My 1911 New Project : Colt's Defender

["DoubleAction"]

Colt's Defender

The reason I like the 1911's , is interchangeable parts. This also holds true with the Defender. The frame is identical to the Colt's Officer's ACP, which shares a lot parts with the Colt's Commander, Colt's Government model, and the Colt's full size 1911 models.

What sets The Defender apart from the Officer's ACP, is barrel length and the length of the slide; Grips and Mainspring Housings remain the same. The Thumb Safety, Grip Safety, Grip Screw Bushings, Grip Screws, Slide Stop, Trigger, Sear, Disconnector, Mainspring, Magazine Catch, Magazine Catch Lock,and the safety levers also remains same as the full size 1911s pistols.

It will be a week two before I am ready to begin posting pictures of my new project; I hope it's well worth the wait.

["DoubleAction"]

First off; I replaced the cheap plastic trigger with one by made Nowlin, with the over travel and take up adjustments. I also replaced the grip screw bushings and grips.

I acquired this pistol from my younger brother, just my Colt Combat Commander from years ago. Two weeks ago I installed the trigger, grips, and grip screw bushings prior working a deal on the pistol.

The next step will involving refinishing the surface scratches on the frame. The aluminum alloy frame is coated from the factory in a Teflon coating, which might create a problem. I ordered a epoxy based coating from Brownell's, with a low curing rate.

Another "El Cheapo" feature, I feel, that's go it's the Plastic Mainspring Housing. The rest are springs and eventually the sear, disconnector, and hammer if I find they are made from MIM parts.

Because the pistol is made to carry; the extended thumb safety will not work in level two holsters with the thumb snap releases. This creates problems with shoulder rigs and some level two belt holsters.

The grip safety is a plus, as is the ejection port flaring, the dovetailed front site, barrel chamber throat, and beveled magazine mouth.

The most important thing about this pistol, is been carried a lot and shot very little, if any. The pulled the firing pin out, the extractor, and found no signs any fouling. The breech face looked brand new.

["DoubleAction"]

My Defender is coming along; I have been working on the refinishing frame for a couple weeks now. Every time I spray a coat, I have wait four days to re-sand it. Since the frame is made of aluminum, I use Brownell's Aluma-Hyde II.

As soon I get the frame ready, I will install the Nowlin Hammer, EGW Sear, Wolff Mainspring, The Nowlin Sear Spring, The Disconnector, and the Nowlin Trigger.

The finish is a dull like primer, until I polish it by using automotive body polish and wax.

["DoubleAction"]

The reasoning behind the center of the half cock notch, is to prevent damage the nose of the sear. I mated the EGW Sear with the Nowlin Hammer (Left and Colt's Factory Hammer - Right. The center leg of the hammer also prevents the hammer from going off in full automatic, in the case the sear over rides the hammer hook.

["DoubleAction"]

The frame is coming along very slowly; Because it takes a minimum of three days dry time, much more on thicker coats. The last time I let it cure, it was allowed to dry in the hot sunlight for six days. I was sure that would be it, then when I began polishing it, I ran into another bad spot. I re-sanded the flaw and applied another coat.

["DoubleAction"]

Finished

[TMan]

Looks great DA, and perhaps you should go to work for Talo ;D

["DoubleAction"]

Thanks TMan ;D