Obscure grip screw question

[smithers599]

I have a 1968-made Colt Government Model 1911. The slots on the grip screws are wide enough that the screws can be removed/tightened with the rim of a .45 ACP cartridge. (That was the original spec from Browning in 1911.)
On all my other 1911s, the slots are narrower; they work with a Swiss Army Knife but not a cartridge rim. I think it would be cool to have grips screws that could be tightened/loosened in the field with no tools.
Of all the different kinds of slotted grip screws that are for sale, do any of them have slots wide enough to accommodate a cartridge rim? (I called Brownells tech support; they say "no clue.") Gunsmiths, do you know if anybody sells 1911 grip screws with the wider slot?

 

[QuietM4]

Have you tried Numrich?

 

[Crippledtrigger]

Winner.^^^^^^

 

[smithers599]

Found on Etsy, of all places:

1911 Black Wide Slot Grip Screws Custom Set of (4) .45 .38 Super M1911A1 M1911 Colt Kimber
Message Seller
$4.95
Quantity

Add to cart

Item details
Handmade item
Vintage from before 2000

Complete set of four (4) Grip screws. NOS with Black Finish and [highlight=yellow]Wide Slot so no special take down tools are require, You could use the edge of a casing.[/highlight]

 

[shooter444]

smithers599,

What a great idea, never heard of it, and I have been into 1911's for many a decade!!

It seems to me, that you could regrind the slots yourself. I would assume a vice and controlled overhead drill press with a disk grinder attachment would be in order, to have perfectly controlled results. I have a Dremel with a drill press type stand that could be rigged up and probably work with one of the thin disk grinders/cutters.

Plus,... I would think that,... if you want these slots to specifically be used with a case rim,.... grinding the bottom of the screw slot to be concave, to match the curve on the edge of the case rim, could be a positive.

jmo

 

[smithers599]

Or you could buy half a dozen sets at $4.95/set, plus $5 shipping.
I would have preferred stainless or nickel for my silver-colored 1911s, but what the hey. If you want stainless with wide slots, then probably DIY is the only option.

I dislike hex-head grip screws. Who walks around with a hex key? I guess the theory behind hex-heads is that they don't get dinged up by poorly-fitting screwdrivers. But if they do, (a) it's a tool; it's not a big deal if it gets dinged up, and (b) at $4.95/set, they are disposable/replaceable.

 

[shooter444]

Hey smithers599, I hear you loud and clear,... I guess my need for instant gratification is surfacing,... oh well, all the best.

 

[Ballistic Therapy]

You do not need single tool to disassemble a 1911 if it is made the way Browning designed it.

 

[smithers599]

Arrived in today's mail. Photo attached of wide slot screw on left and regular slot on right.
If you want some, go on Etsy, and look for "vintageshootin".

 

[shooter444]

:dance: NICE! :dance: