I picked up a 1911 Milspec (PB9151LCA) a couple months ago and would like to add some additional features to it. Mainly the beavertail grip safety. The problem I am having is the Wilson Combat drop in parts that I have do not fit the Milspec frame. Drops into my RIA GI no problem though. Is there a different manufacturer that has true drop in parts available? Does Springfield Armory sell drop in parts?
1911 Milspec Drop In Parts
- Thread starter thardage
- Start date
Annihilator
Emissary
Springfield doesn’t sell gun parts, even though the parts say drop-in, most are not, they will need some fitting.
Pitdogg2
Professional
Honestly the features you're looking for are now standard on many. Many are not prohibitedly expensive either.
Look for a good used 1911 that have your features.
HansGruber
Ronin
When it comes to 1911's, there's really no such thing as a "drop in" part...it usually just means LESS fitting.
"Usually" being the operative word, there.
"Usually" being the operative word, there.
Recusant
Hellcat
The standard for parts is the original military-pattern 1911 pistol. Parts between the 1911, 1911A1, and commercial Colt's Government Model were pretty much all interchangeable. Once pistols came out that had evolved from the original design (Series 80, Delta Elite, etc.) parts interchangeability was no longer assured. I'm sure that is pretty much the same for clones unless they are sold as accepting standard GI parts.
HansGruber
Ronin
You could likely take any parts from the wartime 1911’s and drop them in to a modern 1911–as long as it was a 5”, used a barrel bushing, an internal extractor, etc. The wartime 1911’s had, for the most part, generous tolerances so that parts could interchange…something modern 1911’s tend not to have.
It comes down to…if you’re gonna swap parts on your 1911, you’re gonna be doing some fitting, if those parts are recent manufacture.
I will recommend looking at Ed Brown’s “Drop In” offerings, though. I’ve found that they usually require very little fitting, most of the time.
Recusant
Hellcat
HansGruber is 100% correct! GI parts were required to interchange. If you plan to collect wartime 1911s then invest in books on the subject first. On the auction sites there are lots "mint" 1911's that have other manufacturers parts on them. In the last 75 years many wartime 1911s have been updated at some point with postwar made parts which may look okay, but there are minor differences from the original maker's parts. The current CMP 1911s are a prime example.
BangBang
Professional
Yes, Nighthawk Custom and Wilson Combat would be where I started to look for parts, with the offerings they have now compared to what it used to be you may be in better shape to “drop in” your parts, but as stated above most are not drop in.
Annihilator
Emissary
Yea, never saw one either
BangBang
Professional
You could look up an enhanced G.I grip safety but this guy put a Fusion grip safety on his pistol.
