ltwguns.com

I'm still a little new to the Colt 1911's so I need your help guys. The Colt 1991A1 in these pictures, is it parkerized or blued? Also, I would imagine the frame and slide is carbon steel, if anyone knows for sure please let me know.

I'm thinking of working a deal for this gun to use as a base gun for a little customization. I have a stainless Colt XSE right now but the front sight dovetail problem has me a little concerned that it will take a huge amount of work to fix what shouldn't have been broken in the first place! Sorry about the rant but I have to wonder what they were thinking when the OK'd that dovetail and front sight combination for production.

Also with the XSE I'd want to replace the pretty crappy grip-safety as well. I'd have to do that on the 1991A1 if I went with a Commander style hammer anyways.

I'm really getting the itch to have a nice blued Colt to go with my stainless 1991A1 that's at the YoBo shop right now. Let me know what your guys thoughts are on this Colt.

It's blued (black oxide). What's wrong with your XSE front sight?

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The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

The problem is where Colt puts the dovetail for the front sight. It's too close to the edge of the slide to put a regular replacement sight in.

A real Novak front sight hangs a good amount over the end of the slide. You can grind the end of a Novak to compensate but then you have this cut out on the top of the slide exposed because the front half of a real Novak sight isn't long enough too cover the cut out.

The Novak copy colt uses is the complete opposite in design as a normal dovetailed sight would be. On a normal sight the face of the sight is the short end and the rear is the long end. On the Colt sight the face of the sight is the long end and the rear of the sight is the short end. Go figure.

Dave, It's not difficult to fix the front sight situation - just takes a bit of time. A sight can be fabricated if necessary to replace the Colt original. Also, Colt uses a .340 dovetail on their XSE sights, and thats a bit wider than the Novak style. The cost would be a bit higher than buying a Novak, but not that much.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Thanks Don. I was wondering if that was an option.

I saw this MGW front sight blank and was wondering if it would be larger enough to be cut to the proper size to fit the XSE dovetail.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ ... IGHT+BLANK

It's the same size as the Novak blank. Don has the plan, just machine one from bar stock.

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www.HarrisonCustom.com

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Thanks guys! Man, I love this site! A limitless wealth of information.

Dave, Just a quick comment. I send a slide to Novak's that had been cut for a dovetail, but didn't know what type. I figured they'd have to recut the slide. They called me and said "no problem, we don't know what it was cut to fit but we just made a sight to fit." I was so happy. I'm sure any of the smiths here could make you a sight that will fit.
Scott

Very true.

But, I'm thinking a nice blued 1991A1 with YoBo retro sights, high-cut & bobed hammer, new trigger, match grade barrel bushing, steel mainspring housing, lowered and flared ejection port might be pretty cool to go with my stainless 1* 1991A1.

What do you think Steve Bailey?

Better plan!

I don't know how I'm going to pay for it yet, but I'll worry about that later.

I don't know Dave, I was thinking something like this might compliment you SS gun. Everyone will be wearing one of these next season.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

That'll go good with my new suit.

The last two posts on this thread make my EYES HURT!!!!

Jeffro

Steve-O, Bet that's a 38 Super

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

what ever the caliber...It's PIMP-O-RIFIC!!!!

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https://www.graffcustom.com/

I think I saw Chip wearing that same outfit in an episode of Bowling Green Vice last season, didn't I?? Al, any comment?

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee

Uh, that wasn't make believe John. Chip can't act that good. I had to suffer through him wearing that an entire shift!

Something about a new getup for re-enacting. Maybe his undercover days from the 70's

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

I'm ignoring both of you.

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Sic Semper Tyrannis

You guys are killin' me.

Chip...we were trying to ignore you, too..but that ELECTRIC ZOOT SUIT wouldn't allow it. I once heard about something being like a train wreck, you know it's gonna be ugly, but you just gotta look!

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee