1911Smith/Colt Parts interchangeability with Llama IIIa

mmesa005 · Mar 12, 2015

There was an older thread about the Llama IIIa that was too old to post to so I am opening a new thread. While I know this is not directly about a Smith 1911 type pistol as the older thread indicated there are Smith owners that also own Llamas.

I just purchased a Llama IIIa, late 1980's vintage and I have read some older threads on various other web sites that the full size 1911 Llama can use most if not all parts from full size Colts. Smiths, other 1911 variants.

I am hope to find what if any Smith / Colt / other, parts will work with the Llama IIIa as it is not a full size 1911.

I have posted to the M1911 site as well to see what answers I receive.

Thanks!

t-bird · Mar 12, 2015

If you do a search on the M1911 forum it will give you a complete list of what is interchangeable. Best of luck and that helps some.

mmesa005 · Mar 12, 2015

t-bird,

I have done a search at the M1911 forum but only found references to the full-size 1911. By chance do you have a specific thread that provides the information, could be I am forming the search incorrectly?

Thanks!

t-bird · Mar 13, 2015

Just google (1911 and Llama parts that interchange) it will show it.

k22fan · Mar 14, 2015

I don’t know what parts inter change between Llama IIIAs and Colt .380s but at the risk of telling you what you already know a description of differences in the pistols might help.

Iver Johnson imported small .380s from Spain that looked some what like 1911s. They were made by Star who stamped them Iver Johnson Pony. Consequently they had several typical Star characteristics that were unlike 1911s: pivoting triggers, no grip safety and no separate mainspring housing. Their mainspring dropped into a blind hole and had to be compressed as part of reassembly. Also different from 1911s their thumb safety engaged a notch in the hammer and rocked it back off the sear. Iver Johnson collapsed and Colt took over the contract with Star stamping the same pistols Colt Pony. Colt Ponys were off the market for years then Colt made the same pistol in the U.S. stamping them Colt Mustang. Colt had other model names for them depending on whether their frames were aluminum or steel and their barrel length. While Colt recently added another notch in the hammer so the thumb safety can lock it while uncocked, Colt continues to manufacture what is basically a Star design.

Llama IIIA .380s are more like 1911s then Star .380s in that Llamas have grip safeties and 1911 style main spring housings. Also Llama’s thumb safety does not rock the hammer out of contact with the sear. I don’t have a Llama IIIA to handle but I don’t see a trigger pivot pin in pictures. If your trigger slides straight back rather than pivoting there's more parts different from Colt’s.

S&W never made a .380 even remotely similar to your Llama so I’m 99.9% sure no S&W parts will interchange.

I hope this helps a little.

KEN L · Mar 14, 2015

I know of at least 1 part that is not interchangeable, and that is the sear. They look almost identicle and the 1911 sear will fit the Llama, but it will not function correctly. Personal experience!

mmesa005 · Mar 14, 2015

Thanks to all for your replies. I will have to hunt down NOS spare parts and or good used ones as needed. The IIIa will be more of a safe queen at this point (after 1 -2 range sessions to see how she fires

)..

Cyrano · Mar 14, 2015

I think there is minimal interchangability, and probably none at all between the Llama IIIa and the Colt 1908 or more recent Mustang.

mmesa005 · Mar 14, 2015

Cyrano,

Yes, I am arriving at the same conclusion

2152hq · Mar 14, 2015

If a couple of parts from a Colt Mustang&variants happen to fit one of the Llama small frame 1911 style semi auto pistols,,it's just by chance.

The two basic designs are opposed to each other as already pointed out,,and there are blow-back and locked breech variations of the Llama pistols in their centerfire versions.

A very few parts will interchange betw the full size Llama 45 and the Colt 1911.

Keep a watch on Ebay for odd lots of pistol parts. Pistols stripped of their parts come up for sale once in a while.

Numrich still has some Llama IIIA parts available, plus a nice schematic on line:
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Llama-33364/Semi-AutoPistols-43295/IIIA-37055.htm

Check with other parts suppliers and see what they may have .

model70hunter · Mar 15, 2015

I don't know if it was a patent thing but many older foreign clones looked the part but had different parts.

In the middle 80's I bought 2 LLAMAS, a 45 and a 9 mm. They looked 1911 but were not. The magazines were even different and unobtainable which is why I sold them. They worked fine, but I was told parts may be a nightmare.

I think several explained the 380 very well.

1911Smith/Colt Parts interchangeability with Llama IIIa

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