Posted: 5/7/2007 11:59:26 AM EDT
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I have two SA SS GI's that I bought a while back to turn into project guns. By "project" I dont mean to do any smithing work myself; simply add to the guns as I go until I get them where I want them to be. Anything else is sent to the professionals. Question: I realize a slide and frame will most likely need fitting to make them function at their best. When fitting, is more done to the slide, the frame or both? I ask because I'm wanting to add Caspian slides to them both, but would like the original slides to still be functional. Now, I know some will say sell them both and start over but I've put some time into them both, and there's "stories" that they both share that will make them special to my children when I pass them on, so no selling. Thanks for those of you who take the time to answer. |
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The GI's are most likely machined on the low end of the toleranceing scale for production and the need for less time fitting. The Caspian slides are made slightly oversized, and will possibly fit tight on the frame, but the determining factor is how they geometrically match up. Your frames may be machined large enough that the new slides drop on with little or no slop. They could need fitting, and then there is the possibility that they fit like an old Colt that had had thousands of rounds through it - though unlikely since the Caspian slides are most likely to fit better. Also, you are talking stainless - and stainless can be fit rather well, but do like to gall and require a little extra play for proper functioning. Not much, just a little more than you can expect on a set of carbon steel slide/frame matchup. You do try to fit the slide to the frame in most cases, but with ground up builds - you observe all the 9 bearing surfaces of the fit and see what is rubbing hard, needs to be filed, and then when it's about done - you oil lap it in. People use lapping compounds, but that can really screw you over in fitting by taking material off a geometrically perfect surface when you just need a little material removed from another. A gunsmith, with instructions to fit the slide to the frame will be able to do so, and will do his best - but keep in mind, he only has so much to work on when you start with a pistol that has already been fit to another combination. You can get as far as welding or accu-rails too, but that gets real pricey, REAL FAST. Another thing to remember too is the barrel combinations may not fit or function properly...but I'm sure you already knew that. Take care, Bob |
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Slide to frame fit accounts for no more than 10-15% of the 1911's accuracey by all accounts. While a tight slide to frame fit is nice it isn't necassary for an accurate 1911. It's the barrel hood to slide lockup and the barrel to barrel bushing lockup that count. Tightening slide to frame usualy involves squeezing of the slide and peening of the rails and then lapping them together. A Caspian slide with oversize rails will be easier to fit to the frame than is tightening of the original slide. |
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Thanks for responding folks. Regarding the barrel to slide fitting; can buying a barrel and bushing specifically for the slide in question resolve this? I've read in several posts that the slide to frame fit is not as important as other aspects (as stated by SGB). These are not competition pistols by any stretch. I had purchased these for my wife and myself just for fun, but we both ended up carrying them for off duty weapons frequently (both of us are officers) and there are actually a few funny tales to tell the kids one day when we pass them on. I've just found that I really like what I've seen from Caspian, and would like to add them to the weapons. I plan on sending them off to a reputable smith when I decide to go forward with the project. I just wanted to be sure it was reasonably do-able before I start dropping the cash on the slides. ETA: I'm by no means an expert, so please any information is greatly appreciated. I've more experience with tearing down SW 4006's, Glocks and Sigs than 1911's (as I get older, I love my 1911's more and more though....) |
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Unfortunatly, no, your barrel fit is somthing that needs to be tuned for each pistol. Your slide/frame/barrel fit for your Springfields that are already established will be fine - but with your new slides, they will most likely not work. The barrel hood/breechface interface will most likely be different. The upper lugs of the barrel will most likely not fit the same between the slides and barrels, and the barrel feet and link system may not fit the same. I'm not saying they won't work - but the chances of them working properly are slim. Bob |