OK---I GOT THIS HERE NORINCO

[williamlayton]

I got the Norinco---finally.
It is actually in pretty good shape--cosmetically.
The slide is smooth and the barrel is nice and shiney. The grips look as thought they were used for a hammer--banged around in a console, I guesss.
Without taking it apart it appears that the throat is smooth.
Horrible sights---I think---they are small and my eyes, well you know, my eyes.
Anywho--after some folks here putting me to shame for letting a Smith do all my work   I have decided to man up and see what I can do.
The trigger is a nice 10#'s---I won't fool with that the Smith will do it.
Anywho--what tools do I need to change parts and smooth the rough spots.
I figger that I can always take it to Vandenberg to put back together again---after he gets thru laughing  
Blesssings

[drdougrx]

Can't wait to see the Frankenlayton!!!!   

[SAA]

Lots of good info here: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=308/k=/t=0/guntech/
Have you test fired it yet? Please let us know how it shoots (both before and after).

Good luck!

[williamlayton]

Can I really hurt it with too big of a hammer?
Blessings

[Flint]

According to the way the 1911 was designed, the only tool needed is a screwdriver to remove the grips. Also a small screwdriver if you need to remove the magazine catch.   The rest of the pistol can be disassembled without "tools".  The hammer strut can be used as a punch to remove the mainspring housing and the firing pin, and press out or start the other pins in the frame if they are too tight to pick out with your fingers.  You may need a small pin drift if you disassemble the mainspring housing assembly.

The small screwdriver helps to hold back the plunger when you replace the safety.

If it's a "GI" fit pistol, you won't need a bushing wrench.  If you fit a tight bushing to it, you will... 

[Savage]

I think William is putting us on a bit.
Savage

[williamlayton]

Well, I am and then again I'm not.
Too say that I know my way around inside a pistol would most likely, too most of you folks, be an incorrect answer.
Breaking one down and loosing springs and such is a far cry from "knowing" what the hell I am doing.
I really am not in tune with the inside as many of you are here. Yes, I have bent and adjusted, tweaked and fiddled---but not to the extent that i may be rqired too do here.
I know barely anything about honeing. I only know that a part is broke if it comes out in two pieces. Fitting is a foreign language too me.
I am not real mechanical to begin with.
So the questions are real---or maybe I am a bit insecure.
Blessings

[Mikey]

William - ok.  I think the only set of tools and stuff I would have around to take a mil-spec 1911A1 apart is a small screwdriver set (also Swiss files for polishing work and possibly some Crocus Cloth).  

As Flint said, the 1911 was meant to be disassembled without tools and it can be accomplished easily.  There is probably little that needs doing with the slide assembly - if it chambers and extracts casings properly and drops them to your right within a few feet then leave the extractor alone.  If the firing pin hits square and detonates the cartridge, leave it alone.  If you can't see the sights, which are strictly mil-spec, change them or have them changed.

The trigger pull can be dealt with easily.  After you remove the magazine catch you can pull the trigger out from the rear.  Take a look at the trigger bars for any scratches or wear marks because that is where the trigger bar channels will need to be smoothed and this can be done easily with Swiss files or stones small enough to clean up the trigger bar channels   Once you have the channels polished a bit, and have polished off any burrs or roughness from the trigger bars, sear and disconnector, hammer etc., lightly stone the two outside prongs of the mainspring where they make contact and lightly stone the middle prong where it contacts the back of the hammer.  Clean all that stuff up, oil lightly with whatever you prefer, reassemble the piece to make certain the hammer and sear, etc. work properly together and see how she shoots.  

William, because it is you and because you have gone so far as to act on our considerations, we will walk you through this successfully.  

I will drop to my knees (only my good one) as the moderator of this site and call upon the lovely ladies SharonAnne or Broom Rider to provide spot on guidance if I kneed to.......

Ladies - Start yer en-gines please.  This be Mikey, an we is onna mission...............

[drdougrx]

Mikey...you are the best......

[williamlayton]

Mikey & All
Here are the plans:
Arched Mainspring
Extended ejector
extended mag release
new thumb Safety and new barrel bushing
Short trigger
R/M the fireing pin stop (series 80)
Polish as necessary
Blessings
The main concerns with this Norinco being that all replacement parts don't require any machineing to fit properly or that all holes are standard in size and spacing.

Trigger job by Vandenberg and Heinie Slant pros by Vandenberg
Blessings

[Savage]

William,
It's time you learned what "Drop In" means in replacement parts. It means you just drop them in your parts box when you learn they need major fitting to work!!!
Savage

[torpedoman]

 cutting a dovetail in the slide will require aspecial tool the steel in it will burn up the normal cutter. You may wish to tell your smith that when and if you decide to add decent sights.

[SAA]

William,
It's time you learned what "Drop In" means in replacement parts. It means you just drop them in your parts box when you learn they need major fitting to work!!!
Savage

I´m no expert, but from what I´ve learned you almost always have to do some fitting to make it work, you can however reduce the amount of fitting needed buy choosing quality replacement parts.
I measured up my Norinco with a digital caliper before ordering a new barrel bushing making sure that the new one would be as close as possible but just a little bigger so I could fit it without having to remove too much material, it still took a lot of fitting but it turned out really good in the end, a bushing that truly is "drop in" would probably not make any improvement to the gun.

