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1911 Thread-in Barrel Bushings

rdtcurdtcu Member Posts: 9 ✭✭
edited October 2007 in Ask the Experts
Hello, i just purchased a threaded slide here on gunbroker for a pretty good deal, and i was wondering if anybody knew someone who provides barrel bushings that are threaded into the slide. They are rare but i have heard of several of them. From what i've heard the majority of the threaded slide guns are fairly accurate, but this is not terribly important to me as the slide is not even cut for sights and i don't plan on putting any on it for now. Anyway, if nobody has any leads i can get my friends at one of the local shops to whip some up from some hard stainless when i can take dimensions.

Thanks in advance
Devin

Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Go to www.brownells.com if anybody would have them, it would be them.
  • iceracerxiceracerx Member Posts: 8,860 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Can you post a picture of this slide? I'd like to see this.
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Austin Behlert used to do those. He's dead.
    I don't know where else they might be available.
  • rdtcurdtcu Member Posts: 9 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Brownell's doesn't have them or know where i can get them. Any more ideas? thanks

    bluedslide5.jpg
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Austin was one of the first custom PISTOL-SMITHS that chopped 1911's model 39 S & W's and Browning High Powers . The design on your slide is like a S&W model 52 sadly I think you will have a problem finding a bushing that will fit both your Slide and any new replacement barrel. Austin took the best designs from different pistols and made parts of that design to fit other pistols . He made a 1911 type hammer and sear that had full cock notch on the hammer like a HIGH STANDARD model 103-107 gave the best trigger pull BAR NONE He was a little gruff at times and had a N.J. attitude. But he was a master pistol smith EDIT[:0][:0] I would not want to LOCKTITE a bushing in place How would you ever get the barrel out ?? think about a threaded barrel comp that has a male TAPER that fits into a female taper in the slide you could machine the female taper into your slide. You could cut the comp back to very short if you don't want extra weight. sort of like a colt officers model. Just a though[:p]
  • rdtcurdtcu Member Posts: 9 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If worse comes to worse i can always run a couple off myself, once i gauge the threads, to fit any barrel i want. I was thinking about doing a full profile bushing that indexes on the guide rod with some fine machining/filing to get it to index properly and be snug. Loctite is your friend. I actually just bought a 3Axis knee mill so some of my pent-up creativity can find an outlet once again. But still, if anyone else has any leads on premade bushings i would be grateful.
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought some High Power parts from Behlert back in the 90's, when he was in the process of retiring. Supposedly his son in law was going to take over the business. If this did indeed happen? And he is still running it, it might be possible that he still has some of the threaded bushings that Behlert made. My communications with Behlert were positive. This was in the pre e-mail era, and he responded to my snail mail quickly, regarding the Browning parts.
  • rdtcurdtcu Member Posts: 9 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well a few weeks ago i finally got around to machining a barrel bushing from some 1-1/4" 304 stainless i had laying around. and i must say it turned out pretty good. I did a full profile, extra thick bushing, with about 0.200" of barrel engagement depth, cut 25/32" x 32 threads on the lathe, verrrry carefully, honed the barrel contact area, and backbored the bushing 0.02" over to give room for barrel tilt. I then soda-blasted it to give it a matte look. I will upload pictures as soon as i get a chance, if anyone's interested. I've put about 350 rounds through it so far, without as much as a hiccup, not a single rattle, and only minor ejector tuning, as cases were striking the side lip of the slide initially. I was frustrating a guy at the range yesterday with his 3" .38spl with adjustable sights, as i was outshooting him with NO sights on a 1911 out to about 15 yards...
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sounds like you have some skills that was not an easy job . Please post pictures. Thanks Karl.
  • RCrosbyRCrosby Member Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A bit off topic, but I couldn't let the opportunity pass.
    I wrote to Austin back in the early 70's regarding some work I wanted to do on a High Standard Victor. Like the man said, it was all snail mail back then but I still have Mr. B's handwritten response, quite detailed, including hand drawn diagrams and couple of color photos he included just to show me some of his work on a 39.
    I'll remember him as a great gunsmith, and a damn good man!
    (Is that the New Jersey part?) ; - )
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