Need help finding a mainspring housing

[Pebcac]

First off, I apologize if this question has been answered before, but I ran a search and didn't get much.

I've got a Springfield WWII Mil-Spec, and I'd like to ditch the ILS. I'm looking for an arched, parkerized mainspring housing with the lanyard loop to retain the look of the pistol. Anybody know where I can get one?

Thanks in advance!

 

[R.H. Lee]

Have ya checked Brownell's?

 

[Pebcac]

I drilled down through the categories and didn't see one, but it's possible I missed it. Most of the arched housings I saw were available blued, stainless, and in the white. I suppose I could get one in the white and have it parked, but I was hoping to find one already finished and just pop it on (with the appropriate mainspring and other parts, of course).

 

[R.H. Lee]

There's another big parts place that sells a lot of military surplus stuff. They've got a HUGE catalog. I'm racking my brain and can't think of the name. Anybody?

Numrich Arms. I checked and no parkerized msh
http://www.e-gunparts.com/search.asp

 

[BEARMAN]

Try www.EBAY.COM then search " gun parts" then just go thru the list you may even find a WWI vintage correct part . You never know. I just did a search of " GUN PARTS MAINSPING HOUSING " AND GOT 6 ITEMS ONE WAS A HOUSING WITH LANYARD LOOP.

 

[Pebcac]

BEARMAN, you have helped me remember how retarded I can be. I hadn't even thought of eBay!

I've marked one of those housings to watch, and just might wind up with it. Thanks a bunch for the suggestion!

 

[cottontoptexan]

Arched Mainspring Housing(Laynard)

Pebcac,
Kahr Arms which now owns Auton Ordnancecan help you. They make the 1991-A1 with the laynard loop, and parkerized. I have one and it is steel. I think that is what you are looking for.

www.auto-ordance.com

 

[Pebcac]

Hmmm.... Steel, parked, loop--$18. Thanks, cottontoptexan.

 

[GaryK]

I just did this.You not only need a mainspring housing but also a mainspring and mainspring cap. I bought mine used from a gunsmith. There are a lot of people around with used 1911 parts. Call your local indoor range they might have one.

 

[Dean Taylor]

In my opinion you are ill advised to discuss removing a ILS system on a public forum even if Tenn. does not require a ILS.

Tuner what do you think?

Dean
[email protected]
410-952-7848

 

[grendelbane]

I don't understand why any one would be ill advised to discuss removing the ILS mechanism. If, for example, the pistol were stored in a safe, then the ILS mechanism is completely unnecessary.

Now it is possible some one could have their pistol stolen, and be found liable for actions committed by the thief that the ILS might have prevented. So I understand the increase in potential liability involved.

Still, it is supposed to be a free country, with free speech. If some one wishes to remove a mechanism which has only recently been added to an almost 100 year old design, then I think that is their choice.

Their might be state laws with which I am unfamiliar that cover this area. If so, please enlighten me. Otherwise, I see nothing wrong with discussion of the preceding kind.

 

[1911Tuner]

Stirrin' the Pot

Dean said/asked:

>Tuner what do you think?<
*********************

Oh...I dunno Dean. Seems like maybe you're tryin' to make a pointless point...or maybe you just feel the need to poke somebody with a stick, but since you also said:

>...you are ill advised to discuss removing a ILS system on a public forum...<


Maybe you could explain why you feel that way. It's not an illegal exercise...
like altering or removing a serial number, or modifying certain components of the fire-control group for the purpose of causing the gun to fire in the full-auto mode...and posting the methods for doing so on a public forum. The only way that it would cause a problem would be if an unauthorized person should gain control of the gun...which he isn't supposed to allow to happen anyway. Aside from that...Removing or altering a safety feature can come back to haunt us at some future date. Be aware of that before proceeding. That it may be a useless or unnecesary feature is a moot point.

So...I'll leave it to you to explain your reasoning for that statement.
_________________________

Pebcac, The older Auto-Ordnance housings...and most of the rest of the guns...were investment castings. Kahr's may be either castings or MIM...but I'd be willin' to bet dollars to dumplins that they're not machined steel barstock. Take heart though...The MSH is a part that lends itself well to investment casting...and the aftermarket housings that are available are
castings too. Brown...Smith & Alexander, etc. All are cast. So is the ILS housing that came on your Springfield.

If the keylock on your original housing doesn't bother you, it will accept the standard parts just fine...and a little manipulation of the hammer will even allow you to lock it with the key, thus avoiding any possible civil hassles
over removing an engineered safety feature of the gun. It also avoids any spec issues that may not let an aftermarket housing work in the gun. Smith & Alexander housings don't seem to want to align the retaining pin hole with the ones in the frame in 3 out of 5 guns.

 

[Pebcac]

I live in Mississippi, where there are no restrictions regarding the ILS or much of anything else, so I'm not too worried about removing it. If there are legal issues down the road (new laws, etc.), I could always put it back in. My interest here is to bring the GI Mil-Spec as close to actual mil-spec as possible. I'm reading the Springfield test threads by 1911Tuner and deciding what I want to do with the gun.

Tuner: Thanks for all the information, both here and in the other threads. I'm new to parts-swapping past replacing the grip panels, so I'm trying to gather up all the info I can before I take anything off. I'm going to read the test threads through completely, maybe pick up Kuhnhausen's manuals, and go from there. I can already tell that I'll probably replace the extractor with a C&S spring-steel one, and probably the ejector, too. I can only take so much brass bouncing off my face and landing on my head!