[Savage]

a bushing that truly is "drop in" would probably not make any improvement to the gun.

That's about the size of it!

Savage

[Mikey]

William:  from your listing of whatcha gonna do, here is what you can do yourself:  The arched mainspring housing - no problem.  Put some pressure on the strut base or cup to compress the spring, push out the strut 'thingy' retaining pin and ease the hammer return spring out.  Reassemble and install.

The extended ejector - drive out the ejecter retaining pin (right to left), gently pry up the rear of the ejector a bit, then the front, until you can lift it out and replace it with the new ejector, then replace the pin.  You may have to angle the ejector face a bit, depending on how she ejects brass. 

The extended mag release - remove the factory mag release and insert the new one...  Same thing with the thumb safety and short trigger.  If you have to polish any parts to get them to fit then see if you can polish those areas of the frame they came in contact with. 

Hain't sure what you mean about r/m firing pin stop but if all it takes is filing, it's a diy. 

Now, if ya don't believe me just ask one of the ladies, either SharonAnne (where-ever you are) or Broom Rider.  HTH. 

[williamlayton]

There ya go pokin shame at me again and questioning my manhood.
By golly at times I do it to myownself.
Blessings

[rzwieg]

I've handled Norincos at gun shows and something tells me there's a pretty decent pistol there...with a little work.

[williamlayton]

I have the feeling that since it was imported thru California that it has a series 80 fireing pin.
I am trying to find out, as we speak.
Blessings 

[95Road King]

I;ve had a Norinco .45 for about 12 years now. Ive done most everything you mentioned to it. I think the best thing I did was put an adjustible rear site on. Then I had to change the front site AND that was a real pain!! Anyway it shoots great. The guy's at my gun club get a big kick out of how accurate it is. I can put them all in a 4" circle at 50 ft. Not Bullseye accuracy but good enough for for me.

[williamlayton]

Went down with a buddy to talk with Vandenberg yesterday.
He looked at it---gave Norinco a nod of approval---said they were as hard as a w***e's heart.
My suspicions were correct, he said it has not been shot. Range time with it this week---I am beginning to like this thing a bit more everyday.
Did you know you can order them out of Canada?
Why did I look to see?
Now, Ed has been doing this stuff for years---when he is not going too school and getting another degree--he has two that I know of + a CPA. He dispelled some of what I have read over the years about lugs being beaten up because of a misdesign--needing a new barrel--being hard too machine.
It is so good, when you are as anal as I can be, dumb as a brick, & lacking in skills to have a GOOD smith handy---and one that you can TALK too. He is a blessing.
Blessings

[williamlayton]

OK, I will allow all too take shots at me cause I was wrong about the Norinco--there is still a problem.
It does not have a beavertail grip safety and I usually have a problem in this area because of my grip.
Because the Norinco is based on the original JMB specs there is not a beavertail that does not require some maching/working of the frame for it to blend in well.
Wilson makes about as close to a drop-in beavertail that is on the market but they sell a jig too complete the blending.
This steel is too hard for the average tools to work the steel.
Vandenberg will do it but he charges more because it eats up his cutters and files--that, and I wanted to do it myownself.
I am in a delima. My present thought is to leave it as it is---but the web of the hand may not allow that for too long. It didn't affect/effect the hand at the range so the angle of the cut may not warrent the beavertail.
If I do need one does anybody have a solution?
Blessings  

[Savage]

Tape, William. A good layer of adhesive tape on the thumb and web of the hand is usually good for 100 rds or so.
Savage

[Skunk]

"Re: OK---I GOT THIS HERE NORINCO"

You mean dat dare Norinco, William? How about those Saints!

[williamlayton]

 
Blessings

[ironglow]

  Hi Bill;
  Decided to drop over on the 1911 forum. Found a pic of that Norinco..it sure does look like the Colt (by Singer) I was issued as a young tanker.

[williamlayton]

IG
You was in WWI---I didn't know we had any tanks in that war--which army was you in?
Blessings

[zoner]

i have a 70 series colt....wanted a beavertail grip safety but didn't want to alter the frame...the wilson drop in grip safety dropped right in...no fitting required. My gun was blued and i changed the trigger(to a long one),grip safety,thumb safety,slide stop,mainspring housing,and barrel bushing to stainless..........looks pretty cool.....

[williamlayton]

Zoner
What I understand about the Norc is that it is cut to different specs--the original--and that Wilsons work but don't look as finished.
What do I know--I don't know anything but what I read in the paper--Will Rodgers.
Blessings

[jhm]

William I picked up a colt stainless combat Comander this past summer I believe, and it had AMBI. safety on it which I dont like, ordered a Wilson stainless (R) hand shooter safety to replace it with, when the new safety arived it wasnt a drop in as the safety shaft hole was smaller on the colt, had to have colt drilled to match the wilson so as Savage said all drop ins are not all drop ins.   Jim

[ironglow]

William;
  Cavalry is cavalry..armored or not! Now old Stonewall and I....