Tryin to learn some stuff

[Jimmy Dean]

OK, I was reading some of the 1911 threads,

what are the extrenal vs non-external extractors?

pin blocks?

extended slide release?

Are there any performance concerns with these items?

 

[cdrt]

The original John Browning design for the 1911 uses an internal extractor that is fitted into a hole in the slide and is held in place by the firing pin stop. When Smith and Wesson came out with their 1911, they used an external extractor similar to what you would see on a .22 like the High Standard line.

Bottom line; they both work, but it's probably easier to work on the original design if you're having an extraction problem than the S&W design.

Firing pin blocks came out in the Series 80 Colt pistol in response to some safety concerns (you know, lawyers). Big complaint is, it's harder to do a trigger job on a Series 80 versus earlier pistols without the firing pin block.

Extended slide releases were an add-on for various combat courses, etc. Never used one, so someone else will have to answer the rest of that question.

 

[Babalouie]

The extractor is the part that grabs or hooks the rim of the case and pulls, or extracts, the spent case out of the barrel. On the top pic you can see the bar of metal that runs to the ejection port. That bar has a hook on the end of it that rest in the rim of the case. In the bottom pic the extractor is inserted into the slide and you cannot see it from the outside. I think the proponents of external extractors say they are stronger and less prone to breakage...I'm not sure about this and someone else can comment. 1911 purest prefer the internal extractor which is the original John Browning design. My next 1911 will be the S&W...not because of the extractor but because I am quite smitten with their lightweight commander style weapon. In other words, both extractors work.

This has an external extractor:


This has an internal extractor: