The year was 1983...I think...and a guy walked in with a Colt Government Model, circa 1970. Fairly high mileage gun with a lot of vertical slop frame to slide. Lifting the front of the slide made a good bit of the recoil spring visible. Sloppy.
Owner wanted a little tuneup and a new barrel. The rails would require a beatdown to get rid of the vertical slack and I ordered a new factory Colt barrel for it. He didn't want to drop a lot of cash on it.
So, I beat on the frame rails with a hammer and swaging punches until I got it where I wanted it. Oddly, the side-to-side play was minimal, but I lowered the slide on the frame a good bit.
Okay. Got it all refitted and smoothed up...barrel fit was good...put it together, and...
When I pulled the trigger, the hammer wouldn't fall. Because I hadn't replaced any of the fire control group, I was a little mystified. Took it apart and had a look. Nada. Zip. Put it back together, and the hammer wouldn't fall. The trigger met with a little resistance from the sear, but the sear wouldn't trip. Just slipped on past it.
I disassembled and reassembled it without the grip safety so I could get an eyeball on everything...and I saw it.
Aha. That makes sense.
The fix took about five minutes.
Owner was happy. He said the gun wasn't that tight when it was new.
Clue: It's the little things.
Noodles in gear...
Go!
Owner wanted a little tuneup and a new barrel. The rails would require a beatdown to get rid of the vertical slack and I ordered a new factory Colt barrel for it. He didn't want to drop a lot of cash on it.
So, I beat on the frame rails with a hammer and swaging punches until I got it where I wanted it. Oddly, the side-to-side play was minimal, but I lowered the slide on the frame a good bit.
Okay. Got it all refitted and smoothed up...barrel fit was good...put it together, and...
When I pulled the trigger, the hammer wouldn't fall. Because I hadn't replaced any of the fire control group, I was a little mystified. Took it apart and had a look. Nada. Zip. Put it back together, and the hammer wouldn't fall. The trigger met with a little resistance from the sear, but the sear wouldn't trip. Just slipped on past it.
I disassembled and reassembled it without the grip safety so I could get an eyeball on everything...and I saw it.
Aha. That makes sense.
The fix took about five minutes.
Owner was happy. He said the gun wasn't that tight when it was new.
Clue: It's the little things.
Noodles in gear...
Go!
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