Author Topic: OK---I GOT THIS HERE NORINCO (Read 3649 times)

williamlayton · « **Reply #30 on:** November 22, 2009, 07:41:07 AM »

Now i remember where we first me. Dang, boy, you has growed to be a gooder lookin man than I remember.

I will post some pictures soon--got them Esmarelda grips on them. They is X-rated but we will see if GB and Mikey allow them on the family show here.
Blessings

Mikey · « **Reply #31 on:** November 23, 2009, 02:19:33 AM »

William: Esmerelda's grips are works of professional artistry and their isn't anything x-rated about them as far as I can see, and Esmerelda herself appers to be quite a lovely lady from the pictures I have seen of her working in her shop.

Oh yeah, Wilson's beavertail grip safety is not always a 'drop-in', but the King's Beavertail grip safeties I have used on both Colt and Springfield made 1911s drops right in without fitting, and the frame does not have to be altered. HTH.

williamlayton · « **Reply #32 on:** November 23, 2009, 08:55:51 AM »

You will do a hula dance when you see these things. I will get em up soon.
Yes she is a lovely, demure young lady and she does marvelous things with grips.
Blessings

Skunk · « **Reply #33 on:** November 23, 2009, 10:33:32 AM »

Wow, I went to Esmeralda's website and looked at her work. She makes some darn nice grips.

ironglow · « **Reply #34 on:** November 23, 2009, 01:18:48 PM »

My sister and brother-in-law live in Alaska..as do most of their kids. Back in the 70s, my sis bought her husband a new Colt 1911 in stainless or chrome. Then she had a local artist carve some dark jade grips for it.
Larry was so proud of that piece! ...But it did disturb him one day, when somebody told him his Colt was beautiful.."but when are you going to change those green, plastic grips?"

williamlayton · « **Reply #35 on:** November 24, 2009, 04:11:38 AM »

OK HERE. This is the beater with the grips what come on it.

williamlayton · « **Reply #36 on:** November 24, 2009, 04:16:20 AM »

This is the Norinco with the new grips. See the thumb safety and how it was modified. See the small sights.

Skunk · « **Reply #37 on:** November 24, 2009, 08:29:21 AM »

Nice William, very nice indeed. You got dat dare Norinco looking good my friend.

williamlayton · « **Reply #38 on:** November 24, 2009, 08:50:55 AM »

Tell me them Esmerelda's aint soft porn.

Blessings

SAA · « **Reply #39 on:** November 24, 2009, 11:41:34 AM »

The mainspring housing looks wierd to me, it seems to be without any serrations whatsoever?

My Norinco came with the arched msh.

The grips really stand out, nice.

I like Esmeraldas grips with the Thors hammer, so maybe someday I will order a pair of grips from her too.

Mikey · « **Reply #40 on:** November 24, 2009, 01:45:15 PM »

Aw nutz, now I have to go shopping again.

williamlayton · « **Reply #41 on:** November 25, 2009, 12:12:31 AM »

SAA
It is because it is a copy of the military, which was not an arched housing. It is a rattler also, just like the old military.

Mikey
My turn----told ya so. Your IT.

Blessings

Savage · « **Reply #42 on:** November 25, 2009, 01:48:22 AM »

William,
A lot of those "rattlers" were pretty good shooters. Just goes to show that the slide to frame fit is not as critical to accuracy as some would have you believe. I love a well fitted 1911 with the slick well fitted slide and frame tho. Feels like precision when you operate the slide, and it does contribute to accuracy. Bet the rattle is gone when your smith fits the Caspian slide!
Savage

williamlayton · « **Reply #43 on:** November 25, 2009, 08:50:20 AM »

The Caspian is on the BBQ Colt Commander.
This thing here was just kinda an acccidental pregnacy---I'm just gonna do what there is to do except the trigger the sights and some grip checkering (if I do that).
I really like the rattle--call me crazy. I remember the old ones I loved too shoot, could almost hear the rattle over the Bang.
I, honestly like them loose and I think they can shoot pretty darn accurate with a good lug set-up.
Blessings

Skunk · « **Reply #44 on:** November 25, 2009, 09:04:50 AM »

William,

I really like these grips from Esmeralda:

I can't put my finger on just what it is, but there seems to be something so spiritual about them.

williamlayton · « **Reply #45 on:** November 25, 2009, 01:09:34 PM »

I like her grips. Course I am a grip junkie.
Blessings

rawhidekid · « **Reply #46 on:** November 26, 2009, 01:21:14 AM »

The original rattle was from making them loose enough to still work when dropped in dirt /mud. When the army fought in these conditions the guns actually shot better when dirty as it would tighten them up.

