramer)

Article: 1:18


> [ This looks like it's addressed to me, but it sounds like someone out there
> would be able to answer this better than I. I've never assembled my own
> 1911. -jh ]
> 
> Would you make a list of where to "cheaply" buy the major pieces of a 1911
> suitably "well-made" so I/we might be able to assemble  it.  You brought
> this up, I hope you can find the time to go through a fairly recent
> Shotgun News and list your favourite "Parts" shop.  I'd like to have a mostly/
> completely stainless one with the long slide ( I think ).  I've looked a
> many automatics and the only one that was impressive was the "Grizzly", but
> I've read enough to know that the Govt model is "ok".  I once worked at the
> Ceramics Shop portion of "Christy Gun Works" and they made every piece of
> the luger, but they couldn't sell "all" the pieces to one customer at one
> address.  Is there some sort of regulation still in place which makes it
> unlikely that I can buy all the pieces at one place?  Is there any advantage
> to buying pieces as opposed to >$500 at some dealer somewhere?
> 

The Grizzly is actually a significantly different gun than the M1911.  While
some parts are supposed to be interchangeable, there are many parts that
are not, starting with the frame!  (The grip is significantly larger to
accommodate the wildcat cartridge the Grizzly was designed to fire.)  I
believe the maker of the Grizzly went out of business quite recently.

Stainless M1911 frames are probably available, but I've never seen one
offered for sale.  Going through Shotgun News will give you long lists of
suppliers of parts -- you can buy everything from one supplier EXCEPT for
the frame -- that's considered the gun, and has to be transferred through
a Federal Firearms Licensee.

I've developed a fair amount of experience replacing parts on my Colt
Government Model, and I suspect I could build a functioning M1911 from
a parts collection, but I would not encourage doing it unless you have
a pretty intimate knowledge of the M1911 -- you are likely to find a lot
of tolerance problems interchanging parts from a wide variety of makers.
Also, putting all the parts together, even when they have already been
together as a gun, can be very frustrating.  (Lots of little springs,
parts that won't QUITE go together; where's my third and fourth hand to
hold this doodad down while inserting this plunger, etc.)

I would encourage buying a fully assembled gun.  You will spend a bit more
money, but I have more confidence that the gun you have will be trustworthy
and reliable.

> Thanks for considering this.
> Dave Wade

Clayton E. Cramer