[killermarmot]

I was looking into buying my first 1911 and eventually adding fun stuff like new barrel, slide, so on and so forth (I like to tinker and I've heard 1911s are the pistol to get if you like to tinker) My major question is are all the components meant to fit all 1911s? Are you pretty safe buying a springfield, kimber, colt, etc. and assume it will accept wilson combat, les baer, barstow, etc. components? Or is there some way to tell. I would be a little disapointed if I ordered a 200 barrel and it didn't work. Is there maybe a book I can get that covers all of this stuff. The search function yielded a few too many returns. Can someone enlighten me or point me in the right direction. :D

[Shmackey]

I'll bite since nobody else did.

In this age of a dozen 1911 manufacturers making fairly tight pistols, you'll find that all 1911 parts are modular, and almost none are drop-in.

What does that mean? It means that yes, you can install a Wilson safety in a Brown 1911, but you'll need to fit it properly. In fact, you'll want to fit a Wilson safety properly when installing it in a Wilson 1911.

Slide stops and mainspring housings are often drop-in parts, as are springs, recoil spring guides, and grips. Most other parts require a bend here or a polish there, if not more--at least if you want to do it right.

[Shmackey]

Oh yeah--check out 1911forum.com for all you'd ever want to know about the subject. Head over to the gunsmithing section (http://www.1911forum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=18).

[BluesBear]

We have a quite competent gunsmithing forum right here too!

[Sean Smith]

What does that mean? It means that yes, you can install a Wilson safety in a Brown 1911, but you'll need to fit it properly. In fact, you'll want to fit a Wilson safety properly when installing it in a Wilson 1911.

Slide stops and mainspring housings are often drop-in parts, as are springs, recoil spring guides, and grips. Most other parts require a bend here or a polish there, if not more--at least if you want to do it right.

That about says it all. Parts advertised as "drop in" either don't drop in, or are a poor, sloppy fit. Other parts will always require some fitting to install properly. Tolerances just vary too much between manufacturers. So the parts are compatable, but only with an effort.

And if you are serious about doing it all yourself, you will probably want Kuhnhausen's 1911 shop manual.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=13805&title=Jerry+Kuhnhausen+SHOP+MANUALS