Changing a slide with barrel and bushing from one 1911 to another

[jed]

I have a Caspian slide with barrel and bushing matched for a Caspian frame.

I would like to consider transferring this upper to a Colt
frame.

When putting the upper on the Colt frame, I noticed that the slide assembly was abou a quarter of an inch forward.

It is my understanding from reading on the forums that a 1911 needs bushing and barrel fitted to the slide and then
the upper needs to be fitted to the lower.

My question is What is involved in fitting the slide to the frame??

The reason I am asking is that I would not do this myself, but would talk to a gunsmith about doing this work.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jim

 

[Dave Sample]

The reason that the slide is forward is because the lower barrel lugs have been cut for a Colt. Fitting Colt slides to Caspian lower ends is very tricky and has to be done with care. A drop in barrel in a Caspian/Caspian leaves the slight overhang at the rear of the slide to frame fit and the slide is back a little bit and has to be blended in to make it look right. I really never understand why folks want to do these things but I am sure you have a reason. Caspians are not made to Colt Specs and really never have been. They are close, and I have done a few Colt/Caspians, but it is something I do not advise. When fitting "Gunsmith Fit" Kart barrels the lower lug fit has always been marginal at best. I understand that there are other "Drop in" barrels that work OK with this combination but I do not have any experience with anything other than Kart. I would never put a Colt Frame under any aftermarket slide because they are so rare and Colt has never sold them except as a complete gun.



This is a Colt/Caspian



The back of the slide lines up nice.



Colt Hardslide Upper/Caspian Lower

 

[jed]

Thanks Dave.

You have given me good reason to not proceed!!

I appreciate the information immensely.

Jim

 

[Jim K]

Specs? Gauges? Jigs and fixtures? Those are foreign terms to a lot of makers of so-called "1911" pistols.

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

Jim:

None of that is necessary unless you have inspectors ...

 

[1911Tuner]

Specs

Quote:


Caspians are not made to Colt Specs and really never have been.



Now I'm all flustered...If installing a Colt top-end on a Caspian frame causes the
slide to sit forward on the frame...It means that the slidestop pin hole is located farther forward than spec. If the slidestop pin hole is located farther forward
than spec, all the other holes are farther forward than spec. If the hammer(and sear) pin holes are farther forward than spec, then the...awhellnevermind...
Too early for a headache. I need more coffee!

 

[jed]

Tuner,

The top end of a Colt fit perfectly on top of the Caspian frame I have. However, I did not attempt to test fire it.
There was what appeared to be a perfect fit for the slide.

To my amazement, I put the Caspian with Briley bbl and
spherical bushing on the Colt lower and the slide was forward about a quarter of an inch. This of course messed up the feed situation by making a large gap. At that point, I knew that this was not the solution to my situation.

Nevertheless, Dave explained the situation in such a way for me to let well enough alone.

I thank all of you who responded. Sometimes I just want something that is not reasonable to do!!

Jim

 

[Dave Sample]

Sorry to confuse Tuner but I have built and supervised the building of hundreds of Caspian Arms Custom 1911's. You can use these parts for replacing parts on factory guns but you will have to be ready to have mixed reviews. I have a Caspian/Colt on the bench as we speak, and am not concerned about the barrel fit at all because I can make it work. In the first place, Colt Slides are available from many sources and it would be wise to put a Colt Top End on a Colt Lower End. I purchased a beautiful Colt 70 Series Competition Colt slide for about $105.00 delivered to my doorstep. It may go on one of two Caspian lower ends that I have here. I have an old 1990 Caspian Lower end in new condition with the big, broad frontstrap that would be a neat checkered in 25 LPI with a 25LPI Ed Brown Mainspring Housing that I have three of around here someplace. Or I may just use it for the top end of PATRIOT 17 which is here because we taught a really neat guy in La La Land how to build a gun and he had to supply his own lower end. I will decide what to do down the line when I have more time to play in the shop. I also have the LWGI 5" that has a Colt (Maybe) slide on it with a ramped Storm Lake barrel installed that had to be fitted the Old Fashioned way with the Lug Cutter, etc. I just cut the lower lugs until it lined up pretty good with the old hard chromed slide from a comp gun I built about 16 years ago. You have seen it here because it has the old time thumb safety and the old time grip safety, and the old time ejector installed in the LW frame. I am going to dedicate this one to the O.F. because it will be of that vintage when done, kinda. I have always wanted a good five inch Government model that would be easy to carry and shoot a little. I may even pack it today to honor Veterns Day, of which I am one. I never have to test fire the guns I build because they have to run from the git go. They have no choice if you know how to build them.



The O.F. Special

 

[Old Fuff]

Gee. I hardly know what to say ...

But don't worry, I'll think of something ...

 

[Dave Sample]

I am counting on you and I know you can do it. Bless you, my son.

 

[Old Fuff]

Ah ... Dave...

Ya need to retouch that photo of the front sight. It looks like ya left a big blob of something around the dovetail. Ah' know ya don't believe in welding. so it must be some kind of epoxy glue I supose ...

 

[Dave Sample]

Sharp Eyes. O.F. I didn't need to retouch the photo, although I could have. I filled that sight hole with silver soder before I had it plated and it did show a tiny bit after the hard chrome was applied. I did that B.C. (Before Chuck). I am not a phony so I did not mind you spotting that at all. That is the way it looks. No compiments on the great picture taking? We sweated that out when we did the dovetail! It is good enough for jazz!