Color-Correct 1911 Parts & other stuff

[TomH]

I'm looking to switch out my Springfields titanium firing pin for a steel pin and more standard spring setup (for a better trigger pull), and so I think I'll change out the mainspring housing while I'm at it to take out their ILS lock system. But the problem I have now is this: my gun has a very black "parkerized" finish on it, and I'm not sure if buying any of the "blued" parts from ed brown, wilson, etc will match the gun. Does anyone have experience doing something like this? Would I have to buy parts and then refinish them myself to get the right color?

 

[Bugs100]

Try Brownells, they have almost every thing.

 

[LoginName]

There are a number of options available for the DIY'er... parkerizing, Gun Kote, Alumahyde, DuraCoat, etc. All are relatively easy to apply only catches being the costs (some of the products aren't cheap and/or require additional equipment such as an airbrush), and unless you refinish the entire firearm, getting an over all even appearance can be tricky.

See if you like how the gun looks with the blued parts installed... sometimes just the right amount/application of contrasting finishes
can look really nice.

 

[TomH]

Just ordered some parts for the project. I'll be doing the slidestop, safety, hammer/sear stuff later. Dave Berryhill said his parts are black oxide, but called "blue", and that most manufacturers do the same thing. For now I'm getting a trigger (personal asthetics preference), Wolff heavy duty firing pin spring, Wolff 16lb recoil spring, Wolff 19lb main spring, main spring cap, main spring pin, and the traditional guide rod and recoil spring plug setup (want to be able to take down without tools). Ordered all this from Dave Berryhill Custom, he has some pretty good prices and lots of recommendations at a 1911 forums. Getting the Ed Brown firing pin that fits the springfield from Brownells. I'll have to do up a post on switching all of these things out! Oh, and I'm also thinking of getting some smooth Madagascar Rosewood grips from Ahrends grips.