1911 Slide Catch Problem

[mljdeckard]

And I'm not meaning to hate. I have messed up plenty of guns. And guitars. And cars. And photographs. And relationships. And recordings.....anyhoo,

Just because it has stuff that needs to be redone doesn't mean it can't be fixed. Just be willing to work it it one issue at a time. It might not be overall cost-effective, but, you are in a forum with guys who have picked up a shell casing at a range and built a rifle for it because they wanted to know how it shoots. Learn from it and enjoy it.

 

[Riomouse911]

It was advertised a being a custom gun from a gunsmith, but it is looking more like a kitchen table job the more I look at it. Luckily I did not pay too much for it. Parts of the gun are very nice, others look like they installed some parts (like the safety) without actually custom fitting them.

I work 7:30a-9p all week this week, so I haven't had an opportunity to take it apart and check it out yet. But I am expecting what many here have posted, that they installed a shok buff on the gun (it seems to have several Wilson Combat parts) and that the slide is not going all the way back.

Also, thanks to everyone for the reminder to not slingshot the slide on an empty chamber. I do always make sure to slowly guide the slide forward with my off hand when I release it.

I was working the safety this morning, trying to figure out why it was so tight, and it fell out. Sigh. I think the spring in the plunger tube shot across the car.

The upside is that my Dad and I had been looking to try our hands at a putting a 1911 together from parts and this will be a great project gun to start learning on as we fix the issues it has. He and my Mother are down here in Houston this week staying with me while he gets the spot on his lung checked out at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Looks like he may be back and forth from Fort Worth to Houston for a few weeks as he gets radiation treatments. So this gun will be a good project to take his mind off that. He has already cleaned about 100 of my rifles and put together a dozen ARs from parts in my gun room in the week he has been here.

Thanks for all y'alls advice and help.

Prayers that all goes well for your father.

Stay safe.

 

[tark]

Ok, that's just weird.

It sure is.

The angled cut in the slide, and the leading angled edge of the slide stop, ought to kick the thing down when the slide is pulled back.

Exactly right. And that is the only thing that lowers that slide stop other than a finger. The back edge of the Slide stop ( SS ) has a notch in it, which is engaged by the plunger in the P tube. This holds the SS in the "down" position so it won't pop up during firing. The magazine follower has enough tension from the mag spring to push the SS upward when the gun is empty. Without the plunger there is nothing to hold the SS in the down position. Pull the top end off of your pistol and notice that the SS will stay in whatever position you put it in. If it is "UP" the only thing that will lower it are the surfaces CapnMac described...or your thumb.

 

[tark]

I will add, regarding that notch in the rear of the slide stop, that it isn't always there! Sometimes a batch of S stops would come in with the notch missing. It is easily added with a dremel and a small cutoff wheel.

 

[CapnMac]

I will add, regarding that notch in the rear of the slide stop,

Viz:

Image from the Ed Brown web page.

 

[Bwana John]

I’m gonna guess shok-buffer.

 

[tark]

Viz:
View attachment 1098976
Image from the Ed Brown web page.

Well, there you go!!

 

[CapnMac]

I just picked up a used custom 1911 today.

We might need photos of the frame to better diagnose this. Along with the recoil spring and guide.

 

[citizenconn]

We might need photos of the frame to better diagnose this. Along with the recoil spring and guide.

Unfortunately I've put it on hold for now. My Dad likes to help on working on any guns, but he is down visiting me right now to get a biopsy at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, with radiation treatments soon to follow. I am holding off doing anything to the gun until he feels better and can help with it. I will give updates when I can. From my closer inspection I think the original slide catch problem is a missing detent.

 

[halfmoonclip]

The issue is almost certainly in the plunger tube; either there is no spring, no plungers, or both.
The slide stop's rear face is the camming surface that keeps the stop pushed down, until the magazine follower pushes it up.
Moon

 

[tark]

Unfortunately I've put it on hold for now.

Prayers for your Dad.