What kind of extractor in Colt Series 80 1911?

[M1911Owner]

I was reading in other threads about the problems with MIM and bar stock extractors in various 1911's. Which got me to wondering what's in my 1983-vintage Colt Series 80 MK IV Combat Government Model. Does anybody know what material Colt was using for their extractors at that time?

Thanks

 

[Kruzr]

I would assume it to be barstock machined since MIM wasn't being used for gun parts (or anything else) in 1983. IIRC, MIM was first used in an industrial application in 1986.

 

[Shmackey]

Definitely not MIM, but could be cast.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

My LW Commander was made in the mid-eighties( SN# FL02XXXE), not sure about the actual year.
I have put thousands of rounds through it. If there was a problem with the extractor, it would have shown up by now.
I don't think you need to worry about your extractor except for a rare tune-up.


ZM

 

[dsk]

Back in 1983 Colt was still using quality machined barstock extractors. They began using cheap cast ones around 1990, and worse yet MIM around 1997 or so. Finally they realized the error of their ways and went back to barstock extractors in 2002.

A properly heat-treated, machined barstock extractor is the ONLY one to use in a 1911. Besides cheap magazines and Dremel-jockey gunsmiths, cheap cast or MIM extractors are the most common culprits in 1911 malfunctions.