Colt Officer's 1911

[MLB]

First, I'd like to thank DA for educating me over the years about the idiot mark. I'm sure I would have screwed it up without that info.

I had my first chance to field strip a 1911 last weekend. My brother in law brought his officers model to deer camp as his sidearm, and I was looking it over from the inside as well as out.

While re-assembling though, I noted that the barrel link was missing. When I stripped it, I had assumed that the pin between the barrel and the link was pressed in there. Is it normal for it to be loose (to the point where it fell out when I set the barrel on the table)?

["DoubleAction"]

Is it normal for it to be loose (to the point where it fell out when I set the barrel on the table)?

....ML; No, Its not. The pin has to be slightly tapped on each end, to prevent it from slipping out. Just make sure that the pin is just loose enough to allow for play when tapping on each end and make sure that the lugs are on a flat surface.
....I had the same thing happen on a used Government Model and I replaced the pin and the link.
....As you probably are already know; Colt don't make The Officer's ACP anymore.

[MLB]

Thanks DA. It didn't seem right to me at the time either. Would you suggest peening the ends of the pin with a pointed punch?

["DoubleAction"]

...Use a Flat Tapping Punch, not a Pointed Punch. Be careful not to damage the lower barrel lugs.

.....You want to spread the pin on each end, just slightly, to retain the pin with the lower lugs.