"The 9mm Alfa and the Very Bad Day"

S

sailor723

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
47   0   0
Location
New Brunswick
So, I got a new Alfa 9mm from Wanstalls last week. The cert finally arrived so I got to shoot it last night. It worked well and i like the gun but it has a very heavy trigger. I read in the manual that the trigger pull is adjustable by turning a screw under the grips. The screw is accessable through a hole in the sideplate that is exposed when you take the grips off. None of my bits were skinny enough to fit through the hole to reach the screw so like an idiot I decided to take the sideplate off.( I wanted to have a look anyway to see how hard installing one of those spring kits from Rusty Woods would be.)........

Big mistake......

When the plate came off the trigger pin came stuck with it and the trigger fell out.I struggled to get the parts back together and plate back on (could not get it to fit back down between the frame and the newly replaced trigger pin). Then while messing with it another tiny pin and spring shot out of the sideplate across the basement into Never Never land. Shortly after that, when I turned it over while frigging with the plate the sear and the hand fell out....not sure if i lost any other pins/springs etc that time.

I now have a $500 paperweight and a small baggy containing some of the parts. I am waiting to hear back from the service centre (Blue Line Solutions) to see if I can sent it in and pay them for re-assembly (remanufacture?) and lost parts replacement. I tried calling them but they kept saying I had to fill out a warranty request form on their website. I tried to explain that it wasn't a warranty issue but i couldn't seem to get through to the guy on the phone. I filled the form out so i guess we'll see what happens.

It's obvious that I didn't miss my calling as a gunsmith!

Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed. :( :( :bangHead::bangHead:
 
Last edited:
You could try using some new pantyhose and placing them over a vacuum hose and go nuts going over every inch of your basement. You might find some things that are missing
 
A man's gotta know his limitations;)

There is a reason why I keep a magnetic sweeper in my shop. I haven't learned mine yet:rolleyes:

M
 
if you can find all the parts, bring it into the club some night and I'll put it back together for you, I've had mine apart a few times now and have a pretty good handle on how it goes
 
Unfortunately, my basement looks like a candidate for that TV show "Hoarders":rolleyes: The chances of finding that stuff are somewhere between slim and none. It may well have landed in one of the dozens of boxes full of stuff from kids apartments and dorm rooms past. Combine that with the fact I'm not 100% sure what is actually missing makes it pretty much a lost cause.

I'd take it to my gunsmith but then he would be faced with trying to get parts. The guy at Blue Line Solutions said they don't sell parts :confused:
 
Yeah I took my Alfa .357 apart once. Once. I'm very lucky that I didn't have a spring fly across the room, and after seeing the clockwerk inside the revolver I won't take it apart again unless there is a dire need to.
 
sailor723 said:
Unfortunately, my basement looks like a candidate for that TV show "Hoarders":rolleyes: The chances of finding that stuff are somewhere between slim and none. It may well have landed in one of the dozens of boxes full of stuff from kids apartments and dorm rooms past. Combine that with the fact I'm not 100% sure what is actually missing makes it pretty much a lost cause.

I'd take it to my gunsmith but then he would be faced with trying to get parts. The guy at Blue Line Solutions said they don't sell parts :confused:
Click to expand...

my basement is the same way :d I wonder if Rusty Wood would be able to get parts?
 
Tailgater1911 said:
my basement is the same way :d I wonder if Rusty Wood would be able to get parts?
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea. If I don't get anywhere with Blue Line maybe I'll bring it to the club and we can figure out what's missing with the help of the exploded parts diagram in the manual. if nothing else that would at least tell me what I'm looking for.
 
sailor723 said:
So, I got a new Alfa 9mm from Wanstalls last week. The cert finally arrived so I got to shoot it last night. It worked well and i like the gun but it has a very heavy trigger. I read in the manual that the trigger pull is adjustable by turning a screw under the grips. The screw is accessable through a hole in the sideplate that is exposed when you take the grips off. None of my bits were skinny enough to fit through the hole to reach the screw so like an idiot I decided to take the sideplate off.( I wanted to have a look anyway to see how hard installing one of those spring kits from Rusty Woods would be.)........

Big mistake......

When the plate came off the trigger pin came stuck with it and the trigger fell out.I struggled to get the parts back together and plate back on (could not get it to fit back down between the frame and the newly replaced trigger pin). Then while messing with it another tiny pin and spring shot out of the sideplate across the basement into Never Never land. Shortly after that, when I turned it over while frigging with the plate the sear and the hand fell out....not sure if i lost any other pins/springs etc that time.

I now have a $500 paperweight and a small baggy containing some of the parts. I am waiting to hear back from the service centre (Blue Line Solutions) to see if I can sent it in and pay them for re-assembly (remanufacture?) and lost parts replacement. I tried calling them but they kept saying I had to fill out a warranty request form on their website. I tried to explain that it wasn't a warranty issue but i couldn't seem to get through to the guy on the phone. I filled the form out so i guess we'll see what happens.

It's obvious that I didn't miss my calling as a gunsmith!

Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed. :( :( :bangHead::bangHead:
Click to expand...

My wife and kids are on their way to you currently. Although they're more accustomed to finding 1911 safety plungers and springs that "boing" out of my guns, they are incredibly adaptive and I have no doubt will be of help to you...no charge for a brother. ;)
 
Been there and got the shirt. I'm normally pretty lucky at finding the parts but about 1 in 8 to 1 in 10 go away to the "sock universe" never to be seen again along with all the single socks that disappear in the time space vortex that forms in the bin of the dryer.

While you're waiting for Blue Line to work their magic do stop by Rusty Wood Trading and order up the spring kit. Or since I know Rusty and Blue Line are on good speaking terms you may be able to get Blue Line to put one of Rusty's springs in the gun while they are doing the rest. Or if they agree to send you the bits you need then order one of Rusty's springs on your own.

The RWT spring makes the Alfa feel like a Wolff kit equipped S&W. And THAT is very fine indeed.
 
Ganderite said:
Been there. Done that. Of the half dozen parts that flew across the room over the years, only one has been found. After I bought a replacement.
Click to expand...

I usually find the piece a day after ordering a replacement... go figure:rolleyes: I have noticed that anything that pings off 3 walls is gone for ever:eek: One or two walls indicates a chance of recovery:)

M
 
gnmontey said:
I usually find the piece a day after ordering a replacement... go figure:rolleyes: I have noticed that anything that pings off 3 walls is gone for ever:eek: One or two walls indicates a chance of recovery:)

M
Click to expand...

I know! I found that little pin in the trigger that holds the MDS in my Browning (at the bottom of a full waste paper basket) about 30 minutes after I ordered the replacement from Brownells
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom