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Years ago, many years ago, I got an Essex made Detonics style frame from a LGS in Lancaster. Originally I had a Colt Commander 38 Super slide mounted on it, but that slide was in sad shape, with pitting visible underneath the nickle plating.
So, I decided to change it.
I managed to locate a Colt Officers Model slide and barrel at a good price. Actually, much cheaper than a Detonics slide and barrel, and I just don't care for the forward position of the rear sight on a Detonics. So, I purchased it and mounted it. I changed out my original homemade short tang "grip plate" that I had made from a Colt Commander grip safety for a long tang factory made grip plate. I decided I didn't want a short Detonics hammer, nor did I want a long Gov't hammer due to hammer bite, so I installed a Commander style round hammer, that had been hollowed. I like the looks of those. Which of course meant I had to modify the long tang for the hammer to work. I may have to do a bit more work, but that can wait till I fire it to see how things go.
I installed a long thumb safety, and located a 6 round Detonics style magazine. Trigger break is a bit heavy at about 6#, but clean. Not sure if I want to go lighter for its use as a self defense gun.
Some fool had tried to install a new bushing, or didn't know how to take the bushing off. The edges had all kinds of nicks. So, I had to bevel it and polish it a bit to get rid of most of them, though it still needs some work. Bushing was so tight in the slide it would not turn, something I have improved a bit but also need to work on more. Years ago when I first got the frame, I made a set of grips out of a spare set of full sized 1911 grips. That is going to get changed to a generic set that I plan on cutting down.
Currently I am waiting for a guide rod to get here. Once it gets here, it is off to the range. My son is already thinking about claiming it, so he can use it at work. He works in a small convenience store in a bad side of town. The nice thing about this is that he can use standard mags for reloading if necessary.
So, I decided to change it.
I managed to locate a Colt Officers Model slide and barrel at a good price. Actually, much cheaper than a Detonics slide and barrel, and I just don't care for the forward position of the rear sight on a Detonics. So, I purchased it and mounted it. I changed out my original homemade short tang "grip plate" that I had made from a Colt Commander grip safety for a long tang factory made grip plate. I decided I didn't want a short Detonics hammer, nor did I want a long Gov't hammer due to hammer bite, so I installed a Commander style round hammer, that had been hollowed. I like the looks of those. Which of course meant I had to modify the long tang for the hammer to work. I may have to do a bit more work, but that can wait till I fire it to see how things go.
I installed a long thumb safety, and located a 6 round Detonics style magazine. Trigger break is a bit heavy at about 6#, but clean. Not sure if I want to go lighter for its use as a self defense gun.
Some fool had tried to install a new bushing, or didn't know how to take the bushing off. The edges had all kinds of nicks. So, I had to bevel it and polish it a bit to get rid of most of them, though it still needs some work. Bushing was so tight in the slide it would not turn, something I have improved a bit but also need to work on more. Years ago when I first got the frame, I made a set of grips out of a spare set of full sized 1911 grips. That is going to get changed to a generic set that I plan on cutting down.
Currently I am waiting for a guide rod to get here. Once it gets here, it is off to the range. My son is already thinking about claiming it, so he can use it at work. He works in a small convenience store in a bad side of town. The nice thing about this is that he can use standard mags for reloading if necessary.
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