Colt Experts?
- Thread starter deadman
- Start date
Officers ACP maybe. - dan
If they "appear" and are "almost" full size Colt 1911A1 stocks then they have "shrunk".
That's no BS, those post war Colt factory stocks were made of some polymer material that was notorious for "shrinking" if they were left off a pistol for any length of time.
Once they have shrunk I do not believe there is anyway to get them back to original dimensions.
NAA.
That's no BS, those post war Colt factory stocks were made of some polymer material that was notorious for "shrinking" if they were left off a pistol for any length of time.
Once they have shrunk I do not believe there is anyway to get them back to original dimensions.
NAA.
That's shrinkage then, those dimensions won't fit an Officer's. - dan
- Location
- Lakeview...where?
NAA is correct. Keyes Fiber Company and possibly others made stocks for 1911s during the war years. All of these grips shrink when removed from the guns for any lengh of time. I have never heard of any process that successfully restored them to their original size.
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Interestingly, I had not heard or personally experienced the shrinkage issue with the WWII era dark plastic fully checkered grips usually found on the GI 1911A1 pistols of the era, Keyes being one noted mfg. I have owned a number of WWII era GI pistols with Keyes and Colt mfg brown plastic grips.
However, I had heard/read and personally experienced the shrinkage issue with post WWII grips that look exactly as in the OP's picture. Brown plastic checkered grips with a molded rampant Colt pony in the center. These type of grips went on the post war commercial Colt government models, combat & lightweight commander models.
NAA.
- Location
- Lakeview...where?
I will defer to NAA statements. My research and experience certainly falls short of his. My apologizes for the misleading statements.
Update (in case anyone is interested)
I sold the grips, and yes, the buyer was aware of the shinkage. Came across another set, and found they didn't fit either. I figured there was nothing to lose, and heated the grips with a heat gun, just to see what would happen. They dropped right onto the bushings, and fit perfectly. They still look a little small when I compare them side by side with others, but the material expanded enough to return to the original dimensions between the screw holes.
There seems to be some elasticity, because after they were cooled, I removed one to see if it would retain its new size, and it wouldn't go back on the bushings. 10 seconds or so of heat, it expanded again to fit. This time I'll leave them on for a couple days to see if they do it again.
I like these grips, so was pleased to find I could make them useable again.
I sold the grips, and yes, the buyer was aware of the shinkage. Came across another set, and found they didn't fit either. I figured there was nothing to lose, and heated the grips with a heat gun, just to see what would happen. They dropped right onto the bushings, and fit perfectly. They still look a little small when I compare them side by side with others, but the material expanded enough to return to the original dimensions between the screw holes.
There seems to be some elasticity, because after they were cooled, I removed one to see if it would retain its new size, and it wouldn't go back on the bushings. 10 seconds or so of heat, it expanded again to fit. This time I'll leave them on for a couple days to see if they do it again.
I like these grips, so was pleased to find I could make them useable again.
