DammitBoy
Member
I started this thread last year: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7737208#post7737208
Since it's so old, I can't resurrect it, but I have resurrected my project gun!
I got the Matchmaster back from the gunsmith yesterday. Good news and bad news.
The good news: all the scratches and dents are gone! The new finish looks awesome, and the bushing compensator matches the gun perfectly. The new barrel is in, the new sights are installed and the trigger job is silky smooth. It's like a whole new gun and it shoots very well. It fed all 16 rounds I ran through it - various hollowpoints and roundball from various brands ran through it like crap through a goose. Not a single failure to feed or any other problem. The Chip McCormick 8 round magazines functioned perfectly.
The bad news: the gunsmith says he could not install my new grips, my smith and alexander arched main spring housing, or the stainless magwell I bought for this project. They are standard 1911 parts and this is supposed to be a standard 1911 frame. My gunsmith says otherwise. He claims that this safari arms frame is out of spec to the point these parts will not work. I wish he had informed me of that over the last 9 months he's had my firearm in his shop.
I'm working on the grips, which almost fit. Almost. Seems like the gripmaker was a tad off on his hole spacing, but they should fit with some minor filing - which makes me question why this gunsmith couldn't do such a simple task? Especially over 9 months time.
Part of the problem was we tried to go through Olympic Arms and I tried to buy their complete parts kit as advertised. After waiting over three months, we finally gave up on that idea and luckily I got my money back. I will never try to deal with that company again. Horrible customer service!
I'm considering taking it to another gunsmith, who comes highly recommended from my buddies at the shooting range - the guys who warned me about the guy I used (after he already had the pistol). Maybe he can work some magic on the remaining parts I want installed? I sure hope so...
Since it's so old, I can't resurrect it, but I have resurrected my project gun!
I got the Matchmaster back from the gunsmith yesterday. Good news and bad news.
The good news: all the scratches and dents are gone! The new finish looks awesome, and the bushing compensator matches the gun perfectly. The new barrel is in, the new sights are installed and the trigger job is silky smooth. It's like a whole new gun and it shoots very well. It fed all 16 rounds I ran through it - various hollowpoints and roundball from various brands ran through it like crap through a goose. Not a single failure to feed or any other problem. The Chip McCormick 8 round magazines functioned perfectly.
The bad news: the gunsmith says he could not install my new grips, my smith and alexander arched main spring housing, or the stainless magwell I bought for this project. They are standard 1911 parts and this is supposed to be a standard 1911 frame. My gunsmith says otherwise. He claims that this safari arms frame is out of spec to the point these parts will not work. I wish he had informed me of that over the last 9 months he's had my firearm in his shop.
I'm working on the grips, which almost fit. Almost. Seems like the gripmaker was a tad off on his hole spacing, but they should fit with some minor filing - which makes me question why this gunsmith couldn't do such a simple task? Especially over 9 months time.
Part of the problem was we tried to go through Olympic Arms and I tried to buy their complete parts kit as advertised. After waiting over three months, we finally gave up on that idea and luckily I got my money back. I will never try to deal with that company again. Horrible customer service!
I'm considering taking it to another gunsmith, who comes highly recommended from my buddies at the shooting range - the guys who warned me about the guy I used (after he already had the pistol). Maybe he can work some magic on the remaining parts I want installed? I sure hope so...