I've got a frame with smaller than spec frame rails (worn). I'm in Ca, so unfortunately, I cannot order a new frame. Who makes a slide with oversized rails? Kuhnhausen mentions a National Match slide with oversized rails in his first volume, but he doesn't mention a brand. I've been to the Caspian and STI websites, but my initial impression was that their slides are in spec while their frames are oversized. Thanks for the help!
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Kuhnhausen mentions a National Match slide with oversized rails
Those slides were manufactured either by Colt or Drake for Springfield Armory to use in building the 1963-65 NM 1911's, and some may have been made available to the public through the DCM. They're identified by the part number 7791435 on the left side.
Dimensions for this slide are available in the blueprints from CNC Gunsmithing (via link in our Tech Issues section), page 50 & 51.
I've no idea if anybody currently makes an NM slide.
Have you called Caspian? Although their standard is to manufacture slides to standard tolerances and allow for fitting in the frame, they might be able to do a special order to run a slide that's left a bit "fat" in the rails... or maybe just not mill the slot for the frame rails and let you have that done locally, in order to best fit it to your frame.
Other than Hawkmoon's suggestion or peening down the frame rails, the only other alternative I can think of is this: http://www.acc-u-rail.com/
Another option is to have the frame rails welded and fit to your existing slide.
A company like Innovative custom guns does that for about $140 I believe.
Other "smiths" may offer a similar service.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'd really prefer to go with an oversized slide here, and I will contact Caspian. If not, I may use this frame to practice peening the rails.
Peening the rails can't make them larger, it only lowers them at the front and rear. In which dimension(s) are your rails undersized?
I think you would be better served with the Accu-Rail installation.
I've recently had some work done by Innovative Custom Guns (gunsmith is formerly of EGW and is their gunsmith, when you click the "gunsmith" link on EGW's site it now forwards you to his). Top notch work, great guy, went over everything in detail, work was absolutely perfect.
That would be my recommendation. Don't band-aid the issue, fix it.
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I've got a frame with smaller than spec frame rails (worn).
How undersized are they? You might also check with Les Baer.
Way back when, they used to squeeze the slide to tighten the horizontal and peen the frame rails down to tighten the vertical, and even though I managed to do that operation once following Keunhaeusen's book, it does have it's problems.
Hi all, just an update. I contacted STI, Caspian, and Les Baer like you suggested, and Caspian and Les Baer claim their slides have oversized rails. STI makes them to spec. I'm going to find out the specific dimensions of the rails and rail ways before I place an order, but it looks like the solution is near.