New Colt Defender!

[mupepe]

Picked it up about 2 hours ago, broke it down and cleaned/lubed it and now I'm itching it to hit the range this weekend!

The trigger feels great, better than my XSE and it's a perfect fit for my hand. I have a holster coming in from Crossbreed too so as soon as I know she operates 100% it will be my EDC.

I'm wanting to change out some things on it though. I figure some new grips from Altamont, but I wanted to replace the mainspring housing cover, grip safety, thumb safety, mag release, recoil spring bushing and slide stop with either chrome or nickel plated parts. Can anyone point me in the direction of where I can get drop in parts for an Officer frame? I know I can get stainless from various places like Wilson, and I'll go for stainless if that's all I can get.

Thanks in advance!

[The Annoyed Man]

It's a pretty little gun.......but it seems to be missing a part.

........the thumb safety on the right side of the frame.......

[carlson1]

Dawson Precison, Smith Alexander, and Wilson Combat.

[karder]

beautiful!

[mupepe]

It's a pretty little gun.......but it seems to be missing a part.

........the thumb safety on the right side of the frame.......

I'm not a fan of ambi safeties. If it came with one that'd probably be the first thing I removed!

Dawson Precison, Smith Alexander, and Wilson Combat.

Thank you very much!

[Pawpaw]

Beautiful pistol!

One thing though... That is not a "mainspring housing cover", that IS the mainspring housing.

Edit to add: If you're going to replace it, you will need to learn how to disassemble the old housing and reassemble the parts into the new one. It's not hard. YouTube will show you how. All you need is a solid work surface, a couple of punches, and SAFETY GLASSES.

[WTR]

[mupepe]

Beautiful pistol!

One thing though... That is not a "mainspring housing cover", that IS the mainspring housing.

Edit to add: If you're going to replace it, you will need to learn how to disassemble the old housing and reassemble the parts into the new one. It's not hard. YouTube will show you how. All you need is a solid work surface, a couple of punches, and SAFETY GLASSES.

Thanks for the correction! I've replaced it on my Colt XSE before but I imagine the process is the same or very similar? I'll be taking a look at youtube anyhow!

[flowrie]

Very nice pistol, congrats!

[LosAlce]

Beautiful! Can't wait to hear how it does at the range!

[mupepe]

Thanks, everyone!

Does anyone know if a Wilson Combat Officer's Model FLGR kit will fit inside a Defender? I assume not since the Office is 3.5", correct? I'm trying to track down a SS bushing for the recoil assembly but can only find ones for actual Officer models.

[The Annoyed Man]

It's a pretty little gun.......but it seems to be missing a part.

........the thumb safety on the right side of the frame.......

I'm not a fan of ambi safeties. If it came with one that'd probably be the first thing I removed!

You must be a righthand chauvinist.

With the exception of my dad's 1943 Ithaca war relic, every 1911 I've ever owned either had to have an ambi-safety added, or came with one in the first place. Still, I do love 1911s; but I don't carry one anymore.

[mupepe]

It's a pretty little gun.......but it seems to be missing a part.

........the thumb safety on the right side of the frame.......

I'm not a fan of ambi safeties. If it came with one that'd probably be the first thing I removed!

You must be a righthand chauvinist.

With the exception of my dad's 1943 Ithaca war relic, every 1911 I've ever owned either had to have an ambi-safety added, or came with one in the first place. Still, I do love 1911s; but I don't carry one anymore.

It just looks so... unnatural!

I wanted to replace the mainspring housing cover, grip safety, thumb safety, mag release, recoil spring bushing and slide stop with either chrome or nickel plated parts. Can anyone point me in the direction of where I can get drop in parts for an Officer frame?

Grip safety and thumb-safety won't be drop-in - those need to be fitted by hand.

From what I've seen on youtube it's just a bit of filing. Is that right?