1965 Colt/Clark Long Slide

[tom unler]

Greetings all. I just sat down to inspect my latest find. Basic research indicates it's from a small production run in the 1960's. Frame produced by Colt and customized by Jim Clark Senior. The gun basically looks new. Trigger pull is delightful.

I intend to load a box of Berrys 148gr Wadcutters with 2.8 grains of Bullseye to start. It's a pet load for my K-38, works well in the Pythons too. (My Range requires all rounds to be plated/jacketed).

Does anyone here have experience with a Clark Long Slide? I'm hoping to get better accuracy than a Gold Cup.

 

[stu1ritter]

Amoungst the finest of the bullseye guns built in the 60's. Jim Sr. was a fine pistolsmith. We used a lot of them on Army teams.

Stu

 

[243winxb]

Seen a new 45 acp. Jam a matic. The guys loads were to light to work the slide.

On clearing a jam, he had an accidental discharge, indoor range. The bullet impacted into cement near the side wall window, 20 feet away.

 

[stoky]

Better accuracy than a Gold Cup is a tall order.
It's very nice though.
congrats!

 

[tom unler]

I will have a better idea after visiting the Range next week. Photos to follow that adventure.

 

[Monac]

Thanks for putting that up, tom unler. I didn't know that customizing 1911's that way went back as far as 1965 - I was still in grade school then! I like the stippling on the grip, and the rear sight looks unusual.

 

[Gordon]

Greetings all. I just sat down to inspect my latest find. Basic research indicates it's from a small production run in the 1960's. Frame produced by Colt and customized by Jim Clark Senior. The gun basically looks new. Trigger pull is delightful.

I intend to load a box of Berrys 148gr Wadcutters with 2.8 grains of Bullseye to start. It's a pet load for my K-38, works well in the Pythons too. (My Range requires all rounds to be plated/jacketed).

Does anyone here have experience with a Clark Long Slide? I'm hoping to get better accuracy than a Gold Cup.

So that one is converted to .38 spl wadcutter ?

 

[tom unler]

My understanding, it was designed to be .38 Spl. No barrels existed, so Jim Clark chambered them out of .38 Super barrels. Mine is marked .38 Super, has an extremely light recoil spring.

The Rear sight is a Bo-Mar, the frame is milled perfectly to accept it.

 

[bannockburn]

tom unler

Wouldn't have a whole lot of use for it chambered for .38 Special but would love it dearly if it was a .38 Super! Eagerly awaiting your range report.

 

[243winxb]

Mine is marked .38 Super,

Whats it chambered for? Looks like a super is a lot shorter then a special.

 

[Rock185]

Tom, Having owned several Gold Cups, manufactured between the mid -'70s and about 2012, I would not be at all surprised if you find the Clark Long Slide 38 Spcl. wadcutter gun to be more accurate. I had one Gold Cup that was as accurate and reliable as many shooters may assume all Gold Cups are. But hey, one really good Gold Cup out of 9, isn't bad My old 1964 Govt. Model, in 45 ACP, accurized by Jim Clark Sr. in '66, is more accurate than any of my Gold Cups were. Except the one "really good" Gold Cup I mentioned, purchased new in 1976.

 

[tom unler]

This 1911 has a .38 Super barrel re chambered to .38 Spl. I am attempting to disassemble to inspect, clean and lubricate. The Barrel bushing it TIGHT in the frame. I need to tap it out with a wooden punch. By appearances, I don't think the gun was ever fired, it's been a safe queen for 52 years.

At any rate I have 100 rounds of 148gr Wadcutter over 2.8 grains of Bullseye. This will give me an opportunity to explore the potential. Fingers crossed I catch a few hours next weekend for a shoot.

 

[TRX]

Is that a seven inch barrel? It looks longer than my 6" longslide.

I'm not sure if Clark was the originator of the long slide conversions, but at the very least he was one of the first to offer it as a catalog item.

 

[tom unler]

Pretty sure it's a 6" long slide. I've had zero playtime to thoroughly examine the gun. Picked it up and took a few photos, that's about it. Trigger pull makes me think dry oil, so a good strip and clean is first order of business.

The Barrel bushing is incredibly tight, I have to explore options to disassemble without damage.

I'm hoping to get accuracy equal to my Hi Standard "Space Gun" once I get things figured out.

 

[GooseGestapo]

If it shoots like any of the "siblings" I've shot, you'll understand why Jim made a good living building them.
IMO, shooting like a GoldCup, is a very LOW bar for the JCC.
The ones I've shot, the question wasn't how accurate was the gun, but how good is the ammo. Mostly meaning the bullet.
I shot one that would ransom-rest 10 shots in a ragged hole at 50yds.
BTW, Jimmy cut and machined his barrels from Douglas XX match blanks.

