Solve the puzzle...1911 mishaps

keys85 · November 6, 2008, 10:20 PM

I picked up a (used) Springfield GI 1911. My estimates say it had no more than one or two magazines put through it. It was totally stock, not screwed around with, not a mark anywhere, except...the parked gun had a stainless extractor. The extractor also moved forward and backward in the slide slightly. I immediately removed this and replaced with stock (blued) Springfield part. Tight fit, works great.

Upon examination of the stainless extractor in the gun I found that someone had filed the notch in the end of the extractor where the firing pin stop slides into to lock into place. They filed the notch wider say, .020 or .030". I have no idea if the gun did, or would have functioned with all the play there. Is there any logical explanation as to WHY someone might have done this?

Scorch · November 7, 2008, 02:26 AM

No logical explanation except some people who don't know any better can't keep their hands off the files and hammers. The extractor probably needed to be fitted and they thought they knew how.

**Unclenick** · November 7, 2008, 09:12 AM

All you can do is speculate. Scorch may be right that he didn't know how to fit it, but why install such a mismatch in the first place? The simplest explanation is that the part came off another gun it had already been fitted to. Maybe the original was defective and broke, or perhaps it didn't extract properly and needed its tension set and the fellow didn't know how to do that? More likely, though, is simply that he needed the original for another gun, then he had to put something in the Springfield to be able to sell it.

If he did that filing to the part intentionally, the only thing I can think of is that the extractor may have been slightly long and the rear edge of the extractor hook cut was protruding from the breech face? That will mark cases. By filing the forward side of the slide stop notch you could get that surface to be flush with the breech face, though you would have to upset the rear edge of the firing pin stop to pull it back and have a tight fit. It would be an awkward approach, when you could just clean up the fit at the extractor hook itself along with doing the usual tuning contouring and clean-up.

WESHOOT2 · November 7, 2008, 10:39 AM

Springfield Armory has excellent warranty service; ask them to check it out.

hockeysew · November 7, 2008, 11:57 PM

It was Bubbafied:barf:

Maybe Bubba was attempting to "fit" an extractor and didnt inderstand what fitting the hook is all about. Mistook that FPS notch for the hook.

Who knows what runs through "Larry the Cable Guy's" mind when he sets to 'Smithin.

November 6, 2008, 10:20 PM	#1
keys85 Junior member Join Date: September 20, 2008 Posts: 199	Solve the puzzle...1911 mishaps I picked up a (used) Springfield GI 1911. My estimates say it had no more than one or two magazines put through it. It was totally stock, not screwed around with, not a mark anywhere, except...the parked gun had a stainless extractor. The extractor also moved forward and backward in the slide slightly. I immediately removed this and replaced with stock (blued) Springfield part. Tight fit, works great. Upon examination of the stainless extractor in the gun I found that someone had filed the notch in the end of the extractor where the firing pin stop slides into to lock into place. They filed the notch wider say, .020 or .030". I have no idea if the gun did, or would have functioned with all the play there. Is there any logical explanation as to WHY someone might have done this?

November 7, 2008, 02:26 AM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	No logical explanation except some people who don't know any better can't keep their hands off the files and hammers. The extractor probably needed to be fitted and they thought they knew how. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 7, 2008, 09:12 AM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	All you can do is speculate. Scorch may be right that he didn't know how to fit it, but why install such a mismatch in the first place? The simplest explanation is that the part came off another gun it had already been fitted to. Maybe the original was defective and broke, or perhaps it didn't extract properly and needed its tension set and the fellow didn't know how to do that? More likely, though, is simply that he needed the original for another gun, then he had to put something in the Springfield to be able to sell it. If he did that filing to the part intentionally, the only thing I can think of is that the extractor may have been slightly long and the rear edge of the extractor hook cut was protruding from the breech face? That will mark cases. By filing the forward side of the slide stop notch you could get that surface to be flush with the breech face, though you would have to upset the rear edge of the firing pin stop to pull it back and have a tight fit. It would be an awkward approach, when you could just clean up the fit at the extractor hook itself along with doing the usual tuning contouring and clean-up. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 7, 2008, 10:39 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	lucky you Springfield Armory has excellent warranty service; ask them to check it out. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 7, 2008, 11:57 PM	#5
hockeysew Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Posts: 91	It was Bubbafied:barf: Maybe Bubba was attempting to "fit" an extractor and didnt inderstand what fitting the hook is all about. Mistook that FPS notch for the hook. Who knows what runs through "Larry the Cable Guy's" mind when he sets to 'Smithin.