"Customized" 1991a1

[7tenz]

Wanted only to replace the plastic parts with steel mainspring housing, and I installed a black anodized aluminum trigger. Except for the gunsmith installed 3 dot sights, it looks exactly original, which is what I wanted. Gonna leave it be now.

[Danny Abernathy]

Nice Colt, my sentiments exactly. Just put on there what is needed and nothing else. That pistol will serve you very well indeed!!

[Maximumbob54]

Grit blasted finish?

[7tenz]

Originally Posted by Maximumbob54

Grit blasted finish?

Got it as an unfired consignment gun in '08. I assumed factory bead blast. The only shiney parts are the barrel and magazine base plate.
Scratches easily. They didn't show up at that angle.

[Maximumbob54]

I only as because my ORM came with the same type of finish except for the slide's flats. They have a polished and then lightly brushed appearance to them:

[7tenz]

In fact it was yesterday a friend thought it was parkerized, when he first saw it from 5 ft away. It's rough throughout. It's ugliness is what made me fall for it, besides giving only $650 for an unfired Colt.

I have to say, your ORM looks awsome.

[turbo38gn]

I just picked up a 1997 year 1991a1.. LNIB, I'm a little torn with if I should shoot it, mod it or just park it.. bought it right, it looks to be parkerized and I noticed the plastic the other day while really inspecting it.... I too was thinking just replace the plastic parts and the trigger, leave the rest alone and it should be a good shooter... decisions, decisions..

[Maximumbob54]

Thanks for the positive comments on my ORM. I went nuts over the plastic bits before I finally came to terms with the fact that they actually work and after a while are easy to forget about. I have two other ORM's that have that either black oxide or satin bluing on them. I left them pretty much alone with the latest exception to finding a plastic MSH that is arched. It looks like it could have come with the thing on it. Besides grip panels, they are pretty much both stock. And the funny thing is after all the **** I spent money on and swapped parts, the stainless gun started acting up at the range until I stepped back from the crazy parts. First I put her back to factory spec and then over time added some of the few parts I preferred while making sure they didn't affect reliable function. I hate the rubber sticky feeling grip panels they came with, but darn if they don't have a near perfect thickness and round curve in the hand. These guns aren't special editions, aren't out of production, and they aren't old war heroes. I shoot the hell out of the three of mine and I love them. I don't beat them up with +P or anything so they should last a looooooong time.

[7tenz]

Originally Posted by turbo38gn

I just picked up a 1997 year 1991a1.. LNIB, I'm a little torn with if I should shoot it, mod it or just park it.. bought it right, it looks to be parkerized and I noticed the plastic the other day while really inspecting it.... I too was thinking just replace the plastic parts and the trigger, leave the rest alone and it should be a good shooter... decisions, decisions..

That's just me. I was inspired by my Custom 10 Delta to keep it simple, nothing racey, but mean business. Couple bad photos in the end.

1991-I got the mainspring housing at Brownells. It has a slight amount of lateral play, kinda an annoyance to me, but I'm going to change that one too when I can find a decent matching make. I can't remember who made the trigger. A gunstore I frequent ordered it for me. The overtravel adj is a pin on the rear that you file down. I took it all the way and it's perfect. The sights required a gunsmith with the front one staked in.

My Kimber 10mm has a plastic housing too. I have a ss lanyard on the way from Wilson, due here Tues.

Factory electroless nickle Colt Custom Combat 10. It cam with steel curved msh and trigger, but I put the Pachmyer housing on it. The grips were used, trying to figure out how to get them clean:

[7tenz]

Originally Posted by Maximumbob54

Thanks for the positive comments on my ORM. I went nuts over the plastic bits before I finally came to terms with the fact that they actually work and after a while are easy to forget about. I have two other ORM's that have that either black oxide or satin bluing on them. I left them pretty much alone with the latest exception to finding a plastic MSH that is arched. It looks like it could have come with the thing on it. Besides grip panels, they are pretty much both stock. And the funny thing is after all the **** I spent money on and swapped parts, the stainless gun started acting up at the range until I stepped back from the crazy parts. First I put her back to factory spec and then over time added some of the few parts I preferred while making sure they didn't affect reliable function. I hate the rubber sticky feeling grip panels they came with, but darn if they don't have a near perfect thickness and round curve in the hand. These guns aren't special editions, aren't out of production, and they aren't old war heroes. I shoot the hell out of the three of mine and I love them. I don't beat them up with +P or anything so they should last a looooooong time.

My previous entry pertains to this comment too. You know, I'm not aware that anyone ever had a problem with the plastic parts. All I can say is I hate them.

[Cyrano]

I just messed with the ergonomics a bit. I had Jim Clark install a beavertail grip safety so I wouldn't get hammer bite and bleed all over my gun; bad for the finish. I also had him stipple the fore strap with his special stippling: the pistol doesn't move in my hand. I really didn't need the extended safety and trigger job, but the latter sure is nice. The mainspring housing is half way between an arched housing and a flat one; the rubber on the back helps me hold onto the gun; it's plasitc but the part isn't under any sress so it doesn't bother me.

I didn't do anything to improve the accuracy: as accuracy goes up. reliability goes down. The Series 70 has a lot more accuracy than I need for a combat gun.

[Grayfox]

As I get older I find that the less you tinker with the 1911, the better it is. As someone already mentioned, do only what you need to do to make the gun work best for you.
I've had some with all the bells and whistles only to find they did nothing to improve the pistol for me.
These days, the only changes I make will be an arched MSH and a long trigger if it doesn't already have them.

[7tenz]

Originally Posted by Cyrano

I just messed with the ergonomics a bit. I had Jim Clark install a beavertail grip safety so I wouldn't get hammer bite and bleed all over my gun; bad for the finish. I also had him stipple the fore strap with his special stippling: the pistol doesn't move in my hand. I really didn't need the extended safety and trigger job, but the latter sure is nice. The mainspring housing is half way between an arched housing and a flat one; the rubber on the back helps me hold onto the gun; it's plasitc but the part isn't under any sress so it doesn't bother me.

I didn't do anything to improve the accuracy: as accuracy goes up. reliability goes down. The Series 70 has a lot more accuracy than I need for a combat gun.

Looks right to me. Help yourself to a "like". As far as the grip safety, you did what you had to do for your hands. It was functional rather than dressy.

[7tenz]

Originally Posted by Danny Abernathy

Nice Colt, my sentiments exactly. Just put on there what is needed and nothing else. That pistol will serve you very well indeed!!

Thanks. Colt 1911s, like S&W revolvers have that special place in my heart.

[7tenz]

Originally Posted by Grayfox

As I get older I find that the less you tinker with the 1911, the better it is. As someone already mentioned, do only what you need to do to make the gun work best for you.
I've had some with all the bells and whistles only to find they did nothing to improve the pistol for me.
These days, the only changes I make will be an arched MSH and a long trigger if it doesn't already have them.

I can think of many reasons to not do anything to change it's looks. The most compelling is that it's like a trip to the past during a simpler time, out of respect for ancestors who died for the freedom we have today, etc, too many to mention here. It is a modern 1911. I want to make it less modern if I go anywhere with it. If you want to see me drool, watch me handle an old Colt or Remington Rands I fondled in the past.

On the other hand I don't knock the race gun people. I dabbled in it a little with my SS Enhanced Delta since it was alrerady part way there out of the box.

[Cyrano]

When I shot a lot, like when I was on an Army pistol team, I would bleed on the gun for a month or so, and then it stopped; I think my hand got thinner and more muscular with grasping the 45 pretty hard. Nowadays I don't shoot enough for that to happen.