1911 auto ordnance 45

[badger54]

I am trying to find out info about my new gun. Please help. Thanks Ron

[docnyt]

What exactly do you want to know about it? History? Stolen or not? Some people are paranoid about posting the serial numbers of their firearms by the way.

[badger54]

Well I don't really know all this stuff about information I should and shouldn't pit online. I want to know the details of my gun. I have tried to find the serial number on the Thompson auto ordnance website but nothing found. I want to get history, specs, how to brake down my pistol, and how to properly clean and maintain my pistol. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[Lurch37]

I believe Kahr Arms now owns Auto Ordnance so a call to them might get you going in the right direction for the info you seek. Breakdown, maintenance, care and handling should be similar to any other 1911 platform.

[Chris_B]

Might want to edit out the last few digits of your s/n

A-Os were made in West Huey NY and Worcester MA. The West Hurley guns have given the A-O 1911A1 a bad rep, with some poorly made examples getting their way out the door. That doesn't mean a West Hurley gun is bad. It means the chances of a better pistol go up if it is a Worcester made example

I have taken the barrel and slide from my 1918 made Colt Model of 1911 and installed them on my A-O 1911A1. Perfect fit, and function cheeked out. Didn't fire it that way- no reason to

I have also installed a WWII USGI trigger in my A-O. After a polish on the sides of the trigger bar, it was a drop-in

A-O mags may, well, suck. Weird follower and feed lips. My original WWI Colt 7-round mag makes my A-O work pretty well. Overall I think the A-Os may be a little ammo-picky- use hardball

Front sights are known to come a little loose on A-Os. Use some red loc-tite on the inside, were it is staked

My A-O is not the most accurate or reliable 1911 type I own- my 93 year old Colt is more reliable and accurate. I don't mean to say "my old POS gun is better", BTW- my 1918 Colt is a heck of a pistol and is as accurate as my 1978 Series 70, which is a pretty accurate pistol

Where was your A-O made, badger?

The breakdown and cleaning is the same as for any 'GI' type 1911.

Safe the pistol, remove the mag

Press in the plunger under the barrel, rotate the bushing to the left side of the pistol, remove the plug (and possibly the spring). Be careful- don't shoot that spring into your eye

rotate bushing to the right, and remove

cock the hammer and move slide back until the disassembly detent (as opposed to slide stop detent) is over the small upwards facing 'tang' on the slide release lever

Push the slide stop out from the right side of the pistol and remove. The pivot for this lever goes through the barrel link. [Pay attention to the position of the barrel link when you re-install the barrel. The hole must be rotated forward or you won't get the lever back through it]

move slide forward and remove from frame

remove guide rod (and spring if it did not already come out)

remove barrel

You have just field stripped your pistol. You don't really need to detail strip

This may help: http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=1911+disassembly+instructions

As well as this: http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=1911+disassembly+instructions

Clean...everything :) Lube according to manual referenced below



Assembly is the reverse, but be careful of the barrel link position

When you re-assemble, the slide stop should not need to be rotated into position. Doing that typically makes a scratch shaped like an arc on the frame. You should be able to simply push the slide stop back in. The arc is lovingly referred to as an 'idiot mark'

[NickySantoro]

Based on the serial number it was made by Auto Ordnance in West Hurley, NY well prior to my AO which carries a 18XXX S/N and was purchased in 1989. AO has since been acquired by Kahr. It is a copy of a USGI 1911A1. Quality is considered by some to be hit and miss. You can download manuals here.. http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/
FWIW
YMMV

ETA http://www.sightm1911.com/ for more info

[badger54]

Thanks for all the help. I will call on you all again soon.