aftermarket extractor for 1911?

[mzimmers]

Hi, all -

I have a SW1911 (SKU 170261) and I love it, but it throws brass all over the place. I'd like to experiment with tuning it a bit, but before I do, I want to know that I can get a replacement extractor. Does anyone know of a source?

Thanks.

 

[38-44HD45]

I assume your gun has the external extractor. If so, I am unaware of anyone who makes an aftermarket part. Factory Smith extractors can be had from Brownell's, or direct from Smith. If it had an internal extractor, I'd be able to give you many makers, most of whose extractors can be purchased from Brownell's.

FWIW, I've worked on a half dozen or so Smith 1911s with external extractors, as well as a bunch of Kimbers with the same design. All of them have thrown brass all over the place. I can tune a 1911 with a good internal extractor to put its empties mostly in one place. I've never been able to do it with the external versions. Maybe someone can.

 

[mzimmers]

Yes, it has the external extractor. That's disappointing to hear about its lack of tunability, but I appreciate the information.

When did Smith start selling replacement parts? I wasn't aware of that.

 

[rbert0005]

They don't sell extractors. You will have to send the slide in to have it replaced.
Maybe the whole gun if you want it tuned.

Bob

 

[Spotteddog]

What the gents above said.

 

[38-44HD45]

I stand corrected. Bob is right. Given the ease of installation, I assumed that Smith sold 1911 extractors to Brownell's, since they have parts for most of the other Smith autoloaders. As noted above, they do not. Yet another reason to stick to internal extractors...

 

[mzimmers]

OK...so do I understand that NO ONE sells a replacement extractor for this gun? In other words, it's a Smith-proprietary part?

 

[Spotteddog]

I'm with you John.
The external is just cheaper/easier to manufacture. It holds no advantage over JMB's. Especially when the right persons working on the oldie but goodie!

 

[Fastbolt]

Technically, the SW1911 extractor is a fitted part. It's fitted in a similar manner to how the regular (3rd gen) pistol extractors are fitted, using a bar gauge. There's also a choice of a couple of extractor springs so armorers can adjust the tension if necessary. The new Pro Series Model uses a different extractor (larger).

My SW1911 doesn't throw empty cases any more erratically than my Colts do, but that's not really saying anything.

 

[38-44HD45]

OK...so do I understand that NO ONE sells a replacement extractor for this gun? In other words, it's a Smith-proprietary part?

That appears to be correct. I did a bit more looking, and I sure can't find any other manufacturer.

Spot is right. The external extractor on a 1911 is a solution to a nonexistent problem. External ones can be as reliable or as unreliable as internal ones. They are not inherently better or worse, in my opinion. I've had internal extractors break, including one on a gun that had fired under 60 rounds, and I've worn one or two out. The key is that the extractor must be made from quality steel, properly heat treated, and properly dimensioned. I've never broken a good one, and the ones that wore out had had many tens of thousands of rounds fired. I've probably fitted 100-150 internal extractors on 1911s over the years, and it is not really hard, although doing it right is crucial to reliable function.

As for external extractors, I've had to do a little tuning on 2 or 3 Kimbers, and on one Smith, but I've only ever had about 5-6 Kimbers and 3 Smiths with external extractors in my hands for any work of any kind.