Turning a whore into a Lady: My Norinco 1911 rebuild

Spanky

Spanky

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I don't need another 1911. I didn't really WANT another 1911. But I'm only human.

First step: wash the filthy Chinese sticky grease off the gun and oil it up! I started with a COMPLETE disassembly, washed all parts with hot water and dish soap and rinsed them off. Then I soaked all parts in WD40 for a day, then in CLP for a day. Then a good clean and reassembly. It's better already.

At this point, it’s time for a test fire... but couldn’t. Idiots from IPSC have overrun my gun club and not ONE of the ~20 ranges are available for a test fire. God damn it.

MEANWHILE, our hero contends with growing frustration from our simple, bible-thumping neighbours to the South. As you may know, you can buy gun parts *if* the total order is under $100. Anything above that requires so much paperwork that you might as well not bother. So I order one order per day from Brownells totalling $97, $99, $90... you get the idea. God bless ‘merica! Here are the orders so far:

Brownells Order 1 – 16 June 2013:
- Wilson Combat Extended Slide Release
- Wilson Combat Value Line Commander Hammer
- Ed Brown National Match Trigger
- Ed Brown 1911 Rebuild Kit (springs and pins)

Brownells Order 2 – 17 June 2013:
- Wilson Combat Drop In Beaver Tail
- Wilson Combat Oversize Magazine Release
- Ed Brown 1911 Rebuild Kit (springs and pins)

Brownells Order 3 – 18 June 2013:
- Wilson Combat Deluxe Sear
- Nowlin TUFF STUFF extractor
- Ed Brown 1911 Mainsprings (5 Pack)

Brownells Order 4 – 19 June 2013:
- 2 x Custom Sear Springs
- Wilson Combat 2 Piece full length guide rod
- Extreme Service disconnector
- Trigger track stone
- Hammer slot stone

On the Canadian side, I bought Hogue 1911 Grips from DS Tactical (along with some other bits) and a couple bits from a fellow gunnut: extended thumb safety and a nice checkered mainspring housing.

Here's how she looks before any modifications - only a good cleaning:



You dirty, dirty whore. I am going to turn you into a lady!

I will keep posting pics and updates as I go, as well as test targets once those mouthbreather mall-ninja military wannabes clear off my range.

Cheers
John
 
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What a breath of fresh air, this thread has the potential to be the new "1911+1000 round" thread, minus all the #####ing about shipping times lol!
Keep the pics coming and updates!
Thanks
 
haha, im in the exact boat you are!

i am on step 2 of my build.

step 1 was a hogue grips from DS tactical (same as you)

step 2 was all from Dlask - magwell and oversized mag release and 4 new mags and a new skel trigger.

step 3 (where i am now)
im thinking of doing a lot of what your doing.
some inner guts from Brownnies and some parts and pieces from here or there.

i think that in a couple years from now there are gonna be a lot of Norinco Frankenstein's on the old EE board!

im kinda curious how good i shine up this turd!
ill be comparing it to my other 2 norincos and my ruger and kimber when its all said and done.
 
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Awesome, cant wait for mine to arive! Going to do a classic 1911, attempt a high polished blue with nitre blued accoutrements. Just need to find a couple bits like flat mainspring with lanyard ring and some other more period doodads.

Should be a classy looking gun.
 
wayupnorth said:
haha, im in the exact boat you are!

i am on step 2 of my build.

step 1 was a hogue grips from DS tactical (same as you)

step 2 was all from Dlask - magwell and oversized mag release and 4 new mags and a new sket trigger.

step 3 (where i am now)
im thinking of doing a lot of what your doing.
some inner guts from Brownnies and some parts and pieces from here or there.

i think that in a couple years from now there are gonna be a lot of Norinco Frankenstein's on the old EE board!

im kinda curious how good i shine up this turd!
ill be comparing it to my other 2 norincos and my ruger and kimber when its all said and done.
Click to expand...

shining a turd... haha

I think the frame, slide and barrel are fairly solid though, it should be able to turn into a good gun.

My goal is to have it outshoot my Para 1911 (which is amazingly accurate & reliable)

Cheers
John
 
TheWharGoul said:
Awesome, cant wait for mine to arive! Going to do a classic 1911, attempt a high polished blue with nitre blued accoutrements. Just need to find a couple bits like flat mainspring with lanyard ring and some other more period doodads.

Should be a classy looking gun.
Click to expand...

