ltwguns.com

I would like to see what others did to there 9mm 1911s, and if you had to do it over what would you have changed. I am mainly looking to make mine a retro but very reliable. I was hopeing there are a few guys that have built up 1911s in 9mm. I might make mine a switch barrel, but in the end my wife will be shooting this more than I.

I am open to suggestions on what I should have done to it, especialy from guys that have them and know the little quirks that come with them. I need to know which mags will make it run the best and so forth as well.

Thanks in advance.

No pictures for you but the two 9mm 1911s I built I used the Metalform 9mm "Springfield Front Ramp" configuration magazines. The front portion is "ramped" to help keep the shorter rounds from nose diving. They are not necessarily a "needed" item to get a 9mm to run but IMO they help. For those that "long load" their handloads for greater than "spec" OAL there is not really a need for the ramped mags. Truth is regular 9mm loads may not need them either but when building from scratch I use them as I have to buy mags anyway so I figure why not. Metalform part number 9FR-795 http://www.metalformmagazines.com

They don't have pictures of them on the site. If I think of it when I am home I will grab a snapshot of one.

Is this something that you are building from scratch, modifying an existing pistol or contracting a smith to do one of the above? If you are having a smith do it, especially one here, I would just tell them what you basic want is: retro, ultra-modern, whatever and let them do it the way they want.

I havent decided weather I will be doing the work with a friend who builds sweet 1911s or sending it to Ted. If I send this one to Ted, I will be building up a Springfield Mil Spec with my friend. WHat to do, What to do.

Here are some snaps of a couple of similar 9mm Caspian 5" guns that I recently completed.

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shop.HarrisonCustom.com
www.HarrisonCustom.com

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

A Commander length 9mm with titanium frame and bobtailed grip by John Harrison. Photo courtesy of Steve Bailey.

those are sweet guns one and all-cameron

Every time I see Mr. Harrison's work I am glad I am on his wait list!

My name can't come up soon enough haha

I am happy everytime I see him post a pistol as thats one spot closer to getting mine done.

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Kentucky Colonel, Tennessee Squire & Combat Leprechaun
"You won't rise to the occasion - you'll default to your level of training." Barrett Tillman

Those are both very nice, keep them coming. Did anyone ever keep the original barrel, are they worth keeping. If nothing else the barrel lock up in mine is tight as hell. I just think a ramped barrel would be better.

I don't know about the gun in the middle pictures, but the first gun that John posted and my gun were built from the ground up using Caspian frames and slides and Kart ramped barrels. The full size Caspian in the top (first) picture belongs to a friend of mine that shoots IDPA. He let me run a magazine through it after the match last Sunday and wow the gun shot really nicely.

I have been very fortunate as in my little retail operation I have been able to obtain two of the 1911's in 9mm. One built by Richard Heinie in 5 in and one by Frank Glenn in Commander length.

Both are exceptional guns.

The Heinie is Caspian lower with one of those MOLONLABE serial number with a Springfield upper and Wilson Combat Barrell.

The Glenn is on a Colt Series 80 with Kart Match barrel.

The magazine mentioned works well but in either of these two guns Colt factory have yet to have any issue.

I will say this. Watch your spring weight as with some of the bulk low cost generic Wally World style 9mm the recoil stroke may not be enough to pick up a new round.

I have had a bit of this on new springs. Best mags for me have been factory BLUE, not plated, Colt and the Metalform or Springfield the mentioned above.

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Be safe and keep the brass flying

Terry Peters

Do your research but you get what you pay for front end or back end
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I've said it before, there is NOTHING from Mr. Harrison that I have not liked. With that said, I will try to get pics of my Yost 9mm Commander posted later today. It is one of my faves.

First time poster here, but have looked around for quite some time. Heres some pics of my recently finished Novak Colt Combat Commander in 9mm. Reliability package, 3 Dot Sights, Custom Barrel bushing, Crowned barrel, beveled mag well, trigger job, Ed Brown Beavertail & Competition/Carry extractor, refinish. Grips are cheapy coco bolo factory Colt that I added.

