Colt 1991 aftermarket part fitment questions

[bushey83]

Just got a blued Colt 1991 5 inch government model. I am looking to replace/upgrade the following, and looking to see what other's who have Colt's have found to be the best fitment out of the box if possible for the following:

- SS match grade or ultra light Trigger
- Blued high rise beavertail grip safety
- Blued thumb safety
- SS newer rounded style/enhanced hammer
- SS barrel bushing

I know that companies like Wilson, Nighthawk, STI, Cylinder & Slide, etc... are all great companies, but which models of the above I should go for that won't take much fitting/alterations if possible. Any idea's, recommendations, suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[belus]

- Blued high rise beavertail grip safety

...won't take much fitting/alterations if possible.

This isn't really possible

Compare:

The reason it's called a high-rise safety is because material is removed from the frame to allow your hand to sit higher.

 

[Frank Ettin]

A thumb safety will always need to be fitted. Triggers IME always require some fitting as well. In general, one can never assume that any 1911 party will just drop in. Some fitting may or may not be required, and there's no way to predict when or how much fitting will be required.

You're best off buying the parts you really want and then attending to any required fitting (or find a qualified gunsmith to do it for you).

 

[earplug]

Don't count on it

I bought a used Springfield 1911 that had a Cylinder and Slide hammer and sear kit.
They did not work well due to internal burrs. The replacement trigger needed internal polishing to reduce drag.
The hammer and sear pins needed to be replaced due to wear or out of spec parts.
I used a Ed Brown pin and spring kit to replace the parts.
I have worked on Colts in the past and I suspect they will have they same problems with after market parts.

 

[paul45]

Everything you want to change out will require someone with experience to
fit those parts.

 

[rklessdriver]

There are parts that can be "dropped in" BUT - I would highly suggest you follow the advice given from the above members.

You have a fine base, from which any top tier smith will build a beautiful custom gun if you want it. Do not ruin it by hanging half azz fitting parts on it. Do not put yourself and everyone else in danger by changing fire control parts unless you 100% understand how they work and how they have to be fitted.

Please observe the "fit" of these so called "drop in parts".

Any beavertail that is going to look and work right is going to have to have the frame modified and the gun re-blued.

Call COLT customer support. Ask for the Custom Shop price list. The price for all the work you have outlined is only a couple of hundred dollars. Right in line with what most mediocer gun smiths charge. Less than a top tier 1911 smith will charge. Believe me it's well worth the money to do it right on a COLT.
Will

 

[bushey83]

Thanks a lot for all your advice everyone! I have a Smith and Wesson SW1911PD, and it came with all the above mentioned on it form the factory. Now that I have this new gun and want to do some upgrades, I have read and heard all this jargon on "drop in" and "no gun smithing required" and due to still being new at this, didn't want to waste my money on trial and error crap, when I could have purchased the the right stuff the first time. Either way I was planning on taking the parts and gun into a gun smith to have the work done, I was told that the more smithing that has to be done, toe the parts and frame, the more it will cost. I figured I could save a few bucks by buying parts that already "fit in" to the gun, but I would MUCH rather spend the extra money and have it done right.

Anyone have any recomendations on which brands of the above parts are best to use based on your personal experiences?

Thanks again!

 

[rbernie]

Any gunsmith that does this sort of thing often enough for me to want to use their services will have their brand preferences. My gunsmith certainly has his preferences, and his are based on how easily he can get the parts and how much work he has to do to get them to fit (with the emphasis being on keeping it easy to get and easy to do).

I'd talk to gunsmiths, and once you've picked one you can let him make recommendations.

 

[gyvel]

If you already have the Smith & Wesson, why not just leave the Colt alone?

 

[bushey83]

I am torn with upgrading, or not upgrading. It has a black plastic trigger on it which I hate, and needs a new main spring, so I figured while it's at the shop for work already torn apart, that I would have the other things taken care of as well. I REALLY like the way the S&W looks, and feels. I carry it everyday on duty, and home from work. I know in any weather condition, any lighting condition, the fit and feel of the safeties, hammer, trigger, etc... and feels second nature to operate it in that setup. So I figure I would try and match the Colt setup close to the Smith in the hopes that it would feel the same in that aspect.