Before doing anything to the finish on a Norc - clean off the shizzle using whatever you have handy, then get a tube of Flitz metal polish and use a tiny bit on a soft cloth and be gentle - you may be absolutely shocked to find that the finish under all that factory grime and surface crap is really very decent - at least I was with my Compact. I've now had several folks ask me who re-blued my Norc.
 
enefgee said:
Before doing anything to the finish on a Norc - clean off the shizzle using whatever you have handy, then get a tube of Flitz metal polish and use a tiny bit on a soft cloth and be gentle - you may be absolutely shocked to find that the finish under all that factory grime and surface crap is really very decent - at least I was with my Compact. I've now had several folks ask me who re-blued my Norc.
Click to expand...
I dont doubt it, ive seen some pretty nice factory blues... and ive seen some terrible ones. To be honest, I just want the practice.
 
Nice! Looking forward to the final product!!! (If you're okay with it, post the build cost...)

Cheers
Jay
P.S. I will be REALLY impressed if it outshoots your Para!!! (Even with all the turd polishing... he he)
 
Jay said:
Nice! Looking forward to the final product!!!...

(Even with all the turd polishing... he he)
Click to expand...

+1 looking forward to seeing how your 'project' turns out!

woodlotowner said:
Took my new Norinco 1911 A1 to the range last fall and started shooting it. All good. The end.
Click to expand...

....lol....

Personally, I like to change the trigger, grips and ditch any extended slide stop, if it came with one.

DSCN4452.jpg


DSCN4463.jpg


:canadaFlag:
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NAA.
 
There's nothing more infuriating than repeatedly getting this in my shipping confirmation emails from Brownells:

***NOTE*** SIR: DUE TO DDTC RESTRICTIONS
***NOTE*** REGARDING THE NON-REGISTRATION
***NOTE*** OF MANUFACTURERS, ITEM(S) HAVE BEEN
***NOTE*** CANCELED FROM YOUR ORDER. THANK YOU.

In addition to the absurd "nothing over $100" rule, they won't ship outside the US if the manufacturers haven't registered...

So my carefully calculated under $100 shipments are lower, missing parts I need, and I'm still paying for shipping of a mostly-empty box every time.

So far, these are the items that they have refused to ship because of this "non-registration" bull####:

- Clark Custom Recoil Spring Guide
- Clark Custom Sear Springs
- Harrison Design & Consulting Extreme Service disconnector

So, word to the wise, don't try to order CLARK CUSTOM or HARRISON DESIGN & CONSULTING items. They let you add them to your cart and check out, but then they don't ship.

Having said that, Wilson Combat, Ed Brown and Nowlin products have been good to go so far.
 
Jay said:
Nice! Looking forward to the final product!!! (If you're okay with it, post the build cost...)

Cheers
Jay
P.S. I will be REALLY impressed if it outshoots your Para!!! (Even with all the turd polishing... he he)
Click to expand...

Jay,

I will post my total costs at the end for the build, along with results.

Cheers
John
 
Spanky said:
There's nothing more infuriating than repeatedly getting this in my shipping confirmation emails from Brownells:

***NOTE*** SIR: DUE TO DDTC RESTRICTIONS
***NOTE*** REGARDING THE NON-REGISTRATION
***NOTE*** OF MANUFACTURERS, ITEM(S) HAVE BEEN
***NOTE*** CANCELED FROM YOUR ORDER. THANK YOU.

In addition to the absurd "nothing over $100" rule, they won't ship outside the US if the manufacturers haven't registered...

So my carefully calculated under $100 shipments are lower, missing parts I need, and I'm still paying for shipping of a mostly-empty box every time.

So far, these are the items that they have refused to ship because of this "non-registration" bull####:

- Clark Custom Recoil Spring Guide
- Clark Custom Sear Springs
- Harrison Design & Consulting Extreme Service disconnector

So, word to the wise, don't try to order CLARK CUSTOM or HARRISON DESIGN & CONSULTING items. They let you add them to your cart and check out, but then they don't ship.

Having said that, Wilson Combat, Ed Brown and Nowlin products have been good to go so far.
Click to expand...

The Non-registration Bull - is US Federal law, nothing to do with Brownells, they're just obeying the law.
 
enefgee said:
The Non-registration Bull - is US Federal law, nothing to do with Brownells, they're just obeying the law.
Click to expand...

I know that, but Brownells doesn't warn you before you add these items to your cart and check out. They need to put a warning on these items so that this situation doesn't happen.
 
The orders continue...

DLASK order – 20 June 2013
- 4x 8 rd mags

Brownells Order 5 – 20 June 2013
- 2 x Wilson Combat Bullet Proof Sear Springs
- Ed Brown Perfection Disconnector
- 10-8 Performance LLC 1911 Armorer’s Block
- 10-8 Performance LLC Armorer’s Tool
 
OK Hogue grips have arrived and have been installed. This is already a huge improvement on how it feels. I love Hogue so much. I have Hogue stocks and grips on everything... 1911s, SIGs, Glocks, ARs, Kel-Tec RFB, 10/22s, 870s...

Picture:

 
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