Want to build a 1942-style 1911? (thanks to AeroE)

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Want to build a 1942-style 1911? (thanks to AeroE)

Posted: 9/14/2012 7:15:33 AM EDT

-he originally posted this in the "gunsmithing" sub forum; I though some folks here might enjoy this PDF of a 1942 article on how they used to make 1911s.

http://www.gunlab.net/wp-content/uploads/1911manufacture.pdf

sorry no hotlink

Posted: 9/14/2012 7:57:58 AM EDT

[#1]

Cool. Thanks

Posted: 9/15/2012 7:41:30 AM EDT

[#2]

That is really a wonderful article. Notice that the extractor and ejector were both made of 1075 steel––which is a spring steel.

I wish all the modern manufacturers would use proper materials.

Posted: 9/15/2012 8:18:39 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:

That is really a wonderful article. Notice that the extractor and ejector were both made of 1075 steel––which is a spring steel.

I wish all the modern manufacturers would use proper materials.

And in that last sentence lie's the reason for half the bitching about unreliable 1911s. The other half is tolerance problems.

Posted: 9/17/2012 1:38:35 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:

That is really a wonderful article. Notice that the extractor and ejector were both made of 1075 steel––which is a spring steel.

I wish all the modern manufacturers would use proper materials.

Here here! How many faults have we witnessed with:

-MIM steel?

-cast rather than forged?

And as this is still AR15.com, the use of a steel other than Carpenter for AR bolts?

I am not saying these alternatives to the original cannot be sufficient. I am saying they often are not sufficient.

Posted: 9/18/2012 12:25:41 PM EDT

[#5]

Cylinder&Slide sells a spring steel extractor. My extractor issues disappeared by switching from tool steel to spring steel.

The next issue is understanding there's a lot more to extractor tuning than tensioning. Bill Laughridge files his radius a bit different, afterwards polishes extractor face before setting tension with a small hammer and vise. I watched Bill work for an afternoon, we visited about extractors and particularly his spring steel extractors. Bill said, "you know I have those made but can't get them exactly the way I want'em."
1911 feed goes from ka-chunk to just the sound of slide closing, tuning extractor as Bill taught me.

Have yet to re-adjust tension on my spring steel extractors.

Posted: 9/18/2012 1:01:16 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Cylinder&Slide sells a spring steel extractor. My extractor issues disappeared by switching from tool steel to spring steel.

The next issue is understanding there's a lot more to extractor tuning than tensioning. Bill Laughridge files his radius a bit different, afterwards polishes extractor face before setting tension with a small hammer and vise. I watched Bill work for an afternoon, we visited about extractors and particularly his spring steel extractors. Bill said, "you know I have those made but can't get them exactly the way I want'em."
1911 feed goes from ka-chunk to just the sound of slide closing, tuning extractor as Bill taught me.

Have yet to re-adjust tension on my spring steel extractors.

I bought a Cylinder and Slide extractor and I just popped it into my slide and that was that. It worked flawlessly. I did not have to adjust anything.

Posted: 9/18/2012 2:58:51 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Cylinder&Slide sells a spring steel extractor. My extractor issues disappeared by switching from tool steel to spring steel.

The next issue is understanding there's a lot more to extractor tuning than tensioning. Bill Laughridge files his radius a bit different, afterwards polishes extractor face before setting tension with a small hammer and vise. I watched Bill work for an afternoon, we visited about extractors and particularly his spring steel extractors. Bill said, "you know I have those made but can't get them exactly the way I want'em."
1911 feed goes from ka-chunk to just the sound of slide closing, tuning extractor as Bill taught me.

Have yet to re-adjust tension on my spring steel extractors.

I bought a Cylinder and Slide extractor and I just popped it into my slide and that was that. It worked flawlessly. I did not have to adjust anything.

As it should have.

Not sure why I bother trying to pass on performance tips.

Posted: 9/18/2012 4:56:39 PM EDT

[#8]

Posted: 9/18/2012 5:45:03 PM EDT

[#9]

Wow, good score. Sweet pics of old machines that would still be working today if someone had em.

Posted: 9/18/2012 6:19:57 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Cylinder&Slide sells a spring steel extractor. My extractor issues disappeared by switching from tool steel to spring steel.

The next issue is understanding there's a lot more to extractor tuning than tensioning. Bill Laughridge files his radius a bit different, afterwards polishes extractor face before setting tension with a small hammer and vise. I watched Bill work for an afternoon, we visited about extractors and particularly his spring steel extractors. Bill said, "you know I have those made but can't get them exactly the way I want'em."
1911 feed goes from ka-chunk to just the sound of slide closing, tuning extractor as Bill taught me.

Have yet to re-adjust tension on my spring steel extractors.

I bought a Cylinder and Slide extractor and I just popped it into my slide and that was that. It worked flawlessly. I did not have to adjust anything.

As it should have.

Not sure why I bother trying to pass on performance tips.

I was not trying to be disrespectful. I only wanted to state that you are right that these are great extractors.