Colt 1911 odd find while disassembling

[JoseyWales]

I disassembled an old (1950s? or 1960s?) NM Colt Commercial 1911 and I found a thin strip of metal (stainless steel or brass) inside the slide rail of the slide itself. It was the exact width of the channel where the frame slides into the slide. It was held in there with just grease and some kind of equally thin tape. It was obviously put there to tighten up the slide/frame movement.

Is this a normal accurizing trick? Or, do you think the seller was trying to tighten up a lemon just for the sale?

After taking the thin metal strip out and putting the pistol back together, there was a bit more play in the slide/frame but it wasn't horrible. I'm not sure how much play is acceptable in a 1911 pistol.

 

[twogunwilly]

get thee to thy gun smith

 

[Greg Derr]

Sounds like someone tried to silver solder in a filler strip of steel and the solder did not stick. Could be an old school fix, but not by a serious pro. Vertical play effects accuracy more on a 1911 than side to side play. Was the gun sold to you a "accurized"?