Essex SS frame

Mike in Michigan · June 10, 2005, 01:49 PM

I took one of these in trade a few years ago and am finally getting around to working on a gun for myself. It is low s/n, 4xxx and never been assembled. Would this be a decent base to build a reliable carry or accurized IDPA pistol from? Were there any problems or bugs with these SS frames?
Thanks, Mike

Dfariswheel · June 10, 2005, 02:30 PM

This depends on the age of the Essex frame.

Early Essex frames were not very good.
This was due to a lack of knowledge and experience in casting 1911 frames.

Later, Essex improved their technique, and I understand the current Essex frame are pretty good quality.

Some common problems with earlier Essex (and most other cast 1911 guns) were:
"Slumped" or 'blurred" castings where features were not formed properly.
This took the form of areas looking like they had not fully filled the mould,

Excessively porous castings.

Critical features like pin holes not being properly located.

Frame rails not being parallel, or one rail higher than another.

The frames not being properly heat treated. I once saw an early stainless frame made by Vega that was so soft, you could cut the frame rails with a dull pocket knife.

From the low serial number of your frame, I'd assume it's an earlier model, and I'd recommend inspecting and gauging it carefully before investing time and money in it.

HSMITH · June 10, 2005, 08:49 PM

Early Essex stainless frames were well known for galling too. Sell it, kick in another bit of cash and get a Caspian.

Dave Sample · June 11, 2005, 11:58 AM

Essex is now doing some pretty nice stuff, but they have such a bad reputation that it dodsen't matter. I would not waste one minute of my time on an early Essex lower end. Been there: Done that.

**4V50 Gary** · June 12, 2005, 09:46 AM

Galling occurs when two like stainless parts are rubbed against one another. The short term cure is frequent lubrication with a good grease. The long term cure is to use a different hardness stainless for the other part. So long as your upper isn't the same type of stainless, I wouldn't worry about galling. Dfariswheel's suggestion about gauging the frame should be taken.

JoeHatley · June 12, 2005, 02:06 PM

I built this Frankenpistol using a stainless Essex frame about 10 years ago.

A decade later and probably 25K+ rounds, and it's still holding up fine.

Good Luck...

Joe

June 10, 2005, 01:49 PM	#1
Mike in Michigan Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 34	Essex SS frame I took one of these in trade a few years ago and am finally getting around to working on a gun for myself. It is low s/n, 4xxx and never been assembled. Would this be a decent base to build a reliable carry or accurized IDPA pistol from? Were there any problems or bugs with these SS frames? Thanks, Mike

June 12, 2005, 09:46 AM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,848	Galling occurs when two like stainless parts are rubbed against one another. The short term cure is frequent lubrication with a good grease. The long term cure is to use a different hardness stainless for the other part. So long as your upper isn't the same type of stainless, I wouldn't worry about galling. Dfariswheel's suggestion about gauging the frame should be taken. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

June 12, 2005, 02:06 PM	#6
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	I built this Frankenpistol using a stainless Essex frame about 10 years ago. A decade later and probably 25K+ rounds, and it's still holding up fine. Good Luck... Joe __________________ Go NRA

June 10, 2005, 02:30 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	This depends on the age of the Essex frame. Early Essex frames were not very good. This was due to a lack of knowledge and experience in casting 1911 frames. Later, Essex improved their technique, and I understand the current Essex frame are pretty good quality. Some common problems with earlier Essex (and most other cast 1911 guns) were: "Slumped" or 'blurred" castings where features were not formed properly. This took the form of areas looking like they had not fully filled the mould, Excessively porous castings. Critical features like pin holes not being properly located. Frame rails not being parallel, or one rail higher than another. The frames not being properly heat treated. I once saw an early stainless frame made by Vega that was so soft, you could cut the frame rails with a dull pocket knife. From the low serial number of your frame, I'd assume it's an earlier model, and I'd recommend inspecting and gauging it carefully before investing time and money in it.

June 10, 2005, 08:49 PM	#3
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Early Essex stainless frames were well known for galling too. Sell it, kick in another bit of cash and get a Caspian.

June 11, 2005, 11:58 AM	#4
Dave Sample Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2004 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,002	Essex is now doing some pretty nice stuff, but they have such a bad reputation that it dodsen't matter. I would not waste one minute of my time on an early Essex lower end. Been there: Done that.