Why can I see light through some of my 1911s?

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The Real Hawkeye

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I'm talking about where the frame and slide meet. Some of them I can see quite a bit of space there, and some have little or no space there. The ones with lots of space are perfectly reliable and accurate, but it just looks funny. For example, my Colt WWII has quite a bit of a gap there towards the muzzle end. Does this matter?
 
I don't have a 1911, so this comment may or may not be helpful. But I can see right through my Glock 21 between the slide and frame.

If the frame doesn't wobble too much, my guess is it's no problem. But someone else here can probably give you a more definitive answer.
 
Can you post a pic?

Hawkeye:

Can you post a pic? I've had about 15, 1911s and can't picture what you mean (12 Kimbers and 3 Colts).

Doc2005
 
Are you looking from the side and seeing a gap between the dust cover and slide, or from the back and seeing a gap around the rails and ejector?

A clearence between the bottom of the slide and top of the frame's dustcover would be normal. Light around the frame and slide rails or ejector wouldn't be.
 
A slight gap between the dust cover and slide is the nature of the beast, and it HAS to be there.
 
The gap between the dust cover and the slide is so the two don't drag on each other causing a noticable wear mark on the slide.:)
 
Hmm. maybe the precision fit between the slide and frame on some pistols negates the need for this gap..?
 
Probably irrelevant here, but the same gap is present on every polymer frame pistol I own. Haven't joined the world of 1911 owners yet, but it's coming soon in the form of a S&W 1911.
 
There is a clearance there or it wouldn't function. Where the gap is and how big it is has a lot to do with what frame and slide are used, how they are fitted, and so on. On some guns the clearance is very very small, on others it is a lot more noticeable.
 
I noticed that about a few different guns that were used during wwII My understanding is the space is bigger so if any dirt gets in between the slide and the frame its going to be less likely to pose a problem
 
Please post a pic

I still can't picture this in my mind. Of the about 15, 1911s that I have owned, I have never seen any light from the side. From the rear, yes.

I'm baffled. Can someone post a picture?

Doc2005
 
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