Posted: 9/4/2009 10:15:11 PM EDT
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Sorry guys. I read all the faqs and am having trouble finding the information regarding what im pretty sure is a silly question. but since we are dealing with firearms id rather get laughed at get the information i need than guess. I have always had newed handguns, sigs mostly and I just got a hold of my 1st 1911, its an older colt .38 super that belonged to my grandfather. Id like to refresh it since its a little worn and since it isnt anything really special i wanted to customize it a bit.. so questions are
1) Do all 1911s share the same frame. exept obviously for barrel length etc. example being, if the top part of the slide needs to be replaced.. can i buy any top half? same goes with firing system, trigger group, etc. IE. can i swap all the stuff into the frame i have and make it a 45 lets say? Im just trying to get an idea of what all is special to this gun and what can be swapped out. I know the obvious.. barrels, mag, whatever, but what else? I looked all over and either its impossible to find, or i looked right over it. if there is a thread or page on this please feel free to tease me just post a link, i have no problem reading through articles that are pertinent i just cant find them. Thanks a lot |
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Hold on there. Let's see this pistol befer you starts whackin' on it!!!! Sounds like you have a classic gun, here. There's folks that'll have you hanging fifty tons of crap off of it faster than you could sling an errant cat through a wood chipper. If you want to hang a bunch of crap off of a gun, there are guns to do it to..... an OLD .38 Super 1911 is NOT one of them. If you move too fast on this, you'll learn down the road that you screwed up a classic piece. Why don't you show us some pics????  By the way, though some of the smaller parts are interchangeable, the .38 super has proprietary frame dimensions that cannot be converted to .45 caliber.....though oddly the .22 ACE could be UPPED to the .45 caliber.  Strange but true..38 Super guns are very popular here in the Southwest and in mexico for those that can get them.....in the proper loadings it is a hot, sweet and sexy little mama with some serious bite to it. |
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So what about trigger groups then? or what im really worried about is the frame. ill post up some pictures but im pretty sure, *pretty, that this one isnt really anything special, other than however special collectors may consider a .38 super 1911. ill post up some pics if you want to see though. no problem. ill be home monday night.
wet - thats how ive felt about modding anything.. cars, guns, whatever. its mine, ill do what i want. however, i do recognize when something is special. if you want to put 20" rims on your Aston Martin db5 go ahead, but id be dissapointed. If it turns out it is a gun that a collector would want, maybe ill trade it for one i can play with and not feel guilty. this one in particular doesnt have any special meaning to me, my grandfather had a ton, some of which i have and the special one was his army issued .45 1911 :). The only thing i can tell u is the gun appears to have some mods already done, like whoever he got it from used it for match shooting maybe? pics to come. |
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Ask over here, it is the ARFCOM for 1911s. http://forum.m1911.org/index.php? My personal opinion, keep this one stock and get a cheap WW2 clone (RRA, Springfield, etc) to modify. Aside from the collect ability of a nice old .38 super (and its value to some collectors), you might appreciate having your granddad's piece unchanged once you get to know 1911s a bit better. |
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Do whatever you want since it is YOUR pistol. Ignore the "I'm not a collector but I play one on the web." crowd and mod it till it screams.  I agree. For pure entertainment value, there is nothing like watching someone take a $1000 pistol and spend $400 turning it into a $600 pistol. |
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Do whatever you want since it is YOUR pistol. Ignore the "I'm not a collector but I play one on the web." crowd and mod it till it screams. I agree. For pure entertainment value, there is nothing like watching someone take a $1000 pistol and spend $400 turning it into a $600 pistol.  Modifying classic guns is a losing proposition. If it was your grandfathers then you need to either restore it or put it away. Yea, it's your gun and you can wreck it if you want but that would be really foolish. You're better off selling it than ruining it. If you want something that is a better weapon, stick with your sig's. If you want something with style and grace that honors your grandfather, leave it alone or do a proper restoration on it.
