Swapping 1911 frames and slides

[Laphroaig]

Does anyone do this? I have a slide with an Ultradot mounted that I'd like to mate with a frame with a better trigger and grips. I just put them together and they have a tight fit and everything functions.

Both pistols are Springfields, a Range Officer and a Milspec.

 

[Drail]

Sometimes it works - sometimes it don't. If it works then go buy a lottery ticket....... Keep an eye on the slide stop and stop notch in the slide to make sure they're meshing nicely and not pounding on each other.

 

[edwardware]

You will frequently luck into it, and only occasionally damage anything.

The Slide, Barrel, and Link (and hence the Frame that holds the Pin that locates the Link) are fit to achieve lockup and timing.

Swapping might work, might not, and in some cases might damage any of the aforementioned parts.

Edit: since mass produced pistols are probably machined to require very little or no hand fitting, it's very probable that traditionally hand-fit parts are swappable. YMMV.

 

[Jim Watson]

I suspect those SAs are in the "assembled" rather than "fitted" category and you will be OK to interchange.

 

[cfullgraf]

A swap of two GI fitted 1911's may work fine without issue. A bit of fitting might be required with one of them and the other might then be a bit looser than expected.

Any accuratized 1911 will requre some fitting and even then the parts may have been fitted on the other gun too far to be able to fit the parts to the new slide/frame.

That said, I've fitted a well used Colt Mark IV Series 70 slide and barrel to a new frame. Also, I transferred a used Colt Mark IV Series 70 barrel to an Thompson slide without fitting. The barrel and bushing mated up well to the slide.

There are a couple good books available covering working on 1911's, it would be good recommended reading.

 

[nofendertom]

Check out Kornhausen and Hallock books on the 1911.

 

[JTQ]

Check out Kornhausen ... books on the 1911.

Perhaps a typo, but if the OP is searching, it's probably a Kuhnhausen book he may want to look for.

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-auto-shop-manual-10th-edition-prod13805.aspx

 

[magyars4]

I've got a kimber 22 conversion slide and barrel on one of my frames...no issues at all.
Years ago I got a 1911 without a barrel....ordered one ( can't remember from where ) and it fit right in....no issues at all.

 

[lysanderxiii]

A swap of two GI fitted 1911's may work fine without issue. A bit of fitting might be required with one of them and the other might then be a bit looser than expected.

By the late 1980's, no fitting was required for USGI M1911. They all had about 0.015 inch slop in the slide-frame, some maybe more.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I found a small letter Colt slide for my Colt Mark IV in 45 ACP- I had to use grinding compound to get it to fit.

 

[entropy]

Check out Kornhausen and Hallock books on the 1911.

Jerry Kuhnhausen, perhaps?

 

[BWS]

 

[nofendertom]

Aaah---the old misspelling bugaboo---thank you JTQ and entropy.

 

[Laphroaig]

I had a chance to shoot the Frankinpistol last night. I think that I'm going to be fine.