Only mod I wished I would of completed but can live without would of been checker front grip. Magazines I use for this pistol are stainless steel Springfield Armory Metal Forms. My only complaint about the mags are the front lip is "sharp" and jabs you pretty good in the thumb during loading. Mags have been 100% Reliable.





Before pics.

Are there any reliability issues with the commander or 5 inch gun when talking about using the 9mm round in the 1911 platform. Is there anything in particular I should do or keep in mind while looking into a 9mm build. I know if I go with any of the LTW smiths they will be fine. I was just thinking about using this as my base gun for MY first build. My friend who will be walking my through this does damn fine work on 1911s, I havent asked if he had done any in this caliber. Some of his work has been posted here on the boards. I will ask if he mind if I repost some of his work. I just want to learn how to build one myself. I could never reproduce what the LTW smiths do, my attention span wouldnt let me.

Wags, What did you refinish that stainless pistol in? Thanks.

For a user point of view, and just my personal opinion and observation, the "issues" with making a 1911 in 9mm run, especially anything shorter than 5" are (not in any particular order):

Recoil spring - Use the right weight for your particular gun and load. Just because John Doe have success with 14 lb spring in his gun, doesn't mean that yours will run the same way.

Magazine - Similar to above. Most people seem to have success with the new Metalform "front ramp" magazines, some still stick by the older design. Common to both type of magazines are the weak magazine springs. Most factory springs are weaker than they should to properly keep the bullet nose from tipping down and therefore causing feeding problems. If your magazine and bullet nose don't tip, stick with it. If you have tipping problem, replace the stock spring with Wolff extra power magazine spring for 9mm.

Lube your gun.

Ramped barrel - Most folks who have 9mm built from scratch prefer ramped barrels for better feeding. YMMV.

These are my opinion and I don't play a pistolsmith on tv or internet.

I use Wilson .38 super mags for my 5" 9mm and it runs perfectly.

hogplt: The finish is standard bead blast and blue. The pistol's original finish was a very deeply scratched satin nickel.

Runs good out of the box. One day when my boys finish college it is going to visit Ted for a make over.

Middle aged fat man, that looks just like the one I bought but mine came with smooth wood grips with the Colt madallion.

Thanks for all who have helped me in making my decisions and steering me in the right direction.

Many have reported feeding problems with 9mm 1911s since the 1911 was designed for a cartridge length of approx. 1.25". The 9mm and .40 S&W are of the 1.125" variety. Many of us load our .40 IPSC gun ammo out to 1.2+" to improve feeding. That said, I have a box stock 9mm Commander that feeds with factory mags just fine

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Bob

Smiths and 1911s are what it's all about!

wags,

Congrats on rescuing another Colt from that ghastly factory electroless nickel! I don't think I've ever seen a finish that turns ugly so fast! A local dealer here was liquidating a firearms estate a year or so ago. Everything sold well except for an electroless Colt 1911. I almost bought it to give it a home but it finally disappeared.

How is that electroless finish removed?

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Bob

Smiths and 1911s are what it's all about!

Here is my Heinie 9mm Combat Commander.

Here are a couple of snaps of a 9X23 that has been hanging around the shop waiting to get delivered. Full house build with two barrels, one for 9MMX19 and 9X23. Using the Metalform round top follower mags in 38 Super and it runs great.

Jess

teaser pics...

1978 9mm Colt Combat Commander





UPS just dropped it off and I'm heading to the range; I'll post more pics & details later tonight

My Colt Government MkIV S80 9mm

Two 5" guns worked over by Tripp Research. I have since sold the Rock Island and miss her terribly! While she was a bit of a perfumed pig, she out shot the Kimber by a good margin. I chalk that up to the Nowlin barrel Virgil used.

Like others here have mentioned, you'll probably get best results with the Metalform "Springfield" mags. Both guns would feed ball with .38 Super mags but the only way to get 'em to run with hollowpoints is to use the front ramped mags.