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Shortening a full size Colt 1911

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:45 pm
by amk
Dunno grewal :-), I have no plans of purchasing a 1911 :lol: Unless someone has a commander model, the 4.25 or 3 odd inch model.

AMK

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:53 pm
by mundaire
amk wrote:Dunno grewal :-), I have no plans of purchasing a 1911 :lol: Unless someone has a commander model, the 4.25 or 3 odd inch model.

AMK
If parts were available locally, you could save a lot of money and just rejig yours with a shorter barrel & slide - would end up costing you $400-500 or thereabouts in parts... would not be a Commander, but would certainly shorten the OAL... too bad that's not really an option in India! :evil:

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:26 pm
by amk
Can that really be done? Isn't the length of the frame different too, won't the dust cover get in the way?Just with a shorter slide and barrel once can transform it to a commander?

Since parts aren't available locally I'm just thinking aloud :D

AMK

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:02 pm
by mundaire
amk wrote:Can that really be done? Isn't the length of the frame different too, won't the dust cover get in the way?Just with a shorter slide and barrel once can transform it to a commander?

Since parts aren't available locally I'm just thinking aloud :D

AMK
Well, it's not conventionally a simple swap but from what I've read up (on the net) an Auto Ordnance "Pitbull" slide (usually) seems to work around the normal pitfalls. Google
1911 pitbull fullsize frame
for more... :)

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:53 pm
by amk
mundaire wrote:
amk wrote:Can that really be done? Isn't the length of the frame different too, won't the dust cover get in the way?Just with a shorter slide and barrel once can transform it to a commander?

Since parts aren't available locally I'm just thinking aloud :D

AMK
Well, it's not conventionally a simple swap but from what I've read up (on the net) an Auto Ordnance "Pitbull" slide (usually) seems to work around the normal pitfalls. Google
1911 pitbull fullsize frame
for more... :)

Cheers!
Abhijeet
Wow, seems like it's riddled with problems but some have got it to work. If only we could get the parts here and experiment :lol:

AMK

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:55 pm
by penpusher
I have seen a shortened .45 1911 in Patiala.Can be done but not cheaply.

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:36 am
by mundaire
amk wrote: Wow, seems like it's riddled with problems but some have got it to work. If only we could get the parts here and experiment :lol:

AMK
If you go through some of the search results you'll notice that the length of the dust cover is not the problem (except for cosmetics), it's more to do with the length of the rails and the depth of the recoil plug recess (I hope that is right term?)... though some people have also managed to get regular commander slides to work with full size frames (many without any serious modifications to the frame itself). Anyhow you're right, without the parts it's merely an academic discussion for us folks.... :P

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:19 pm
by amk
mundaire wrote:
amk wrote: Wow, seems like it's riddled with problems but some have got it to work. If only we could get the parts here and experiment :lol:

AMK
If you go through some of the search results you'll notice that the length of the dust cover is not the problem (except for cosmetics), it's more to do with the length of the rails and the depth of the recoil plug recess (I hope that is right term?)... though some people have also managed to get regular commander slides to work with full size frames (many without any serious modifications to the frame itself). Anyhow you're right, without the parts it's merely an academic discussion for us folks.... :P

Cheers!
Abhijeet
Lets see if I can do something about this :D

AMK

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:21 pm
by amk
penpusher wrote:I have seen a shortened .45 1911 in Patiala.Can be done but not cheaply.
Was it a genuine Commander/Officer or a modified one? If the latter any idea how it was done and the price?

AMK

Re: .45 pistol

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:54 pm
by The Doc
penpusher wrote:I have seen a shortened .45 1911 in Patiala.Can be done but not cheaply.
Very interesting indeed !! Done by Bobby ?

best,

RP.

Re: Shortening a full size Colt 1911

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:53 pm
by marksman
Well, it can be done .If you get hold of right parts. A short barrel bush or rid the pistol entirely of this bush and get a flared barrel with the length of your choice to fit the ID of the slide, an inverted recoil spring plunger, 22lbs recoil spring, the main spring and the hammer springs to match. Except for the barrel, other parts are not very difficult to obtain but how you get them is your head ache.
Then, catch hold of a good gunsmith in India who has worked on and understands the basics of a 1911 pistol, have him cut the slide to the size,fit the barrel flare snug with the dust cover ID,mill a slot for the dovetail front sight and there you have it. A shortened 1911 pistol. :wink:
IMHO,its not worth it and the 1911 looks the smartest in the original configuration. Who so ever has altered this great pistol has hurt the noble soul of Mr.J.M.B.* to no end.
Marksman



* James Moses Browning

Re: Shortening a full size Colt 1911

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:25 pm
by amk
CUT THE SLIDE!!! And it it doesn't work out weld it back ROTFL