Help me pimp my 1911 - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Help me pimp my 1911 (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:24:08 PM EDT

Since no one goes in Tech anymore I figured I would post this here. I inherited this a few years back and put a few rounds through it but I really want to spruce it up. Give me some ideas and I will post the final product one I get it PIMPED.

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:24:58 PM EDT

[#1]

You should mill the slide and install a drop in beavertail that you use your dremel to fit

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:26:04 PM EDT

[#2]

Punisher grips
Slide lightening
More serrations

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:26:40 PM EDT

[#3]

Aren't you supposed to polish the feed ramp or something?

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:27:18 PM EDT

[#4]

Like "nude woman scrimshaw grips" level pimping?

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:28:56 PM EDT

[#5]

No matter the 1911 question, ivory is the answer

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:29:43 PM EDT

[#6]

I have one of those slides.

Would trade a beavertail frame for your uncut one.

I'd leave that alone. Maybe new grips and Wilson front strap checker thing.

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:30:54 PM EDT

[#7]

Leave it alone.

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:30:59 PM EDT

[#8]

Not to be a dick, but I wouldn't put money into it.

Those were supposed to be some of the worst 1911s ever made, and that's saying a lot.

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:32:00 PM EDT

[#9]

New wooden grips

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:36:09 PM EDT

[#10]

See: FACE/OFF movie.

"Castor Troy" 24K gold titanium 1911's

Posted: 4/1/2021 4:37:43 PM EDT

[#11]

Indeed, some Hogue hardwood grips. This RIA had crappy brown, pressed diamond pattern stock grips so I found a pair of Hogue ob Ebay for $20.

Attached File

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:09:27 PM EDT

[#12]

Gold plating...gold plating with faux ivory grips. And a frame mounted scope...a big one.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:14:33 PM EDT

[#13]

Try to track down some old obscure parts because you read the USMC used them once. Electro pencil NM drawing numbers on every part.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:16:20 PM EDT

[#14]

Plywood grips

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:18:47 PM EDT

[#15]

Electrolyte.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:21:09 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
No matter the 1911 question, ivory is the answer

View Quote

Trade it for a blued version, first.
Then, trigger / action job.
Then ivory.

Enjoy shooting it.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:23:05 PM EDT

[#17]

A Hardballer? Leave be and go all 80s badass.

I wanted one bad back in the day.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:24:57 PM EDT

[#18]

RMR that shit

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:26:44 PM EDT

[#19]

I was going to suggest engraving it, then having it gold plated and polished. But since it's an AMT, just clone Agent 47's silverballers.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:28:16 PM EDT

[#20]

Add a crank handle like the other things from that era.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:31:22 PM EDT

[#21]

Horsehide holster with a sharkskin patch.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:34:07 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Leave it alone.

View Quote

THIS! There is nothing wrong with that gun.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:35:09 PM EDT

[#23]

Sweetheart grips.

Attached File

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:37:25 PM EDT

[#24]

Do this to it

or this

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:39:19 PM EDT

[#25]

The Hardballer was basically a regular 1911 with a slide that sported sights similar to those of a Colt Gold Cup of that era.

I don't know if they made any attempt to make the trigger better than a standard model, which Colt made at least some effort to do with the Gold Cup.

If the pistol runs well as is, and you feel it needs "improvement", I would start with a beavertail, perhaps a larger safety lock, and some better stocks. (I like the G-10 type.)

If the trigger does not have an overtravel stop, then swap it out for one that does.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:39:56 PM EDT

[#26]

It's an AMT. Put a lot of rounds through it, to make sure it works, before spending $$ on it.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:42:46 PM EDT

[#27]

Time to start fitting a bunch of Ed Brown parts to it!

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:47:24 PM EDT

[#28]

Jeweled hammer and trigger remind me of "Actions by T".

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:48:55 PM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not to be a dick, but I wouldn't put money into it.

Those were supposed to be some of the worst 1911s ever made, and that's saying a lot.

