Posted: 8/25/2007 8:25:24 AM EDT
| Looking to see if anybody here knows of a good 1911 gunsmith to do some basic work. I'm wanting to get my ambi safety replaced and a higher beavertail installed on my Govt Colt XSE. TIA! |
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The XSE is a nice 1911. Unfortunately they used a terrible grip safety and archaic sights. Its like Colt said "hey we want to build a $1000 1911 that will pinch your hand when you shoot it." I can do it but I'm not taking any more work right now, I need to get caught up on projects I already have going. I have a RIA rebuild right now that is about halfway done and its getting the WORKS! Woohoo! |
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You sure that thing is a Caspian Grip Safety? Doesn't look like a Caspian Part to me, Looks like Colt found an answer to a problem never asked requiring the "Downward swept Grip Safety"  I would hang a Wilson off that thing quick fast and in a hurry, then again I would just build my own gun from parts I choose...... Man when I get paid I am going to go on a buying spree with the $5 I have left after I catch up with my bills! |
Where did you hear they got the grip safety from caspian? I always thought they were the old Pachmayr drop-ins. Nasty. Midway still carries the "rubber coated" ones, you know, in case you like your moving parts coated in rubber for some reason. www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=639454&t=11082005 Profile look familiar? |
Hey! This is a family board you pervert!  Sorry, I just had to. Edit to add: Colt did try to actually use a real grip safety for a while that was made by Caspian. You see them on some of the older Defenders that also had the larger sights. They went back to the old crappy drop in style later to cut costs again.  This is the style they used when they were actually trying. Auction with Caspian grip safety This is what they went back to cut costs. Auction with drop in style grip safety |
The second link is what my grip safety looks like. I hate it! 
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To do what I'm doing, yeah it is difficult. I'm removing the useless GI style sights and milling the slide for low mount Novak cut night sights, which are actually useful fixed combat sights with tritium inserts. I make the cuts intentionally small with the mill, then hand file them until the sights fit very tightly. Its always easier to remove metal than to add it. So its fairly labor intensive.  The Colt Sistema on the bottom has been restored, with its original sights intact. The one on the top has been reworked into a combat ready 1911, and Novak sights have been fitted. The one in the middle is my personal home defense gun. |
You too? Maybe we should go in together and buy a Supreme pizza.  ETA: How freaking hard is it for Colt to change their molds to make the rear tang a nice .250" radius to fit most every major aftermarket grip safety lever? Or perhaps add one more machining step to accomplish the same thing? It's not like the pistols aren't already nearing $1000. One of these dyas when I find money again I'll have to send my two Deltas off to have them rejuvenated. They really need it. 
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+1 for -Duke-Nukem- I would wait until he is taking on new work. He sure did a great job on my Colt 1991A1 Compact. It was one of my least favorite pistols. I like it so much now it is one of my carry weapons.
Enough of the pizza jokes...No pizza for you!!! |
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Duke, let me know when you are taking work. All I want is for the broken ambi safety to be replaced with a new one. I also want a higher beavertail grip installed. Thanks. Here is a link with my problem: www.jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=49&t=47143 |
Bob Hunter is also a very good gun smith for the 1911....www.huntercustoms.com/ He has done our Colt 1911 do magic - Both Subgun -bret and I are very impressed. Give him a call or email . He is a great person to talk to about anything to get done on a 1911. NJ |