3 First’s for me!

[jimtx]

I’ve own and modified 1911 govt and commanders, but never owned an officer size or officer frame/commander slide.

Well first I built this from frame up that’s new for me with 1911’s
2nd it’s my first officer size frame which posed a few issues and 3rd its a officer/commander switch barrel currently 9mm and 41AE! One if my favorites.

I had to do a lot of parts modification sanding, grinding , polishing, etc,
And technically it’s not finished yet , the slide won’t lock back on an empty mag nor can I engage the slide release it needs to go back apprx 1/8” more. Don’t know reason fir this. The Nighthawk “commander” one piece guide rod had to be ground down by apprx 1/4” to close the bushing, the 20lb spring is IMO under your much stress, etc. the 41AE barrel again commander length won’t fit in my colt combat commander slide but I believe it’s bc this 80 series slide was not the same size as the colt 40/10mm slides and the 70 series frame allowed me to not use the 80series extra space/safety parts. I even had to modify the sights to fit.
Here she is:

[jfs]

She look`s GREAT.....

[jimtx]

Thank you sir!

[squawberryman]

Pat yourself on the back, not everyone here can do that. Not me at least. I've been filing on a bisley hammer for two months.

[jimtx]

May 22, 2020 17:54:19 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Pat yourself on the back, not everyone here can do that. Not me at least. I've been filing on a bisley hammer for two months.

Greg why are ya filing? Oversized?
And thank you , kinda lost interest for awhile , I broke and just lost my custom Bisley I’ve had almost 30 years I did a lot of work to it , f’n pawn shop I got one gun left there and pretty much none left at home so I finally decided to assemble this one .
Jim

[squawberryman]

Single six bisley frame being replaced with XR3 frame but retaining the bisley hammer. Lots of meat to remove.

[jimtx]

Yes sir done it a few times, try doing the PC old model BH Bisley hammer, cut ,file ,sand ,fit ,polish ,and blue hours of fun!

[AxeHandle]

I've got a Bisley hammer you could do that to for me...

[squawberryman]

Anything for you Stan

[groo]

Groo hee
Remember the commander and officers frame top[rails etc] are the same.
The goverment is different / longer in the rails and shorter in the recoil spring cut.
Also ,one of the holes in the frame [ I think the slidelock/ takedown pin] is a "little" different.
Ran into this trying to build an officers on an Olimpic frame [they use all the same cut,government]

[jimtx]

May 24, 2020 9:48:58 GMT -5 groo said:

Groo hee
Remember the commander and officers frame top[rails etc] are the same.
The goverment is different / longer in the rails and shorter in the recoil spring cut.
Also ,one of the holes in the frame [ I think the slidelock/ takedown pin] is a "little" different.
Ran into this trying to build an officers on an Olimpic frame [they use all the same cut,government]

[bjmm

So how did you cure that issue Mr. Groo?

[groo]

Groo here
Smith got to keep the frame.
The fix is , deepen the cut for the recoil spring, shorten the rails [over the dust cover] and mod the slide stop notch in the slide or the stop itself. [on a government cut frame]
Remember you can switch the slides on the officer and commander [colt cut style] all day [got one] it is the government/officer-commander swap that is the problem.
Also,the ejector is different between a 45 and most everything else .
Some work the slide ,some work the ejector, we just did not pin down the ejector so it is easy to swap.
PS your pic looks like a government frame and a commander slide.
If you want a full grip, use a commander frame, if an short grip, an officers frame.
Hint,,, if the officers grip is a touch too short,, put on a mainspring housing with the mag well attached , round the heel and you get an in between grip that is semi-bobtailed.......
PPS for real fun,, put a commander frame and an officers slide together!!!!!!!!!!![got 2]
Sounds strange works very well.
Great for a Horazintal sholder holster [no poke out the back] also for car carry,[will not hit the seat and your ribs] full size grip is easy to shoot and uses standard mags.

[jimtx]

It is an caspian 80 series officer frame with a magwell extension and a colt commander slide 80 series.

[groo]

Groo here
then all should be well.
Remember to use the correct recoil spring assembly for the slide.
The dust cover threw me off , colt style officers and commanders frames have the same length dust cover.
Also remember that what some call a "commander" slide is in fact a 4inch not a colt 4 1/4 inch.
Recoil assemblies different also.
Ps with that dust cover , your frame looks to be made for a slide without the milled out sections at the end
easy to cut and fit..

[groo]

Groo here
Did you order your frame from the maker or another.
could it be a moded goverment frame to officer grip?
Look up drawings online and measure the rails .
remove the spring and hand cycle the slide to see if it will lock back, if not, start measuring the frame.
I see the slide is a colt so it is a true 4 1/4 commander and needs a commander barrel bushing [ shorter than a government] recoil spring and cap [no rod needed unless you want.]
The officers slide [3 1/2 in] or defender 3in uses a cone barrel [no bushing] and different spring system..
I learned the hard way, don't fight the frame , send it back or get the correct one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Is your kit for a goverment or commander???
Did you cut the barrel??
CHECK THAT BARREL BUSHING !!!!!!!!!!!! 1/8 in sounds like the bushing is hitting on the barrel...................................................