So what is the Avenger?
Well, like other conversion kits, it consists of a whole top-end, i.e. a whole barrel and slide assembly. The interesting thing in this kit, is that it uses a fixed barrel, thus eliminating the tilting barrel setup of the original Browning design, with immediate potential benefits in the accuracy of the pistol. The Avenger is a "Fixed Barrel Conversion" for the M1911 with "Delayed Blowback" mechanism.
The slide itself features adjustable sights, while you can also mount a Picatinny rail for scope mounting, as shown below:
It also features twin ejection ports, and the user can select the side to which his empties would be thrown out from. Finally, at the rear of the slide, you can find some low-profile cocking handles. The whole top-end is mounted on the 1911 frame in the standard way, using the slide stop.
According to the manufacturer:
The Avenger is an entirely new handgun action that is different from anything else ever made before! This new action eliminates the problems associated with using a fixed barrel with high power cartridges. The Avenger is not gas operated and in comparison installs easily on the frame and doesn't suffer from gas operated fouling problems, in fact, the Avenger even works well with lead bullets. The extreme accuracy comes from a match barrel fixed in place with the sighting device, there is simply no movement between the sight and the barrel. The fixed barrel eliminates the need for the costly gunsmithing required to precision fit a conventional slide and barrel. Installation is so simple you can take the Avenger upper off and put the stock slide on in a matter of minutes.
The inventor, Peter Spielberger had send me the following schematics back in August:
Full view.
Avenger closed.
Avenger open.
Parts layout.
A cut-away picture
Here are some details that Peter had send me back then:
1) the barrel is bolted into the barrel block (the dark grey part behind the green dust cover on the picture above) like at a sniper rifle and does not move at all and is positioned approx. 0.08" deeper than the standard 1911 barrel
2) the barrel can float free (nothing touches the barrel) - pure accuracy
3) the barrel is surrounded by an aluminum dust cover (green) to reduce the weight - we are only 3oz heavier than a standard 1911 but have the Weaver-rail included and the outer diameter of the barrel is 0.04" bigger than the 1911- .45ACP barrel
4) the barrel block is mounted on the 1911 frame (just slide it on) and fixed with our ambidextrous slide-catch-levers and does not move - the Weaver rail is an integrated part (not bolted to...)
5) there is no tolerance between the direction of the barrel and an optical sight (both mounted to the barrel block)
6) the locking mechanism (similar to P38 but just upside-down) is connected with 2 action slides (gold) which travel in a keyway on both sides of the barrel block and dust cover) and on the front end with the cycle-spring (around the barrel) - the total weight of all moving masses is 9.78oz
7) when cycling the locking mechanism moves back (delayed blowback, NOT gas operated) and so do the action slides - and forward again
8) the movement is totally straight - no torque or anything similar
9) the result is a very fast and very smooth action
10) manual cocking is performed by the cocking lever (rear green aluminum part) - does not move when shooting
11) if you want to eject on the left side - just exchange the avenger-ejector pin with the avenger extractor and vice versa..
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What you have to do to convert to the AVENGER
1) take away the whole upper of your 1911
2) take away the ejector pin and (if existing) the firing pin safety
3) slide the avenger on the 1911 frame
4) fix it with the avenger-slide catch levers
5) load and shoot as usual
6) "after the first shot - dont think of a malfunction because you didn't
feel any action - there will be a hole in the target and a empty firing case
and the hammer will be cocked" (quote of a german shooting magazine editor)
THAT'S ALL!
Back then I thought these were impressive characteristics. I still think so, but it remains to be seen how this kit performs in shooters hands.
Peter, a big thank you for trusting me, in the early stages of this project. I appreciate it.
Here are the latest pictures from this project, as it was eventually presented in 2007 IWA show in Germany.
