1911 maintenance.

[bobzilla]

Last night I installed a new Kimber recoil assembly into the Compact ATII have. The old was definitely used up and hte bushing no longer supported the barrel a all in the forward position. No biggie, things wear out. Gun locks up better, returns to battery easier and seems to have a little less felt recoil than before.

This got me to thinking what other things I need to be on the lookout to replace? I'm far from a 'smith and I ain't no Tim, but I do love and carry my 1911's daily.

Also, the finish on this has gotten pretty beat up after 4 years of EDC literally every day. What finish holds up better?

 

[patience0830]

Last night I installed a new Kimber recoil assembly into the Compact ATII have. The old was definitely used up and hte bushing no longer supported the barrel a all in the forward position. No biggie, things wear out. Gun locks up better, returns to battery easier and seems to have a little less felt recoil than before.

This got me to thinking what other things I need to be on the lookout to replace? I'm far from a 'smith and I ain't no Tim, but I do love and carry my 1911's daily.

Also, the finish on this has gotten pretty beat up after 4 years of EDC literally every day. What finish holds up better?

See AllenM for a cerakote treatment. He and CM had enough time in 1911's to know when something isn't up to snuff and I'm sure a trip to Avon would yield good results.

 

[BE Mike]

I'm a 1911 guy, but I'm unfamiliar with the Kimber ATII. Would you please explain the recoil assembly and hte bushing.

 

[bcannon]

Keep a eye on your link and extractor also. As you stated things wear out.
I second a trip to see AllenM, you won't regret it.

 

[bobzilla]

I'm a 1911 guy, but I'm unfamiliar with the Kimber ATII. Would you please explain the recoil assembly and hte bushing.

Part number 4000465

1911 Ultra Recoil Spring Assembly, 3

Maintain your firearm. Complete drop-in replacement recoil spring assembly for Ultra models in 45ACP or 40 S&W.

store.kimberamerica.com

Allen fixed a loose front sight on my 5" Springer a few years ago. Good man.

 

[88E30M50]

When I had my Kimber Stainless Compact, I put a Wilson flat wire recoil spring kit in it. It improved the feel of the gun and greatly lengthened the recoil spring change interval. I have not done the same to my DW CCO but might look into that when the time comes.

 

[Brad69]

1911 maintenance?

No I Have a Dan Wesson!

 

[bobzilla]

1911 maintenance?

No I Have a Dan Wesson!

I'm not rich like you. I have poor man's 1911's.

 

[DadSmith]

When I had my Kimber Stainless Compact, I put a Wilson flat wire recoil spring kit in it. It improved the feel of the gun and greatly lengthened the recoil spring change interval. I have not done the same to my DW CCO but might look into that when the time comes.

Would those work with a Rock Island 10mm?
I ask as a 1911 novice.

 

[Hopper]

I'm a fan of getting the firing pin and extractor out about every 500 rounds to clean the channels. Dawson Precision has a nice extractor removal tool that compresses the lip so you can gently pry it out. Their website pics don't give a good indication of how it works, but it's fairly straight-forward once you have it in hand.
Dawson Extractor Removal Tool

 

[88E30M50]

Would those work with a Rock Island 10mm?
I ask as a 1911 novice.

I'm not sure. IIRC, it fit a standard recoil plug recess. It's been almost a decade, so the memory might be off a bit.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Last night I installed a new Kimber recoil assembly into the Compact ATII have. The old was definitely used up and hte bushing no longer supported the barrel a all in the forward position. No biggie, things wear out. Gun locks up better, returns to battery easier and seems to have a little less felt recoil than before.

This got me to thinking what other things I need to be on the lookout to replace? I'm far from a 'smith and I ain't no Tim, but I do love and carry my 1911's daily.

Also, the finish on this has gotten pretty beat up after 4 years of EDC literally every day. What finish holds up better?

No particular order as I have broken everything:

Firing pin stop

Extractor

Firing pin

Slide stop

Sear

Barrel Link

I think those are the top wear items I would monitor, but I have broken nearly everything on a 1911.

 

[Leadeye]

I must be doing it wrong, I've never broken a 1911.

 

[bcannon]

1911 maintenance?

No I Have a Dan Wesson!

You don't shoot it very often I take it.

 

[mmpsteve]

You don't shoot it very often I take it.

While Dan Wesson's have many fine attributes, it doesn't hurt that they're just so darn pretty.

Also, here's a sneak peek at the INGO Coins. @d.kaufman did a fine job on them.





.

 

[bcannon]

While Dan Wesson's have many fine attributes, it doesn't hurt that they're just plain pretty.

Also, here's a sneak peek at the INGO Coins. @d.kaufman did a fine job on them.

View attachment 224453

View attachment 224452

.

Will agree that they are very attractive but as with anything, if you use it, it needs maintenance.

Great job on the coins dk btw

 

[DadSmith]

I'm not sure. IIRC, it fit a standard recoil plug recess. It's been almost a decade, so the memory might be off a bit.

I'll have to study into it. It has a bull barrel and a full length recoil rod.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Recoil springs are the number 1 part that I replace about every 1k rounds. Firing pin return spring and mainspring are usually done at the same time, but not always. I keep a close eye on magazine springs too.

 

[BE Mike]

Firing pin stops usually break in half, leaving a top half and bottom half. That is a good part to inspect after each range session, if you shoot your 1911 a lot. It is a good spare part to have on hand, as well as, extractor and recoil spring cap (they go flying on occasion).