View Quote

This

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:49:10 PM EDT

[#30]

Hi polish the flats of the slide.

Gold plate all small parts.

Hold fill all engraved marks.
Ivory grips.
Done.

Posted: 4/1/2021 5:59:46 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
A Hardballer? Leave be and go all 80s badass.

I wanted one bad back in the day.

View Quote

I always hoped to find one for sale locally back in the day.

Maybe new grip panels, but I wouldn't change anything, even though I'm not sure I like the sights.

Posted: 4/1/2021 6:42:29 PM EDT

[#32]

You can't improve perfection.

Posted: 4/1/2021 6:49:40 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's an AMT. Put a lot of rounds through it, to make sure it works, before spending $$ on it.

View Quote

This, a Charles Daly or a Taurus would be a better starting platform for a custom gun.

Hell, just thinking about AMT makes me hate Kimber a little bit less.

Posted: 4/1/2021 6:52:45 PM EDT

[#34]

Leave it as-is. For a gun that has a piss-poor reputation for function they bring a lot of money on gunbroker. The more you do to it, the harder it will be to sell if you ever decide to.

The last AMT I saw listed was close to $700.

Posted: 4/1/2021 6:55:38 PM EDT

[#35]

Novak front,Wichita rear sights
replace the hammer and sear (they are cast)

Posted: 4/2/2021 12:49:50 AM EDT

[#36]

April Fools

Posted: 4/2/2021 12:56:58 AM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not to be a dick, but I wouldn't put money into it.

Those were supposed to be some of the worst 1911s ever made, and that's saying a lot.

View Quote

This, AMT frames were pretty out of spec and it was difficult to find a smith that wanted to touch one...

Posted: 4/2/2021 2:06:07 AM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
Jeweled hammer and trigger remind me of "Actions by T".

View Quote

Funny you should mention that. Teddy J is about 25 miles down the road from me and had him work my gun over. Been a great safe queen for over 20 years. Don't carry it, but I intend to die owning it.

Posted: 4/2/2021 6:22:11 AM EDT

[#39]

Attached File

Posted: 4/2/2021 8:32:03 AM EDT

[#40]

Get it converted into a Swenson clone.

Posted: 4/2/2021 8:34:28 AM EDT

[#41]

Tack another 4" on the slide and barrel and put a giant laser on top.

Posted: 4/2/2021 8:56:58 AM EDT

[#42]

The AMT's were either complete shit, or ran just fine....until the barrel lugs galled into the link and bound it up or broke, or 2pc barrel came apart.

Dimensions were almost always sketchy and made trigger work maddening at times.

Casting flaws would show up with moderate use and time.

If you find someone to fit things properly, you will still have more into it than a new Wilson, and still counting down until self destruction.

If it's sentimental, keep it and run bullseye loads once in a while.
If not, there's nostalgia bent guys out there, that always wanted one.

AMT failed miserably, and nobody has missed them.

Posted: 4/2/2021 9:07:27 AM EDT

[#43]

To separate your pistola from those of the pinche gringos, you must acquire these:

And, si, gold plate it.

Posted: 4/2/2021 9:18:13 AM EDT

[#44]

Get a Stan Chen SI magwell

Posted: 4/2/2021 9:24:18 AM EDT

[#45]

I had three AMT hardballers, if that were mine, I'd get the thing to a reliable working state and leave it alone. They are becoming quasi-collectible.

Posted: 4/2/2021 10:02:37 AM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
Add a crank handle like the other things from that era.

View Quote

Posted: 4/2/2021 10:31:39 AM EDT

[#47]

Somebody @ the arfcommer that does the hilarious drunken gun-mod threads that make purists go into convulsions. He'll have some good ideas. If we're lucky, it will inspire him to pimp out an original 1911, or mint WWII Colt or Singer Sewing Machine model, or some other rare and valuable 1911. He'd probably weld a piece of Amazon airsoft rail on the dust cover and cut the slide for a red dot with a dremel and a file. It would be awesome.