Posted: 10/10/2009 11:26:34 PM EDT
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I recently purchased a used Springfield Mil-spec from an individual online. Before deciding to buy I specifically asked if the slide to frame fit was good and I was told it was. I also requested specific pictures which I did receive and everything looked good. When I received the pistol and field stripped it I found that the slide could not be removed from the frame without a great deal of pressure. It had to be tapped off. Upon getting it disassembled I discovered that the rear corner of the slide behind the thumb safety notch was bent in. This was causing the slide to dig into the frame preventing it from moving without a great deal of force. Once the slide was back on the frame, however, everything worked fine because the issue was only at the rear of the slide which moves off the frame during firing. Here are some pics:
These two show where the slide is removing metal from the frame. 
This one shows what the frame should look like. Notice the spot at the front where metal is being removed when the slide is being forced onto the frame. The damage is very similar the other side. 
This one shows the part of the frame that is causing the issues. This part is actually bent in. 
It's hard to see in this picture, but the part circled in red is bent in. 
How would you handle this situation? |
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Well if the gun works and you don't feel like the guy screwed you, I'd probably contact Springfield Armory, tell them the gun is wearing funny and that you think something is bent. They will most likely fix it under their lifetime warranty. You might be stuck with the pricy next day shipping charges, but I bet if you ask Springfield to send you a pre-paid box they would do it.
I have owned my share of 1911s and I wouldn't be too worried about the situation you are in...it might be annoying but the gun works and if SA won't help I bet you can find a qualified gunsmith that could help you out for $30. But contacting SA would be my approach. |
| If it were just a wear issue, I would agree, but the slide can't be removed by hand. It has to be tapped off. I wasn't really concerned with condition as I planned to rebuild it anyway, but for what I paid for it I wanted it to at least be functional. Looking at it more closely both sides of the slide at the rear are bent in. It looks like someone tried to squeeze the slide to tighten the fit. |
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Quoted:
If it were just a wear issue, I would agree, but the slide can't be removed by hand. It has to be tapped off. I wasn't really concerned with condition as I planned to rebuild it anyway, but for what I paid for it I wanted it to at least be functional. Looking at it more closely both sides of the slide at the rear are bent in. It looks like someone tried to squeeze the slide to tighten the fit. Probably a qualified gunsmith 
Seriously though, if you can't work out getting your money back from the guy contact Springfield, you'd be amazed what they will fix under warranty even though you are not the original owner. See what happens their first before you despair and buy a new slide. |
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This is a perfect example of why *I* don't try to save $50 by buying a gun on-line, especially a used 1911. You're gonna go thru a LOT more than $50 worth of grief trying to get this gun right, IMO.
Personally, *I* would send the gun back to the guy whom sold it & I would tell him he's liar & a fraud & should be selling used cars somewhere. He damn well knew that there was an issue even if he didn't do the problem himself, IMO. My .o2 |
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Quoted: Quoted: from your pictures............I see normal wear.............. It's not really about the wear; it's about the fact that the slide has to be tapped off the frame. Sounds like Primitive Pete got a hold of the gun to "tweak" it. Send it back to Springfield and see if they'll help you out. Plan B would be sending the gun to a quality 1911 'smith for a good going over. |
| It's got a really nice trigger and most of the small parts are milled or cast instead of MIM so I'm hoping I can figure something out. I also planned to drop a Kart barrel into it regardless. If I had paid $300 and had to put some money into it to get it right, I wouldn't be so torqued, but I paid good money for it and expected a functional gun. Sadly, i bought it here in the EE and the seller has no interest in working it out. |
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Thats a common occurrence when you sqeeze a slide. the larger section of slide rail springs back more than the section behind the safety.
SGB steered you right. its not a huge deal to fix and should take less than 10 minutes. the easiest way...you ready for this? use a little Crest toothepaste if you have no lapping compound. apply it to that section of the frame rail,drop of oil of some sort, then in stall the slide. work it back and forth coupla times, add another drop of oil and repeat. You take more than ten minutes and Ill buy you a soda. Chuck w |
Get a Wolff 18.5lb recoil spring, J&B bore bright and some Mili-Tec lube. Load the rails and slide with a liberal amounts of lube and bore bright and shoot the hell out of the gun. This will create a 'slurry' and cheep, but effective rubbing/lapping compound. The heavier weight recoil spring helps drive things home so to speak. Repeat as above, as many times until you are happy. If the above does not work then do as SGB described. Or, discuss with the seller and make things right.
Or, contact SA and see what can be done as described in a previous post... |