interesting 1911 dillema..

[Lars1911]

lil bit back i did some trading with a bud and ended up with a 1911 that has a breechface cut wider than average,problem is she wont hold a round in the extractor tension test.i did modify one spare extractor by hump so she can shuck shells reliably but still i am wondering who does welding/machine services on slides so it can one side get built up lightly and remachined to spec.as it is with my calipers i mike the breech face width to a dead even .500 instead of .480-.485 that i have measured on other slides.due to the fact its a 7" slide by a maker long gone now i am really trying to save it.any help appreciated.tyia

 

[1911Tuner]

Dilemma

Howdy Lars, and welcome aboard.

I just addressed a similar problem with an older Officer's Model with the same fix that you used. You may find that the extractor will need more bow at some point. If it does, I suggest reducing the right side of the center pad
to allow the heavy bend needed to let the extractor spring open. This is a modification that I normally do on extractors anyway, and it solved the
problem neatly in this pistol.

If you need to do the mod...bring the pad down enough so that the total
dimension measured across both pads is .180-.185 inch...and removing the outboard pad completely is fine. Be sure to follow the radius on the pad.
It doesn't have to be polished, and actually works better in preventing extractor clocking if it's left slightly rough.

Many smiths will routinely open the width to as much as .490 or more anyway. Welding up the breechface and re-machining to reduce the face with .010-.012 inch is going to be expensive and unnecessary as long as your repair enables reliable function.


You're on the right track. Kudos!

Tuner

 

[Lars1911]

thank you kindly tuner,i kinda expected that was what i was goin ta hear,she's fine now but it still bugs me a bit.