On the off chance that I get long term employment after my three month gig ends, I'm still thinking about getting a nickeled Rock Island .38 Super.

The problem is that I don't like flat mainspring housings and (to the best of my knowledge) the Rock Islands ONLY come with a flat housing.

Does anyone know of a source for NICKELED arched mainspring housings?

Everything seems to be either blued, parkerized or stainless... if not <gag> plastic.

Yes, Jack hekped me when I was looking for one. Good Luck! Maybe $40.00 or so shipped, been awhile since I bought one.

Jack First Gunshop - First in Gun Parts - Rapid City, South Dakota

I didn't think of him.

At some point, I might want to try again to get a .45 Colt cylinder for my New Service also.

Thanks.

Plus one for Jack First! If all else fails perhaps you can polish up a stainless steel one, should match up pretty close.

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Stay safe people!

Jack First started his gun shop in Lancaster CA. This was the first gun shop I ever went to when I got here. He sold it some time ago and now it is just called the Gun Shop. He would probably cry to see what it has become. The Gun Shop has the worst selection and customer service of any store I've ever been too. They are rude and not helpful at all. It's a shame because it was good when he was there.

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Freedom isn't free.

A nickel plated one will be rare. I don't even think the flat one that comes in the nickel plated RIA is nickel plated.

A serrated stainless housing would look fine.

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Freedom isn't free.

I'm just trying to:

1. match the finish of the gun.
2. avoid doing a butt load of polishing work.

I really dislike stainless, especially matte stainless. I've only got one stainless gun, a 3" 65, which I finally broke down and bought when I didn't see a 3" 13 in over ten years of looking at local gunshows.

You Could, if you want it bad enough, get a blued one and send it to FORDS and have it nickeled. I would of done that, but since I was selling the gun I didn't.

I have no idea of the skill level necessary for a decent nickle job.

I know I wouldn't send a good gun anywhere to be blued but Ford's, but what about nickle? Does that require Ford's or can any local plating shop do it? After all, it's just a component with no roll marks or engraving to protect.

I've sent parts to these guys, they do excellent work, imo

ACCURATE PLATING AND WEAPONRY | APWCOGAN

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

What do you think a mainspring housing would run?

The whole gun price seems reasonable. Of course I wouldn't pay $335 to get a mainspring housing nickled!

Mainspring Housing, Round, Dull Nickel Gun Parts | 244250 | Numrich Gun Parts

Mainspring Housing, Round, Nickel Gun Parts | 398230 | Numrich Gun Parts

ASSuming that "round" translates to arched?

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BT
EGO VOLUNTAS HAUD OBEDIO

Give them a call. I had a slide hardchromed about 2 years ago for $75.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

A mainspring housing can't be more than that.

Thanks.

Find a decent MSH and get it refinished to suit. I did that with a stainless SA Milspec some years back. In my case I Used Ford's and went for the matte hard chrome finish which matched very well; it looked original to the gun.

I just wanted a lanyard loop MSH to make the gun look right. Price was reasonable, considering.

cmort666,

If I may. You stated you do not like stainless...but...

A quality nickel, 1911 clone or Colt, might be hard to find.

Nickel will scratch easy and will require a bit more care as to what cleaning agents you use, some will lift the nickel.

You have to find a nickel, arched mainspring housing.

You can...buy a stainless, arched mainspring housing and polish it well enough to match a nickel finish quite close.

Does it have to be a .38 Super?

I wanted a nickel, but cheaper than Colt, M1911A1 in .45 Auto. This meant a RIA but I do not like the huge, oversize slide logos. Then a Norinco if I could find one (kinda rare).

I then looked at the Remington M1911RS (stainless). I bought it and polished it to a point that it almost matches my nickel Colt MarkIV/Series 70, which I lucked into after I bought the Remington.

Good luck on your quest.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

The quality of the nickel finish on the s&w & Colts is unmatched. I been wanting to replace my colt 1911a1 series 70 government in nickel for decades. I been thinking of the RIA 1911a1 too.

At cdnn investments they offer flat and arched housings in stainless and you could polish it?

It'll almost definitely be a Rock Island.

That's a bunch of work I'd rather have somebody else do.

Yeah, that's what I want. I've never had one.

That's not an issue for me.

I just sold a parkerized Norinco .45.

The problem is that I'm just not interested in exerting that kind of effort, and possibly screwing the gun up anyway.

Thanks. Until I get long term employment, it's just daydreaming anyway.

I own a Springer 1911-A1, .38 Super, in nickel. It came with the arched MSH. I searched far and wide for a flat MSH, since that's what I like. After coming up nil, I bought a polished SS version, and installed it. Not a perfect match, but close enough.

If ever I sell the gun, I'll change out to the original.

You guys should trade, when he gets his. You'll have nickel flat, and he'll have nickel arched. Win - Win.

Another vote here for Jack Cogan; he can hook you up!

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NULLI SECUNDUS