1911 guide rod problems...beveling for the barrel link?

[Trakker]

I have a full length rod in my sti and i lost the plug...bugger flew fly a mother...
So i bought a new Ed Brown full length rod and it doesn't fit.
The "button" on the end is too large, but the plug fits my old rod.

I also notice the STI rod is beveled for clearance of the barrel link. Is this beveling necessary? I was about to run the lathe on the rod to bring the button diameter down...

I then took apart the Kimber, and it doesn't have a full length rod. But it is beveled.
For the Colt Series 70, it is not beveled.

 

[Old Fuff]

The botton is normally beveled on recoil spring guides that are intended to be used in frames identical or similar to Colt's Commander series. The bevel isn't necessary on true 1911/Government Models. But today's clone makers all do they're own thing without respect to what the original Colts did, so each may be different. I would say if the original guide was beveled then a replacement should be the same. If you still aren't sure I suggest you contact the pistol's manufacturer.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Gosh Fuff, You showed considerable restraint when discussing the FLGR in a 1911.

-Steve

 

[Old Fuff]

Well this is supposed to be The High Road....

If I said what I was thinking I'd get crosswise with Art's Grandma...

Just happens I have a friend sitting here with a pistol with a FLGR. Since Art's Grandma isn't around he's getting an earfull.

 

[saltydog452]

I have two 5" A1s with hard fit barrels and std guide rods.

Both have the bevel.

My 60s era Jim Clark ball gun does not have the bevel.

What does the bevel do?...more reliable?...accurate?

Thanks,

salty

 

[Old Fuff]

On a Colt Commander frame (or any true copy of it) the recoil spring tunnel is cut further back, and the rails shortened at the front. This allows the recoil spring guide to set further back and allow more room for the recoil spring (or springs as the case may be). Since the recoil spring guide is further back the bottom lug on the barrel is squared at the front and the button on the back of the for the guide is sometimes tapered to give the link more room to swing. All of this does not increase accuracy but is necessary for reliable functioning. The modifications shouldn’t be necessary on a Government Model / 1911A1 / 1911 full sized frame.

But these days more companies make copies and clones of the original pistol then you can shake a stick at, and most of them pay absolutely no attentions to USGI blueprints or anything else. The resulting products may look the same but seldom are. I would not be surprised to learn that some are using beveled recoil spring guides in all of they’re guns on the principal that one size can be made to fit all. There is no reason this shouldn’t be done, but it is also true that the bevel serves no useful purpose in the larger pistol.

 

[saltydog452]

Got it. Thanks.

salty