I have an original Colt National Match top end in .38Spl I bought from a guy I work with years ago, complete with 2 mags. He used the frame for the basis of a custom gun. I always intended to build up a frame for it. Does anyone have any experience with this set up? Is the frame the same as a normal 1911?
I am trying to decide if I am finally going to build a frame for it or get rid of it. I have 2 80% frames that I have been waiting to start once I got the time. One frame is going to be dedicated to a .22 Ace top end that I have and am not sure about the second one yet.
38 Spl? Do you mean 38 Super?
No, these are made for .38 Special mid range wad cutters Colt made less than 8000 of them.
I'm posting to affirm what's been posted about the caliber being .38special w/wadcutters. That is correct. I have yet to hold one in my own hands, or shoot one, but have read about them. The OP is a lucky guy to have this *rare* upper.
My understanding is that it was a bullseye/3 pistol type match product. .22LR, .38 Special, .45acp.
You're probably good to go with the parts you have on a new frame.
But if I had to guess, the ejector will probably be a different length, as well as a different height than a standard 1911 .45acp ejector. The case head dimensions for the .38 Special would probably dictate that, as well as the case length/timing needed for cycling/ejecting.
I'd look at the underside of the left side of the slide - where the ejector needs clearance.
AFAIK - a 9mm or .38 Super 1911 slide has a different relief into the "roof" of the slide for the ejector than a .45acp 1911 slide.
Your .38 Special slide's relief will likely give you a clue about how tall the ejector needs to be - it will be almost the complement of the relief, if that makes sense.
I'm not sure what to tell you about ejector length - either see if Blindhog knows, or see if you can measure it on someone else's *rare* .38special 1911 or if you can't do anything else - start long and shorten as needed. I don't recall if Kuhnhausen's 1911 2 volumes have .38 Special info in it.
Added - take a look at Clark - they do .38 Special conversions. Might be a source for the ejector...
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/bullcon.htm
In doing research for parts for my 1911 buildup yesterday I came across a company selling ejectors over sized in both front and back length for custom fitting I will try to find them again and post a link. It was one of the companies listed as a source for one of the articles in the new Guns&Ammo magazine THE COMPLETE BOOK OF THE MODEL 1911.
I still work with the guy I bought this off of. He gave me an ejector and believes it is the correct one but it looks just like a standard .45 ejector. He sold the gun he built up on the frame also, I would have loved to have gotten the original frame for this. I am going to take the slide and barrel over to a friends and compare it with his .45 because for the first time in years I do not have a 1911, definetly is time for me to get building. I just have 2 80% frames. I do not know anyone who has another one in .38spl I wish I did, I would love to examine it.
The serial number puts it in the middle of the first production run of guns from 1960 to 1966. This is what I have found out about them: It is a national match MKIII
"production began in 1960 with s.n. 100NMR and went through 1966 with s.n. 5400NMR. Then from 1967 through 1969, they built some (the book I used for reference actually has "few" in the annual production slots). Then from 1970 to 1971, the s.n.'s run from 5950NMR to 7000NMR. Supposedly, overall production of the .38Special National Match was around 8,000 guns."
Colt also sold those as conversion kits (I have one that was on a AR Sales frame).
To the best of my knowledge,the 45ACP ejector will work.
The rim on a 38 Special is .040 smaller than the .45, so the rim is only .020 above the standard ejector.
I think I've installed my unit on a regular .45 frame with no problems. (I've only fired it once or twice).
The slide stop is different though. I believe it should have a number "2" on the back of it, which I think is the same as a .22 conversion unit.
It's too bad about the frame getting seperated, as it's a fairly valuable gun.
If you decide to part with the unit, I'd be interested.