I met him and talked to him on several occasions, but at the time couldn't afford one.
The sight is an early Bomar, iircc. Also looks a bit like an Aristocrat.

 

[tipoc]

Greetings all. I just sat down to inspect my latest find. Basic research indicates it's from a small production run in the 1960's. Frame produced by Colt and customized by Jim Clark Senior. The gun basically looks new. Trigger pull is delightful.

I intend to load a box of Berrys 148gr Wadcutters with 2.8 grains of Bullseye to start. It's a pet load for my K-38, works well in the Pythons too. (My Range requires all rounds to be plated/jacketed).

Does anyone here have experience with a Clark Long Slide? I'm hoping to get better accuracy than a Gold Cup.

When you say..." Basic research indicates it's from a small production run in the 1960's." I assume you mean, from what you say. That this is a custom gun from Jim Clark and that he made a number like this. You mention that the gun began life as a Colt 38 Super. From what you say it was then sent to Jim Clark in La. for conversion to a long slide 38 wadcutter. If you haven't already you can call Clark Custom and get info from them on the gun directly. Clark Sr. kept good records on his work and often they can still call up those records and tell you what's what.

Does it read 38 wadcutter on the gun or the mags?

tipoc

 

[tipoc]

Thanks for putting that up, tom unler. I didn't know that customizing 1911's that way went back as far as 1965 - I was still in grade school then! I like the stippling on the grip, and the rear sight looks unusual.

Goes back to the 1920s on 1911s. Before that on wheelguns.

tipoc

 

[tipoc]

On removing the bushing:
Assuming you clear the chamber and remove the magazine first,
Retract the slide about an inch. Now place the bushing wrench on the bushing and slowly turn it. You should not have to bang on it with a mallet, if anything gentle taps. Work it back and forth a bit as it may be frozen.

Alternately, retract the slide till you can remove the slide stop. Now just remove the slide as a single unit. Keep your hand over the bottom of the slide so the recoil spring does not fly out. Once removed it will be easier to remove the bushing. Remember to retract the slide so it will be easier to turn the bushing.

 

[tom unler]

When you say..." Basic research indicates it's from a small production run in the 1960's." I assume you mean, from what you say. That this is a custom gun from Jim Clark and that he made a number like this. You mention that the gun began life as a Colt 38 Super. From what you say it was then sent to Jim Clark in La. for conversion to a long slide 38 wadcutter. If you haven't already you can call Clark Custom and get info from them on the gun directly. Clark Sr. kept good records on his work and often they can still call up those records and tell you what's what.

Does it read 38 wadcutter on the gun or the mags?

tipoc

Barrel is marked Colt .38 Super. Barrel is chambered .38 Spl, magazines are marked .38 Spl. Barrel chambers a .38 Spl Wadcutter perfectly.

 

[koz4guns]

When you disassemble try not to turn the bushing when the gun is in battery, that's when it's the tightest.
Once you have the slide off and recoil spring out you can tap the bushing out with the barrel like a small slide hammer.

Kurt

 

[tom unler]

Bushing turns with some effort, spring is removed. I will dis-assemble tonight if time prevails. I have 8 other 1911's and none of them come close to the tight fit of this gun!

 

[Jim Watson]

Do as tipoc says, do not wrench around a fitted bushing (or the deadly Colt collet bushing) with the gun in battery. Get the slide back enough to move the bushing away from the enlarged muzzle and the lockup angle.

Unusual marking. I strongly doubt Colt ever made a 6" .38 Super barrel. Maybe he monobloc-ed it.

The rear sight looks like it has the barrel positioner that let the shop adjust locking engagement and firing pin centering.

 

[stu1ritter]

As I remember the Clarks that I have worked on in the early 60's, the bushings were very, very tight. We had a bunch of them on the 1st Cav and the 2nd Army teams.

Stu

 

[tom unler]

I dis-assembled the gun tonight, the bushing was incredibly tight in the slide, but had pristine surfaces.

I gave a thorough cleaning and fresh lubricant. The slide operates buttery smooth and it locks up like a bank vault. There are Clark stamps inside the slide, matching the H-Serial # of the frame and noting Shreveport. Barrel is etched with a matching Serial as well.

Mr Clark was an extremely talented Smith.

The Barrel is obviously machined and fitted into a Colt 38 Super chamber section. Rifling is sharp and the bore is perfect. Chamber is reamed smoothly and accepts a .38 Spl Wadcutter. I studied the Magazines and they show no wear aside from my test fitting. I found no trace of powder smudge anywhere, so I'm thinking the previous owner was incredibly talented at cleaning, or this gun has a VERY LOW round count.

Range date is set for the 30th. I'm soooo tempted to play hookey and go tomorrow. I'm thinking my Gold Cups will be eclipsed. The Pythons may get a little less exercise too.

 

[stu1ritter]

Probably eclipse any handgun you own.

Stu