Essex 1911 frame question

dewcrew8 · October 19, 2018, 11:39 AM

I see that this is a old post but does anyone know the year range for the frames then? I have one in the 7xxx from island pond vt , Am thinking around 2nd or 3rd years of production.

it has the early colt 22 conversion on top.

Ibmikey · October 19, 2018, 11:14 PM

In the late 70’s through the early 90’s I built two dozen 1911’s on Essex frame’s including a Colt Ace kit on one. The early frames required extensive fitting of the parts but as time went on the parts began dropping in. All the frames that I built required mating the slide rails on the frame to the chosen slide. Among the pistols I built were Officers and Commander size guns, I simply shortened the dust cover to accommodate the slide selected. I believe Essex stopped producing frames more than five years ago indicating they would move to a different state but apparently production ceased at that time.

**Aguila Blanca** · October 19, 2018, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibmikey

I believe Essex stopped producing frames more than five years ago indicating they would move to a different state but apparently production ceased at that time.

Correct. They announced that they were moving to Florida ... and then they dropped off the face of the earth.

Brian48 · October 21, 2018, 12:09 AM

Essex made fantastic steel frames. My very first gun was built on an Essex frame built with a GI slide, Bar-Sto barrel, and high mounted Bo-Mars. It was an absolute tack driver and to this day, probably the most accurate 1911 I ever owned. Learned a lot tinkering with it as well, including upgrading the trigger, hammer, sear, grip safety, and thumb safety. I foolishly sold it in '94 and to this day I regret it.

**Spats McGee** · October 21, 2018, 07:21 AM

Posts moved from an older thread.

October 19, 2018, 11:39 AM	#1
dewcrew8 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2009 Posts: 214	Essex 1911 frame question I see that this is a old post but does anyone know the year range for the frames then? I have one in the 7xxx from island pond vt , Am thinking around 2nd or 3rd years of production. it has the early colt 22 conversion on top.

October 21, 2018, 12:09 AM	#4
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,616	Essex made fantastic steel frames. My very first gun was built on an Essex frame built with a GI slide, Bar-Sto barrel, and high mounted Bo-Mars. It was an absolute tack driver and to this day, probably the most accurate 1911 I ever owned. Learned a lot tinkering with it as well, including upgrading the trigger, hammer, sear, grip safety, and thumb safety. I foolishly sold it in '94 and to this day I regret it. __________________ Proud to have served.

October 21, 2018, 07:21 AM	#5
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	Posts moved from an older thread. __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

October 19, 2018, 11:14 PM	#2
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	In the late 70’s through the early 90’s I built two dozen 1911’s on Essex frame’s including a Colt Ace kit on one. The early frames required extensive fitting of the parts but as time went on the parts began dropping in. All the frames that I built required mating the slide rails on the frame to the chosen slide. Among the pistols I built were Officers and Commander size guns, I simply shortened the dust cover to accommodate the slide selected. I believe Essex stopped producing frames more than five years ago indicating they would move to a different state but apparently production ceased at that time.