You don't see one of these everyday - my NIB AMT Hardballer Longslide!!!

WC145

WC145

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I just picked this up. It's a very early (made in Arcadia) AMT Hardballer Longslide. The gun is unfired and still coated in grease except where I wiped off the slide for the pics. It's in the original box with the paperwork and one mag that is stamped "AMT HARDBALLER" on it's base. I thought it would be heavier but it weighs 42oz and really points well, not muzzle heavy at all. I didn't realize they were made of "exotic stainless steel" back then, I assumed it was just the regular kind of stainless!:)
Anyway, I think it's pretty cool and thought I would share.

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The AMT Hardballers were the first stainless 1911s. I had one of the same vintage (late 70s?). Still got my A- prefix OMC Back-Up. They really were made much better back then. I installed a Bar-Sto barrel in mine and it outshot many a Gold Cup.
 
Keep those rails greased. I had galling problems with my first one. The second was kept well greased and worked a lot longer without problems. Congratulations on a very cool retro-gun. I'm feeling really old now as These came out when I was in my 20s.
 
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I'll second that advise to keep it well greased, stainless steels have a distinct tendancy to gall and the only way to prevent is with a good barrier grease, such as lubriplate.

I'll also tell you that I'm not a 1911 person, I've never had a handgun with a safety and fear I'd forget it in the event of actually needing to use the gun. However, that longslide just makes me DROOL. That thing must have a 10 inch sight radius and I'll bet it makes a 45 feel like a 22LR. That is one sweet score and if I ever stumbled on something like that I do believe I'd have to re-think my attitude towards handguns with safeties.
 
'Medium weight vegetable or synthetic grease'????

Any good moly or lithium based grease should work great, unless there are plastic internal parts (?)

If so, I'd go with a good silicone based grease.

I have a stainless 1911, and I've never had a problem with galling....but I use grease pretty liberally, especially on the rails, the locking lugs, and the swinging link and slide stop.

I'm sure everyone would enjoy a range report.

Expect a break in period with this older 1911, and some time finding what kind of ammunition it likes.

I'd start with 230gr. FMJ., and stay with it, until the pistol is broken in.

You got an AMT from when they were making good pistols.

Later they went down hill, but the Arcadia ones were the best they made.

Good luck with it.:D
 
Good score!

Galling was usually only a problem when the major parts, especially the barrel and slide were made of the same variety of steel. Many manufacturers successfuly dealt with it by using slightly different alloys and/or heat treatments for the barrel and slide.

The Hardballer wasn't the first stainless steel 1911. I think the first was called a Vega. The Hardballer was, however, the first stainless 1911 to have much success and actually be sold in good numbers.
 
Thanks for the replies, guys. I wasn't aware of the Vega stainless guns but I did know that AMT and Detonics were a couple of the first to produce them, though Detonics had better luck with it. I have a few other "exotic" stainless steel 1911's - an ODI Viking Combat (w/factory Seecamp double action), a Detonics CombatMaster from the Pendergrass, GA plant, and a S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series. It's easy to see the advances made in SS fit and finish from the older guns to the newer ones. I've used Tetra gun grease and lube for a number of years with good success, I also use M-Pro 7 CLP, it's good stuff.
 
That gun is great. And I'm not even into autos. My ex-wife's husband has one. I made a holster for a forum member here who has a long barreled Colt (7"). I made him this holster for it having never laid eyes on the gun. It turned out a little tight around the rear sight which I didn't realize was adjustable. Here it is before the safety strap was made.

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RIG for stainless grease prevents galling. I think they still make it>

Nice piece!
 
A great find! AMT Hardballers have a shaky reputation, I have been very pleased with mine bought NIB in 1978.
 
I have that gun's twin, purchased new in 1980. The foam box insert crumbled into dust though a few years back. It had some teething problems when new, my gunsmith found the the extractor tunnel was drilled out of spec and the extractor could not get proper case head tension until he relieved most of the hump from the mid point of the extractor. Other than that, it has been trouble free and very accurate. I could not see the front sight under most conditions so I glued a thin piece of red plastic on it with Crazy Glue making it a red patridge sight, and added a WO rear blade. I have always lubed the rails and barrel hood area with Rig +P Stainless grease. I don't know if that stuff is available any longer, but Brownells sells a stainless grease that I use on my Model 65 and that should also be good for your AMT. They do get a lot of attention when you pull one out on at the range. It looks like yours has the early Micro rear sight.
 
Thanks for the comments. The Longslide is one of those guns I've always wanted and I gotta say it's pretty neat to open the box and see a brand new one sitting there. It's always cool when you finally find one of those toys you've been watching for.
 
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