1911 flat mainspring housing-What have I got. UPDATE
- Thread starter 4barrel
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Parkerized?
AJ
US Veteran
Have one like it. Will watch this thread with interest.
Rpg
Member
Looks like the way I always have my gunsmith modify 1911 mainspring housings: grind it flat (remove arch) and aggressive checkering.
It’s a bit tough on over garments (eg suit jacket).
It’s a bit tough on over garments (eg suit jacket).
OP
4barrel
Member
I cant find any with these stamps. It hasn't got any dings. I probably bought it at a gun show in the '80's. Took a few more photos. AJ in post 3 said he had one. It's hard to count to 39 without blinking. I had to take a photo and blow it up.
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Looks like a late type 5 Remington 1911-A1 that someone cut across the 8 original “ ribs”. The other original checked MSHs were at an angle, diamond shaped.
AJ
US Veteran
I find I must apologize as mine is not exactly like yours. Mine has more of a diamond pattern to it. It does have a lanyard loop on it. No further marking I can find. Please see the thumbnail.
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krunchnik
Member
Kimber makes one like that-
Ivan the Butcher
Member
4Barrel, I believe your Mainspring housing is from an Argentine 1927 (probably post WWII). That is their designation for what we call the 1911 series. I have a number of their designs I picked up in the 80's and 90's when I bought every cheap/abused 1911 I could and then built or rebuilt functioning AFFORDABLE self-defense 1911's. Most of the early guns were Colt built and marked. Post WWII, they bought leftover parts and then made whatever else they needed.
Ivan
Ivan
OP
4barrel
Member
OP
4barrel
Member
Thanks but again-Show me at least a photo without guessing. I read and enjoy almost all of your posts.
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OP
4barrel
Member
I looked that up- and looks nothing like it from the side. Thanks. Enjoy your posts also. The #5 is flat--mine's oval -not flat or arched.
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N M-National Match?
OP
4barrel
Member
If I stamped it -it would be in the middle.
I haven't found any stamped NM on the internet. I like all your posts. Dig some books out and help me out. I am putting an old 70 series Colt Bullseye gun together <Like I need another> and don't like much. I have been gathering parts when I can find them for years. I have it shooting great and I will post a photo of the finished product. I just need a few cosmetic touch ups. I was checking my 40 year old stash bin and this was in it. I probably bought it because of 23 stamped on it. <My birthday>and my serial #on the gun starts with 23. The old gun shows had tons of 1911 parts you could buy for a song. I probably didn't give $10 for it.
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Marcus von W.
Member
Back in the early 1980's, I had a commercial Colt Government Model 1911A1 pattern that was made in 1928 and a nice early "Systema Colt" Argentine made 1911A1 pattern.
All the small parts with the checkering on them were identical
Other than the markings and the distinctive Argentine serial numbers on the slide, barrel, frame, and magazine, and the grips, there was no difference in the appearance and machining of the two.
I disassembled both guns and laid the parts out side by side, if they had somehow ever got mixed up, there would be no way I could tell which was made in the U.S. and which was made in Argentina.
The Argentine Systema's are great guns, made with top quality materials on original Colt tooling in a factory set up by Colt.
Marcus von W.
Member
I seem to vaguely remember early Detonics pistols having a flat checkered mainspring housing with a kind of unique look. Never had one out of the gun, so don't know anything about any markings, or lack there-of, on the part.
Federal Ordnance and Essex Arms also made a lot of different configuration .45 auto pistols and parts in this time period, and Essex made the frames for Detonics.
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OP
4barrel
Member
Thank you Marcus--I have a really nice Federal Ordnance <even has a pony like Colt>Made in California and several Essex that are top of the line and worth at least $400 . Fred Kart used Essex frames with a lot of his builds. I am going to see if I can find Argentine parts. I found a photo of a 1918 Colt that was close and Ivan the butcher suggested 1927. I feel like COLUMBO solving a case<gettin close>
Fred Kart used Essex frames with a lot of his builds. I am going to see if I can find Argentine parts. I found a photo of a 1918 Colt that was close and Ivan the butcher suggested 1927. I feel like COLUMBO solving a case<gettin close>Attachments
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K, see its flat, didn’t catch that as first pics don’t show side .
Here’s GI ones.
Here’s GI ones.
OP
4barrel
Member
Thanks but not even close. 8 down and 39 across is what I have. Looking at type #5 if it was cut sideways would be close. #4 has the rib in the middle. Mine has a channel in the middle like #5. Mine is raised <rounded> in the middle and #5 looks flat. Actually--mine is not flat or arched.
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Could be any one of dozens and dozens of after market parts makers/suppliers in the 1970'/80's time that suddenly appeared on the market.
.45Auto / build your own gun craze was exploding and people wanted bolt on custom parts.
Things haven't really changed much.
The NM stamped on the part could simply have been a makers feeble attempt to steer the buyer into thinking it was the same as a more expensive real Natl Match part.
Maybe it is NM part!
A lot of that early stuff was investement cast. It would still show machining to clean it up.
The main advantage on a small part like this one would have been to cast in the checkering. A close examination can reveal which it is.
How many Lines per Inch (LPI) is the checkering?
Many/Most established parts from Natl Match and other well known makers were made in standard LPI's of 25, 30, etc .
Though custom made was and is just that. Most anything could and still can be ordered and made.
....and it could just be an old arched housing that someone reshaped to flat to fit the frame correctly,,and then checkered it.
There's some pretty spiffy work done out there in gun-land.
.45Auto / build your own gun craze was exploding and people wanted bolt on custom parts.
Things haven't really changed much.
The NM stamped on the part could simply have been a makers feeble attempt to steer the buyer into thinking it was the same as a more expensive real Natl Match part.
Maybe it is NM part!
A lot of that early stuff was investement cast. It would still show machining to clean it up.
The main advantage on a small part like this one would have been to cast in the checkering. A close examination can reveal which it is.
How many Lines per Inch (LPI) is the checkering?
Many/Most established parts from Natl Match and other well known makers were made in standard LPI's of 25, 30, etc .
Though custom made was and is just that. Most anything could and still can be ordered and made.
....and it could just be an old arched housing that someone reshaped to flat to fit the frame correctly,,and then checkered it.
There's some pretty spiffy work done out there in gun-land.
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