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I just got a hold of my 1st 1911, its an older colt .38 super that belonged to my grandfather. Id like to refresh it since its a little worn and since it isnt anything really special i wanted to customize it a bit.. t First time i've heard "older Colt" and "nothing really special" in the same sentence. Yep, i've got a an old Ferrari Testarossa too, but its nothing special, –––– just a 20 year old used car |
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Do whatever you want since it is YOUR pistol. Ignore the "I'm not a collector but I play one on the web." crowd and mod it till it screams. I agree. For pure entertainment value, there is nothing like watching someone take a $1000 pistol and spend $400 turning it into a $600 pistol. Modifying classic guns is a losing proposition. If it was your grandfathers then you need to either restore it or put it away. Yea, it's your gun and you can wreck it if you want but that would be really foolish. You're better off selling it than ruining it. If you want something that is a better weapon, stick with your sig's. If you want something with style and grace that honors your grandfather, leave it alone or do a proper restoration on it.Better in what way? Jams more? Breaks more often? Has a crappier trigger? How is a sig a "better weapon" than a 1911? I owned a P226 Elite ST and am here to tell you it was only only better in that it weighed 3-4oz more than a 1911 and can be used to pistol whip a little harder with. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Do whatever you want since it is YOUR pistol. Ignore the "I'm not a collector but I play one on the web." crowd and mod it till it screams. I agree. For pure entertainment value, there is nothing like watching someone take a $1000 pistol and spend $400 turning it into a $600 pistol. Humor challenged, I see. I agree that it belongs to him (my point by the way) which seems to be a novel concept in this forum. Whether it is, indeed a $1000 pistol is up for debate. Some old Colts (yes ,Colts !) are just old guns. Without pictures and a better description, no one has a real clue as to value. Also, if being old meant something was automatically valuable then I am priceless.  |
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Before you guys post bitching about my decision, you may also want to read my 2nd post, i believe i conceded 2 points between my 2 posts and made a third one some of u keep harping on before you evern posted.
One) my aston martin analogy, meant if it turned out to be worth a whole lot... i wouldnt ruin it. two) Im not sure of its value, which i stated, which is why i plan on posting pics, and am trying to gather all information, not just on modifying because, as i admited, i dont know a lot about 1911s, especially older models three) as to my grandfathers memory which some of you seem to think you have the right to throw in my face let me make this clear, i have his old issued .45, that was HIS gun, and i said it is not being touched, this was posted earlier. the super .38, i mentioned earlier, was purchased by him, along with (just so you know) a closet full of weapons. most of them... are just guns. some old, some new. a friend of his gave him a mosin nagant, u know, the ones gun shops keep in umbrella stands and sell for 100 bucks. maybe i should keep that and mount it on a wall because he shot it, maybe once, and happened to own it. maybe i should have kept his underwear when he died too because i bet hed rather have several of his old boxers than that gun. Assuming that I , would in anway dishonor my family, is at best disrespectful. Especially when I believe i covered the fact that some of his weapons werent being touched, the important ones. This gun, has no magazine, and was sold to him by a friend who needed some cash later on in his life. this gun hasnt been "in the family" for generations so you can drop any of that argument now. At best its worth a lot to a collector, not to me. which i understand, and have stated i wouldnt step on those toes. We can argue about other guns all day long too. You know what, i would rather have a sig220 in my night stand than this gun for a couple of different reasons that i dont really care to discuss because that is not the point. i was looking for information and so far im not really seeing anything other than people panicking about something that im pretty sure i already laid to rest. pictures coming in a few minutes. thanks to tthose who are trying to help |
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i dont mean to come off like a crap head my post before last i just dont like having my character or respect for family called into question by people making assumptions about something which has already been addressed. so i apologize if that puts anyone off. This is the gun. super .38 auto.
Again, i have everything i want to keep "sacred" already put away. I have been interested in getting another handgun to play with, a 1911 was a choice, when this came up i thought i would see, one) if i could, and two) if i should. IF this gun is special enough to anyone who reads this who would be interested in taking it to keep it "safe" id be happy to entertain any offers including trades. This gun was not special to anyone in my family and I have no attachment to it. Again, i also have no interest in ruining anything that could be special to someone else as long as I am able to still do what i would like to do. What i am looking for, and asking for, is ANY information i can get so i can learn. constructive, factual. Im really not interesting in opinions about what i should do with it. again, if you want it that bad, pm me. This was all he had. in a cheap carrying case. no mags, didnt even keep any ammo for it. some wear and tear along the slide, underside of the slide at the barrel (holster wear finish rubbed clean) some minor scratches near the grips in the in finish, mostly around release and safety. Trigger is VERY short and easy, atleast compared to any 1911s ive ever shot, which is not a whole lot, but more than a couple.as u can see rear site is adjustable and i think i remember him telling me his buddy used it for matches. any other questions feel free to ask, id be happy to take pics of whatever. Paul |
