Way back in college when my balls first dropped, I had particular geekouts for two sectors of the 1911 family tree: hot-loaded cartridges like .45 Super and .450 SMC, and Longslides--at the time I'd wanted to do a 7" like an AMT, but the only parts available then were the more common 6" versions as Clark pioneered the genre with. Recently my neighborhood FFL 'smith suggested I take a look at Fusion's parts catalog, and with them having 7" slides and barrels in the catalog albeit not immediately available that suggested it was time to take a look at dusting off and modernizing the old concept while going back to the original Extra Long idea.
In the years since between the extinction of Para and my small hands I've dropped the original planned doublestack frame, but have added an optic and threaded barrel to the specs sheet--not for a can, but for the extra barrel length and possibility of a flash hider or linear comp.
Particular challenge: .45 Super originally called for a 22#, dual-spring recoil assembly in 5"--if memory serves Ace Custom basically lengthened the recoil system from a 3" Detonics Combatmaster--and I know that longer slides call for weaker springs, the guys at Wolff suggested I just use their 6" Longslide springs with a longer recoil plug. I'm now thinking that I'd like an optic on it, but unsure about which. I'm also thinking this might be better to do in phases--start with a 5" slide/barrel, then get a 7" barrel and pop it into the 5" slide as an interim step, then finally add the 7" slide and have it setup with the 5" top-half for CCW and the 7" for nightstand duty. Also thinking I want threaded barrels, not for cans but for the extra barrel length and maybe a flash suppressor on the 7". (Some of the thinking here is if it can handle regular .450SMC, .45ACP +P should be a cakewalk.)
Right now even with the hazards of open emitter in wet climate I'm thinking have the slide milled for an RMR, looking for the lowest-profile mount I can find with an integral BUIS. Fusion has one that's solid, but looks a little higher than I'd like. Irv at Bar-Sto recommended I look to a Clark/Para ramped barrel for best chamber support. So far here's the parts I'm looking at, and I'd welcome suggestions to refine them. Hammer and grip-safety I usually tend to prefer GI like Grandpa carried, particularly the rounded long-tang grip safety of a late-war gun. If I could get that tang on top with a modern "memory bump" at the bottom of the GS I'd be happy as a clam.
Slide: Fusion 7" https://fusionfirearms.com/1911-7-lo...-slide-builder - if they can do the custom machining for my preferred "muzzle heavy" radius cut
Barrel: Fusion 7" .45ACP, Clark ramp https://fusionfirearms.com/1911-7-in...ra-match-grade
Firing Pin: ? (.45 Super required a heavy-duty pin, then cut down by .035", and a heavy duty spring)
Firing Pin Stop: ? (.45 Super requires squared-off heavy-duty)
Optic Mount: ?
Optic: ?
BUIS: ?
Frame: Fusion?
Trigger: Need suggestions--I'm looking for something short and rounded like a WWII GI, but without the knurling--something that my finger will just glide across as it pulls.
Safety: ? (Need an ambi but prefer short GI-style "stub")
Mainspring Housing (arched w/lanyard loop): EGW 11441 https://www.egwguns.com/mainspring-h...-colt-style-gi
Ejector: ? (known to need a longer ejector nose for .45 Super)
Recoil System: ? (.45 Super requires ~22#, originally built with Detonics-style dual-spring and full-length guide rod systems IIRC)
O/A Parts Kit for things not otherwise mentioned: Sarco C45096 https://www.sarcoinc.com/1911-45-cal...-slide-barrel/
Finish: Given that there's a reason we call this place "NorthWET" and make jokes about "Washington Rain Festival," I'm torn between back to Gunkote, having an NP3 or hard-chrome job done or just going straight stainless.
Anybody else out there in M4C Land ever tried to do anything like this, or have any suggestions on filling in the blanks?
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