Para P-13 Enhancements

optima

I am a rather new member of this forum and I truly enjoy and appreciate all the education I'm getting. Thanks to all.

I have a Para P-13-45 sitting NIB for a number of years and I'd like to start breaking it in. Thusfar my handgun experience has been limited, primarily, to my two Sigs (220 & 226) and S&W J-frame (640, none of which have had any work done to them.

Enter this 1911 style pistol which, according to popular opinion, is ripe for modifications/improvements.

Firstly, is it easier/better for a smith to work on it out of the box or should I break it in first?

It seems that every model has it's specific strong and weak points. What needs to be done to this Para in order to bring out it's true potential as a defensive/combat weapon? I'm talking action, sights, grips, et al.

Also, is it worthwhile looking for a gunsmith who specializes with Paras? It would be nice dealing with someone local (I live in L.A.), but I would send it out, if necessary.

I eagerly await all your comments.

Der Gebirgsjager

The newer specimens have more enhancements built in than did the earlier models. Mine is about 8-9 years old, and was purchased used. I added an Ed Brown beavertail grip safety and a custom trigger. I completely disassembled it and lightly stoned the frame and slide rails which I found to be rough. I polished the barrel feed ramp and its juncture with the magazine well. I acquired a new recoil spring and installed a Wilson Shok-Buff. At this point, for me, it was "good to go", but I also reblued it for the sake of appearance. This was where I became a little disappointed with the quality of manufacture, as when I buffed off the frame's original finish I found it to be quite pitted under the finish. I'm not really certain what the finish was, but it filled in the pits and they were not noticable before I started the job. It took quite a bit of careful polishing to make it look right. Later it developed a problem of the firing pin not traveling far enough forward to reliably fire the cartridge. This was solved by polishing the firing pin and gently running a round needle file into the firing pin port and gently turning to remove a burr. Now I consider it to be one of my best 1911-types, and it is very accurate and reliable. I would use it as a carry gun, but only possess one hi-cap mag for it--and therefore use a Colt. My overall impression of the breed (I also own several other Paras of different models and have worked on them for customers) is that they are an excellent pistol in design and materials, but that the folks at the factory could put a little more effort into the details; and that most of them can benefit from an action job.