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Do whatever you want since it is YOUR pistol. Ignore the "I'm not a collector but I play one on the web." crowd and mod it till it screams. I agree. For pure entertainment value, there is nothing like watching someone take a $1000 pistol and spend $400 turning it into a $600 pistol. Modifying classic guns is a losing proposition. If it was your grandfathers then you need to either restore it or put it away. Yea, it's your gun and you can wreck it if you want but that would be really foolish. You're better off selling it than ruining it. If you want something that is a better weapon, stick with your sig's. If you want something with style and grace that honors your grandfather, leave it alone or do a proper restoration on it.Better in what way? Jams more? Breaks more often? Has a crappier trigger? How is a sig a "better weapon" than a 1911? I owned a P226 Elite ST and am here to tell you it was only only better in that it weighed 3-4oz more than a 1911 and can be used to pistol whip a little harder with. New Sig versus a 25 or so year old stock 38 super Colt? Let's see.. things in favor of Sig as a weapon: - Better sights / night sights - Rail if you want one - Won't rust (very easily anyway) - Availability of modern ammunition from many sources at a reasonable price - Easy to find cheap magazines - Easy to find cheap springs and parts - Current customer service (yea.. I know people have complaints with Sig CS) Unreliable Sigs are still something of a rarity. If you look at the gunsmithing forum you will find few mentions of Sigs and many 1911 discussions. YMMV and apparently has but to declare 1911's, including Colts, as a group to be more reliable as a group than Sig's is I believe incorrect. This position just isn't is not supported by the propensity of statistical evidence before us within even this forum much less what you see elsewhere. While I prefer BHP's and 1911's, it's not that they are the penultimate tactical tools. I just like them. OP.. sorry if my original post indicated an assumption that you might lack some consideration for your heritage. I did kind of take your original post to be in that vein but I get it now. If it were me I would sell it because any modification you make will only make it worth less. |
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Frame will need a new feed ramp machined in to accept 45 acp. basically you will not be able to go back to 38 super. Only way you would be able to go back is if you get the frame cut for a Para/Clark or Nowlin/Wilson feed ramp barrel. You old barrel will no longer be needed.
For the frame you will need a new ejector. Every other part on the 1911 government mode frame can be purchased to what you want. You will need a new complete slide and barrel. |
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Frame will need a new feed ramp machined in to accept 45 acp. basically you will not be able to go back to 38 super. Only way you would be able to go back is if you get the frame cut for a Para/Clark or Nowlin/Wilson feed ramp barrel. You old barrel will no longer be needed. For the frame you will need a new ejector. Every other part on the 1911 government mode frame can be purchased to what you want. You will need a new complete slide and barrel. awesome. thanks. |
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Given the sights and trigger shoe, it looks like someone might have used this as a Bullseye pistol. You might want to check to see if it is still chambered for .38 Super. As pre-1980s .38 Super pistols were not known for their accuracy, some gunsmiths like Jim Clark specialized in converting .38 Super pistols to use the .38 Special Wadcutter round for Bullseye competition.
Either way I suspect the pistol will have collector interest. You might show it off at the different M1911 and CMP forums. |
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The magazines for the .38 Special Wadcutter conversions are expensive. I think Clark Custom is the only outfit still offering them, and they want $75 per magazine.
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/1911mags.htm |
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Do whatever you want since it is YOUR pistol. Ignore the "I'm not a collector but I play one on the web." crowd and mod it till it screams. I agree. For pure entertainment value, there is nothing like watching someone take a $1000 pistol and spend $400 turning it into a $600 pistol. Modifying classic guns is a losing proposition. If it was your grandfathers then you need to either restore it or put it away. Yea, it's your gun and you can wreck it if you want but that would be really foolish. You're better off selling it than ruining it. If you want something that is a better weapon, stick with your sig's. If you want something with style and grace that honors your grandfather, leave it alone or do a proper restoration on it.Better in what way? Jams more? Breaks more often? Has a crappier trigger? How is a sig a "better weapon" than a 1911? I owned a P226 Elite ST and am here to tell you it was only only better in that it weighed 3-4oz more than a 1911 and can be used to pistol whip a little harder with. New Sig versus a 25 or so year old stock 38 super Colt? Let's see.. things in favor of Sig as a weapon: - Better sights / night sights - Rail if you want one - Won't rust (very easily anyway) - Availability of modern ammunition from many sources at a reasonable price - Easy to find cheap magazines - Easy to find cheap springs and parts - Current customer service (yea.. I know people have complaints with Sig CS) Unreliable Sigs are still something of a rarity. If you look at the gunsmithing forum you will find few mentions of Sigs and many 1911 discussions. YMMV and apparently has but to declare 1911's, including Colts, as a group to be more reliable as a group than Sig's is I believe incorrect. This position just isn't is not supported by the propensity of statistical evidence before us within even this forum much less what you see elsewhere. While I prefer BHP's and 1911's, it's not that they are the penultimate tactical tools. I just like them. OP.. sorry if my original post indicated an assumption that you might lack some consideration for your heritage. I did kind of take your original post to be in that vein but I get it now. If it were me I would sell it because any modification you make will only make it worth less. I beg to differ. http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/430601935 |