New 1911 SE E OWNER! Questions to be had.

[EthanG-M&P]

Ok, I have only been buying for the past year, (S&W M&P, & Ruger LC9), but have always wanted a good quality 1911. I just picked up the S&W 1911 SC E last night, but I have some general 1911 questions:

1) Rail vs Slick dust cover - Does this refer to the slide being smooth, or having grooves running down the slide from the front sight towards the breach, so as to reduce glare?

2) What is the difference between a full length guide rod and a half size, besides the length. What difference performance to they provide? My 1911 has a recessed cap on the guide rod, and requires a wrench to dissemble. Can I get a "capped" version, and is there a way to convert it to field strip without the wrench?

3) Is there a shorter hammer/dove tail available? - I find that it sticks into my side when I sit, and when driving.

4) What slim aftermarket grips are recommended? - I hate to get rid of the great looking/feeling wood grips, but would like to slim this thing down a bit.

5) Can an ambidextrous safety be converted to a right handed shooter safety only?

Thanks,
--Ethan

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Can't help with all of your questions, but here are a few answers;

1. Rail vs Slick dust cover refers to the dust cover, which is the part of the frame just forward of the trigger guard. Some have rails for mounting flashlights or lasers (railed), some do not (slick).

2. The short guide rod was the original design. The full length guide rod (FLGR) was reputed to keep the recoil spring from kinking and in some cases to add a small amount of weight which supposedly reduced muzzle rise during recoil. I have both versions in various 1911s and have found absolutely zero difference in performance. The short guide rod and closed plug is easier to field strip because it does not require a bushing wrench. If you choose to get a standard/short guide rod and closed plug, make sure you get the correct parts for your pistol as they vary depending upon the barrel length of your pistol (5"=government model, 4.25"=commander, most 1911s with barrels under 4.25" long have a "bull barrel" and no bushing, requiring a FLGR and reverse plug, in which case you are stuck with what the FLGR).

3. I honestly don't know, but you might find something at Midway.com, Brownells, Wilson Combat, or any number of other parts suppliers. Be advised that the parts will probably have to be fitted by a gunsmith, and the grip safeties* (what I believe you are calling a "dovetail") have different radiuses that may require alteration of your frame, which will probably void your warranty. If it says it is a "drop-in" part, chances are that it isn't, or will fit/function very poorly. I think, but am not certain, that Wilson Combat grip safeties have the correct radius for S&W frames.

4. Depends upon what material you want. Punch "1911 thin grip panels" into your search engine and you should be presented with a variety of choices. Grips are a pretty personal thing and something that I may like the feel of may not work for you. I believe that thin grip panels also require different bushings than the standard grip panels. Some of the popular manufacturers include Craig Spegal, Ahrends, Chip McCormick, Wilson Combat, and others. I stay away from smooth grip panels because they allow the gun to shift around too much, but YMMV.

5. If by right handed only you mean that the safety lever is on the left side of the gun only (so that it is operated by your right thumb), then yes. There are a wide variety available from the places I listed under answer 3, and other places as well. You will need a gunsmith to properly fit it unless you know how to do so.

*Regarding the grip safety, those with the rounded upswept protrusion that keep the hammer from biting the web of your hand are sometimes referred to as a beavertail grip safety, Colt makes or made one that had a flat protrusion that kind of angled down and was sometimes called a "duckbill" safety, and the ones that are narrow and short are GI style grip safeties (and may allow the hammer to bite you, depending upon how you grip the gun, whether the grip safety is a really short 1911 style or slightly longer 1911A1 style, and how big your hands are). "Dovetail" refers to the cuts in the slide that sights are mounted in, due to the cuts being shaped like a triangle with the top cut off when viewed from the side (looks kind of like a bird's tail).

Hope this was helpful to you.

1911A1 with GI style grip safety:


SW1911PD with beavertail grip safety:

 

[EthanG-M&P]

Thank you, that was very informative. =)