Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Rama: Enhancing the 1911 By Karlon N. Rama Stage Five
ONE of the best things about the classic nineteen-eleven is the absolute abundance of after-market parts to improve performance, aesthetics or both.
Gun owners with clammy hands dislike wooden or plastic panels and find relief in Hogue, Pachmayer, Ergo and all those other firms who make grips from rubber or some other synthetic material.
Those with short and stubby fingers, on the other hand, discard their stock triggers and run to Kings or Ed Brown, as those who find the factory sights too tiny order Bo-Mar or Novak.
The changes don’t only happen on the outside. People replace everything inside too—from stock guide rods, links, recoil springs, bushings and whatever else they can get their gunsmith’s hands on.
Some enhancements are necessary while some are not. Others are merely for aesthetics. My friend Rey Abad had his Limcat race gun coated with Titanium Nitride, which turned its color a decadent gold. A gun beautiful enough to own, after all, should be beautiful enough to keep.
STEP UP. Joseph Zacarias (josephzacarias@yahoo.com) wrote us with 1911 enhancements in mind.
He wants to know about the reconditioned Colt Remington and Ithaca 1911s being sold at Royal Interarms and of what parts need to be replaced to make it “competitive.”
I ordered one of those reconditioned units before the gun ban began and, early yesterday morning, I was informed by the assistant manager, Ms. Leila Pacaldo, that the unit is now being shipped to Cebu.
I haven’t yet seen the gun so I don’t know if it requires any replacement. Before ordering, I had resolved to keep the gun look classic so unless the gun won’t shoot, I don’t think I’ll be buying any aftermarket part for it.
But to answer the question, the first things people usually change in a stock gun to make it competition-ready are grip panels, the grip safety, the recoil springs, the trigger and the sights.
Joseph, in his e-mail, also asked about the Spartan.
I was present when Dave and Pauletta Skinner of STI International unveiled this suave pistol during the 14th Defensive and Sporting Arms Show in Manila last year. It is everything it is raved to be and more.
Armscor makes the slide, frame and barrel in the Spartan. STI manufactures everything else. Fitting is done at the Armscor plant in Marikina by the same team that tunes the high-end Medallion pistols.
Is it okay for competition? I would think so.
I’d also like to acknowledge the e-mails sent by Ervi M. Maderazo (maderazoem@yahoo.com), Ariel Lim (ariellim@gmail.com) and Michael Abejar
(michael_herald_abejar@ts.tsuneishi.co.jp). Thanks for keeping me company and hope you’ll stick around for more.
MORE GUN SAFETY. After the good turnout, the people behind the gun safety seminar held for members of the media last Saturday are going public.
They are inviting all interested gun owners to a similar gun safety and marksmanship training with United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) grand master Rey Abad.
They are offering slots for either Nov. 24 or 25. The daylong training begins with classroom instruction, to be held at the Parklane Hotel, followed by a hands-on session, using Armscor firearms, at the AFP Central Command Firing Range.
A fun-shoot for all the attendees, also using Armscor equipment, has also been set on Dec. 2.
The training, currently on its second year, was conceptualized by Ed Abad, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Visayas Chairman and 101.9 Charlie FM for the media.
The event is sponsored by Megaforce Marketing, E&P Media Link Corp., the Arms Corporation of the Philippines, Kamagong, the PNP, the AFP, Alcordo Advertising and Norkis.
