Dug relic 1911 restoration (Pics and Video)

Awesome! Thanks

When you get it working, you could probably make some serious cash off of it with the right marketing spiel. Since you brought it back from the grave, it's a ZOMBIE GUN!

That is awesome progress, I'm so excited to see a project like this! I definitely want to do my own rusty-1911 project, I just have to find one now

I'm a little worried for you on the plunger tube... Have you pulled the plungers/spring out? If so, a fine punch might work those out, I can't imagine there is enough mass left on them to not just fall out with a little tap.

I would suspect you could find someone with a good mill (or even a drill press if you're brave), and carefully re-drill the tube. A good vice and trial/error could make it pretty easy.

The 1911 blueprints are here: http://www.m1911.org/technic.htm

So, edited to add: I found the page on the first link (full blueprints) of the plunger tube. See page 45 of 56.
Don't take this as gospel, but it looks like the smaller takedown side is .091 diameter +.004, the other side is .109 diameter +.003. (The + is tolerance I suspect?!).

.091 is about 1/2 way between a #43 and a #42 drill bit, with the #42 being inside the tolerance, but fairly large (#42 is .0935).
.109 is almost perfectly a 7/64" drill bit (7/64" is actually .109375)!

when the thumb safety is installed it will put tension on the detent spring and will Help keep that slide stop from falling out.

when the thumb safety is installed it will put tension on the detent spring and will Help keep that slide stop from falling out.

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I think from some of the comments he's made, that the problem is that the Detents are frozen (or their ends are eaten away by time or electrolysis) and are not providing any level of tension regardless.

Been lurking here for a long time. Just wanted to say that I've loved seeing this piece's resurrection from rusty paper weight to now a nearly functional firearm. Cant wait to see her go bang!

love to watch this moving along...thanks for sharing...

Bill

love to watch this moving along...thanks for sharing...

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+1, I can't help but check on this thread everyday to see the progress. Very, very cool.

That's some pretty good gunsmithing

I check this thread everyday!

Awesome Ajax, hopefully the firing pin finally gives way soon. It sounds like the electrolysis bath is a good call on seeing if you can free up the extractor now that the gunk is more exposed. Good luck!

Amazing progress. You sir, are a miracle worker. Great thread, keep up the good work!

man... the work internet wont let me see video I wanna see how it turns out.

The way the magazine is deformed in the first pictures makes me think it may have been in a fire. That wouldn't keep me from cleaning it up, but I wouldn't shoot it.

But there are braver souls than me out there.

The way the magazine is deformed in the first pictures makes me think it may have been in a fire.

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That might explain why it was found cocked and locked but had an empty casing in the chamber.

That might explain why it was found cocked and locked but had an empty casing in the chamber.

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That does make sense. I wonder how the metal could be tested to find out?

FINALLY we have found the mythical 1911 which was stored 'locked and cocked' for a long period of time which did NOT go 'bang' right away

As much as I would like to, I just can't play videos.
I live two miles from town and we have been pretty much forsaken when it comes to high speed internet.

Do you think you can post a up a pic of your current progress?

Thanks

Again, I'm not a gunsmith or anything, but if you still can't get that firing pin out after tapping it from the front, you could probably drill a small hole in the rear part of it, get a screw started a couple threads in, and pull it out by pulling on the screw.