Question about 1911 mainspring housings ...

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Nushif

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I have a RIA CS Tactical, meaning it has a 3.5 inch barrel and an officer sized receiver.

Now. I was looking at some of the higher prized versions of my gun and a feature that I thought was utterly amazing was the mainspring housing that is flush with the frame.
My question is, at this point ... can I order a mainspring housing that is flush with the frame, or is this something a 'smith needs to grind down, thus involving refinishing and labor costs?
My second question is a bit less related. If I order a safety online (a thumb safety, that is) is that potentially drop in or does that have to be fitted?

Thanks Already!
 
Repeat after me, there are no "drop in" parts on a 1911. No matter how many people tell you a part will "drop in" on some frames they won"t. This is why we have files and stones. Always assume it won't fit perfectly.
 
Alright, so the safety will have to be fitted. What about the mainspring housing? Do they come flush at all? Do *all* Mainspring housings need to have a lot of filing done to be flush?
 
No. IF you're talking about flat vs. arched mainspring housing, chances are a flat one will fit, with possibly a minor bit of stoning/filing/sanding on the ribs on the sides if it's too tight for your frame.

But IMO it will be fine. particularly if you can find one made by the same company that made the one that's on your pistol now.
 
I looked up the CS tactical and it has a flat mainspring housing. So maybe he's talking about a bobtail job?


In that case, yes, a tremendous amount of work needs to be done by someone qualified.
 
Lemme post some links ...

I want my mainspring housing to look something like this ....

mainspring2.gif

as opposed to something like this ...

ts.gif

As in flush (meaning not sticking out of) the actual frame of the gun.

You will notice in the second picture there is a distinct step, ledge, or some sort of uneven-ness to the mainspring housing and the frame, where in the first image the two are flush.
 
Well, thats neither fish, nor fowl in a 1911.

Not sure if the RIA frame is cut goofey, or if the flat housing they used is cut goofy.

But regardless, one or the other is cut goofy and non-standard for a flat housing/1911 frame match.

They are supposed to stick out just a little on then back, and not stick out at all on the bottom.

Like a Colt:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...Y9JKT5zIEcahtwfqkMHuAg&ved=0CFIQ9QEwDw&dur=38

rc
 
Nushif, I have to agree with rcmodel. That RIA does look a little strange. I've got the same and my frame/mainspring housing fit if perfectly flush with the bottom.

Now that very nice checkering on the first example........... that's a different issue and one I'd like to have too.
 
In forty-something years of being around and handling 1911, they almost always look like your second photo.

As a guess, none of the after-market parts will much fit like that first photo. (Which looks to have been "melted" a bit to suit its frame.

And, really, those "steps" are not sensible, you cannot feel them on you palm (unless they are sharp, or have burrs, or the like).
 
It will be chance as to whether it will fit like the one pictured, especially when pre-textured. Proud of the frame is to be expected and specifically with the STI some have reported an unsightly gap with other brand 1911 frames.

If you know a 1911 smith they may be able to point you in the direction of one that will best fit your frame since they see more requests than most. Another reason I ask before specifying parts and dictating their usage. Some smiths can make anything fit and look good but it depends on your wallet. Here is a link to some pics of a MSH/integral magwell that required the beveled corner of the frame to be welded up to create a seamless transition (per the owner's request). Mr. Schauland assured me his file needed a good rest after that project but the results speak for themselves, in other words there is no fit like a custom fit. http://1911doctor.com/S.A.php.
 
I replaced the arched mainspring housing on my Combat Commander with a flat housing from Wilson. No fitting. It's black and polymer, #92BF. Works fine and looks good. Pretty sure I got it through Midway.
 
In forty-something years of being around and handling 1911, they almost always look like your second photo.
Click to expand...
Both my Armscor guns (Citadel compact and RIA "CS tac" frame + "MS" slide) look like that picture, too. I'm not going to change them, because they fit my hand like they were made for me by JMB himself (well, with slim grips they do)

Does your gun fit your hand?
Is your concern entirely cosmetic?
 
Does your gun fit your hand?
Is your concern entirely cosmetic?
Click to expand...

As much as I hate to say it ... Yes. They do fit my hand very well. (Also with thin grips)
And yes ... It is purely a cosmetic concern.

The thing shoots. Like no tomorrow. But man that ledge thing peeves me.
 
The Fusion 25LPI aluminum is great for the $. Steer clear of John Mason parts, they're junk.
 
I had to go check...

Each of my 1911s looks like your pic #1; none of them has the "step" shown in pic #2.
 
Looking at the 2 pictures, and several others. It appears (to me) that Armscor is cutting the chamfer steeper relative to the backstrap. One of those many things that are changed from various manufacturers. It wont' affect function. You probably couldn't even feel it when holding.

If you want a closer fit there a gun smith should be able to grind a radius on the main spring housing to closer match the frame. Don't grind it flat. You will eat into spring pocket.
 
The thing shoots. Like no tomorrow. But man that ledge thing peeves me.
Click to expand...
Well, you know you have a MSH that fits you and the gun right now, so if you change it and the gun doesn't feel right you can always go back.

You should try these two:
www.midwayusa.com/product/730298/ni...ousing-flat-1911-officer-scalloped-steel-blue
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/34...housing-flat-1911-officer-round-butt-aluminum

The first one because I want to know how it fits the RIA frame
The second one because Al should be easier to fit yourself

But I suspect that you'd have to have two frames detail stripped next to each other and a way to take good measurements, if you wanted to know what would fit without grinding down or blending.
Obviously, I can't help you, as my two examples have the step.
 
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