[1911Tuner]

This past Wednesday, I had an altogether pleasant visit with forum member, Ken Grant and his charming wife Sandra. Ken stopped by during a walkabout-style road trip, and a good time was had by all. The Collies
charmed Sandra while she and Kelie visited...and Ken and I talked of many things besides pistols. Engine-building and fast cars was just one of the subjects that we touched on while consuming copious amounts of turbocoffee.

Ken's Norinco Commander clone was still havin' a bit of a problem with the extractor after I'd done the "Top-End Tweak" on it, including the fitting of a
firing pin stop to keep it from clocking. That solved most of his problem, but one in 15 magazines did the ugly deed...and we came to the sad conclusion that a bad extractor was a player...so we fitted and tweaked a Brown Hardcore, and fixed it. :cool:

Now for the problem...That was one of two Norinco extractors that I've seen that would hold tension nicely...but still would occasionally drop the last round and tie up the works. I didn't do anything more than
set the tension and didn't check any specs...What's that they say about
what happens when you ASS-U-ME somethin'? :uhoh:

The problem was that the hook was too narrow by about .010 inch. Not a lot, but apparently just enough to let a case fall off the breechface once in a while. Clocking is usually the culprit...but that's not always the only thing that does this particular little trick.

The extractor didn't appear to have been dinked with, so I have to assume that it was a factory defect.

Moral of the story:

Be thorough when tryin' to solve a problem down to the simplest thing because..."IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GETCHA!" Lesson re-learned.
:banghead:

Humbled, I kicked the wall and wished that I had a cave to crawl into for a sulking session. :D

Cheers all!

Tuner

[saltydog452]

Congratulations Ken. If you don't mind my asking, what was the price of the Commander version of your Norinco?

Way to go Johnny..You did it again.

Just curious, since Ken's Norinco is apparently for serious social intercourse, what was the ammunition of choice for his 'Rinco?

Were there any magazine/ mag spring, follower issues?


If I remember right, back when I posted the final results of my ongoing battle with the 'OM From Hell' and mentioned that it was now 'Tunerized', he said that he wanted one too.

I hope that he is as happy with his Tunerized 'Rinco as I am with my Tunerized Officers Model.

salty.

P.S...

You may not cheat at Scrabble, but I bet you do a lot of creative spelling.

jrm.

[1911Tuner]

Howdy Salty!

We test-fired it with ball...Not sure what the brand was, and I don't know what he carries in it for social interactions..or even if he carries. All I know is that puppy will flat run off and leave the fleas now. It's slingin' the empties like the was launched from a centrifuge.

One thing that did catch my attention was that the hook on the Hardcore extractor was too long at .042 inch...I brought it down to .034 and it probably coulda stood to lose another .002, but it runs. I ain't fixin' it 'til I break it again.:D

Also had to radius the front just a litle to keep it off the front of the extractor groove...kinda like the problem that Jammer had, but not as bad.

He had spme magazine issues until he bought a few High Standard 7-round
contract mags and put Wolff springs in'em. Seems that the 8-rounders with the split Devel followers gave him fits.

O Happy Day! The sun is shinin' and the world is turnin' on greased axles in Georgia...or wherever he might be at this moment. He wasn't in an itchin' hurry to get back home.

[Dave Sample]

Hey Tuner! You is getting good at this stuff!

[1911Tuner]

I'm workin' on it Cap'n. Seems like just about the time I get it figgered out, one of the dang things'll throw me a long, slow curve...:D

[ken grant]

Man,I loved my visit with Tuner.Amazing how fast time can fly when you are having a good time.
Tuner not only fixed my problem,but showed me how to do it as well. He also showed me a few other things[How to check them as well as fix them]

The Griffon came with nite sights,extended slide stop,speed safety,bevel mag well,beaver tail grip safety and the front sight was dovetailed.
CDNN had them awhile $349.00

[ken grant]

I carry ball ammo

[saltydog452]

salty.

[ken grant]

www.cdnninvestments.com--------www.targetsportsinc.com
Both the same company but guns are in targetsports site

They are no longer in the lastest cat., but contact them. They may still have a few left but not enought to put in the cat.
Also these pistols have lowered and flared ports and also an adjustable alum. trigger.
I like mine but it is not my carry pistol. I carry a Colt Combat Commander S.S.
Concerning a TUNERIZED 1911-----I think I was the first on here to use that word.
Hopefully someday I can go visit Tuner again and spend more time there.I would like to take a 1911A1 series 80 and a bag full of the best parts and have it TUNERIZED:D :rolleyes:

[ken grant]

Sorry,misread your guestion about the price of the Norinco. I thought you were asking about the Griffon instead.
Good luck on finding a Norinco Compact,there are very few in the U.S.A.
I found mine on the net and it turned out to be someone that lived nearby and I bought it face to face for $350.00

[saltydog452]

salty.

[19112XS]

The trip to Mecca is indeed a wonderful thing!

[ken grant]

Tuner is a very sharp guy and not just on 1911's. He is very interesting to chat with on many subjects!
I would really like to spend several days with him and see how much I can retain of the info he provides and to go shooting with him.

He also has a wife that is very nice to look at!!!!!!!:rolleyes: :D
This is from an old man's view.:evil:

[1911Tuner]

Ken said:

He also has a wife that is very nice to look at!!!!!!!
______________________

Yeh...Kelie's right purty, ain't she? She's 33...I'm 52, and I ain't even rich.
Go figger.:D

[19112XS]

Purty, can cook, shoot, put up with idiots visiting both at the range and in her home, and not bat an eye at (usually joining) kitchen table smithin and oven baked pistols. Tuner and her match up better than an National Match barrel and bushing (or a "Tunerized" hammer and sear.)

[ken grant]

Tuner,you are much richer than you realize in the things that really matter in life.
#2--a working knowledge of many things
#3-- a way of explaining these things so as anyone can understand
#4-- a way of meeting strangers and making them feel at home
#5--skill with arms

#1-- a very pretty wife who also has a lot in common with you(shooting,guns,dogs and also # 4 above)

Everyone should be so rich!

[Dave Sample]

A man I liked a lot told me when I was 16 years old that if I got one good dawg, one good woman, and one good friend, that I would have all there is to life. I have had that in spades and think my pal Tuner is a very lucky man to have all of the things he has in his world. If I ever decide to let a woman ruin me again, she will be about 32 years of age. I am just 20 years ahead of Tuner, and 39 years ahead of her. What a pair to draw to! Let me count the goils......................................................................better not.

[1911Tuner]

Ahhhhhh, Cap'n! Purty wimmin and fast cars have made a fool outta me all my life...but I swear, I'd prob'ly do it all over again. Whatta ride! :D

[Dave Sample]

I was racing in NASCAR when I was 17, Tuner. Then I burnt one up and quit. I still have the burn scars under my chin. All the guys I ran with are dead. Like you, I would just do it again like I did the first go around. Better to be a has been than a never was! Too bad I don't have world and enough time to tell you some stories. You would be ROTF:LYAO!