That was the story my Uncle told me, (he fought in Korea). Made sence to me so I have no reson to doubt it. Our troops in the deserts have complained about keeping our new tight guns working in the dirt, seems we never learn.

williamlayton · « **Reply #47 on:** November 28, 2009, 11:34:15 PM »

All things are in order.
The grip screw busings are a different pattern than our threadings. Therefore Vandenberg is going to rethread for the new shorther bushings required by the thin grips from Esmeralda. He will also checker the front strap, cut for and install the new Heinie sights, do the trigger job and refinish it.
I have ordered the arched mainspring housing, thumb safety, mag release and barrel bushing--which I will do.
He is going to look at the springs and decide on what to do about them--he is not fond of their springs, from my take.
BVlessings

williamlayton · « **Reply #48 on:** January 21, 2010, 03:27:37 PM »

Well, I got this accidental pregnacy/sows ear back from Vandenberg. I will post some pics tomorrow.
Here is what I did:
Replace thumb safety with extended--he cleaned up my work

Replaced flat mainspring with an arched mainspring---I didn't have the guts to ask him if he corrected any of that work.

What Ed did:
Mag catch extended.
Extract grip bushings.
Trigger job with short trigger- 3 1/2#'s.
Polymer-composit finish--black.
HEINIE Slant Pro sight set.
Elevate mag catch.
Match grade barrel bushing.
Short trigger.
Set sights.
FP spring
Silk purse--N/C
Blessings

rawhidekid · « **Reply #49 on:** January 21, 2010, 03:59:55 PM »

Sounds great, can't wait to see pics and here how it shoots.

williamlayton · « **Reply #50 on:** January 22, 2010, 11:53:02 AM »

The Sow's Ear as a Silk Purse.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #51 on:** January 22, 2010, 01:26:44 PM »

Great job, definetly something to be proud of.

Skunk · « **Reply #52 on:** January 22, 2010, 01:35:03 PM »

Dat dar Norinco is Nice William!!

Savage · « **Reply #53 on:** January 22, 2010, 01:42:00 PM »

Looks good William! Nice touch leaving the spur hammer and installing the non vented trigger. Naturally grips by Esmeralda are always a winner. Great classic look there William!
Savage

williamlayton · « **Reply #54 on:** January 23, 2010, 02:33:53 AM »

What amazes me---I am easily amazed---is how a barrel bushing change can make lock up so much tighter. It happens every time. No rattle now.
If the weather holds until Tuesday--I don't shoot or play golf on the weekend, those days are reserved for you boys still working---I am going to tinkel the trigger.
I am hoping that it will smooth out the trigger---there seems to be a small catch in it--otherwise it is back to Ed. Nothing bad and I suspect it will smooth out and I could live with it but---you know anal people.
Blessings

SAA · « **Reply #55 on:** January 24, 2010, 07:03:53 AM »

Quote from: williamlayton on January 23, 2010, 02:33:53 AM

I am hoping that it will smooth out the trigger---there seems to be a small catch in it--otherwise it is back to Ed. Nothing bad and I suspect it will smooth out and I could live with it but---you know anal people.
Blessings

When I fixed the trigger on my Norinco I found the hammer had a scratch straight across, but its fairly easy to stone the hammer, just make sure you get a 90 degree angle.
If you want to work on the sear youll need a sear-jig to get the angles right.
You can place the hammer and sear on the outside of the frame to see and feel how they interact, use a good magnification glass.

Oh, and your Norinco is looking very good, cant wait to hear how it shoots.

williamlayton · « **Reply #56 on:** January 24, 2010, 10:39:46 PM »

I really think it will smooth out with a little use and it aint bad, as is.
That said Ed can do the smoothing.
I have really fallen for this ol thang.
Blessings
PS glad all are enjoying the Pictures and the ride along with this project--it has been fun for me.
Bill

rawhidekid · « **Reply #57 on:** January 24, 2010, 11:48:04 PM »

Just wondering, are you going to give us the cost of the makeover? Sure would be helpfull in deciding on this route or a Kimber.

Blessings

williamlayton · « **Reply #58 on:** January 25, 2010, 12:33:06 PM »

Thumb Safety was round 30/40 dollars, same with Arched MS---these I did myownself--well, kinda.
The rest was $650
The biggest cost were the sights and milling the dovetails and the finish--which were about $400.
All worth the cost for the pleasure and ease of the mind.
Blessings

rawhidekid · « **Reply #59 on:** January 25, 2010, 02:59:12 PM »

Thanks for the info. With the initial price of the gun added in you are right at a grand. It is what a Kimber would run but you have the satisfaction of having it personalised to your desires. Good project, William