1911 Help

Wynter · Mar 25, 2019

I have a Springfield M1911A-1 style GI .45. It is the first pistol that I ever bought way back in the early 2000's. I disassembled it fully (for the first time) to thoroughly clean it, and install some mods (extended thumb safety amongst them). Now, when I reassemble it, the hammer will not lock back. It immediately swings forward.

I've done the research online, sifting through as best as I can. I believe that I have not installed the sear spring properly. The hammer strap is in the mainspring. I am not able to find a video with a close up enough view of where the left finger of the sear spring needs to be. The middle one is under the disconnector, I got that.

Any help that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Magnumite · Mar 25, 2019

1. The left side leaf of the sear spring may be under (forward) of the sear leg. It should be on top (rear) of the leg as viewed from the rear of the pistol.
2. If the grip safety was replaced it may be allowing to much rearward movement of the trigger. This would lift the sear spring off the sear, allowing hammer follow.
3. Replacement trigger? bow too long? Overtravel screw not adjusted properly?

If that is good, leave the replacement thumb safety off and see if the hammer cocks.

KIBarrister · Mar 26, 2019

Have you tried reassembling without the mods? 1911 requires hand fitting for basically every bloody part... Hell, I have a couple handmade 1911s and the slide stops are not even interchangeable.

Wynter · Mar 26, 2019

I have tried reassembling without the mods and have the same problem. Here are the mods. Flaired magwell, which doesn't fit because of the lanyard loop on the MSH which I am also going to replace, so it came off. Match barrel, which I had to order a pistol block in order to remove the link for the new one. It has not been installed. The compensator won't fit, so I will need to have that fitted, so it isn't on. The extended mag release is too wide, so it came back off, and and extended thumb safety, which also didn't fit. So right now, it is back to factory. I will probably end up taking all of the parts to a smith to have them fitted and be done with it.

KIBarrister · Mar 26, 2019

In case you hadn't looked up the non-video version...

http://how-i-did-it.org/detail-1911/reassembly.html

Also, here was the advice from a 1911 group to what seems like the same question...

https://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?13425-Hammer-won-t-stay-cocked

I *THINK* Springfield is known to be a little "wonky" with some of their 1911 parts (or I may be confusing the issue of having a two piece barrel, but I though some had a few non-mil-spec style parts at some point). Which takes me to another suggestion, if all else fails, send it back to Springfield and they will fix it for free and tell you what was wrong.

As for fitting the parts, look into the 1911 bibles and DIY. Custom fitting my 1911 has been some of the most fulfilling hobby work I have ever done....

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Mar 26, 2019

There are numerous makers of the 1911...some forged, some cast. There are different plus and minus tolerances from maker to maker...different heat treatments and different levels of quality. It's no wonder that few parts advertised as "drop-in" really do. What drops in one make won't in others. It's not so much a reflection on the basic design but the manufacture by so many companies which may or may not stick close to that design.

The GI 1911 was designed with looser tolerances so parts could be interchangeable. The trend towards well fitted and accurate out of the box pistols works against such interchangeability. Look at every 1911 part as needing to be fit to properly work in concert with the other parts.

Magnumite · Mar 27, 2019

Springers parts and barrels are of decent quality. Better than some other makes internals anyway. Something occured during the parts change - both ways apparently. Let us know when you determine the cause of the issues.

inkd · Mar 27, 2019

This is how the sear spring should look.

swinokur · Mar 27, 2019

If no joy PM Trikshot here. He is a very good 1911 Smith and is an IP.

https://www.mdshooters.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

Wynter · Mar 28, 2019

That was the picture that I needed. It is back in working order, thanks!!!!!!

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