Colt Recall: Six 1911 models are affected

AmericanRifleman.org ^ | August 2009 | NRA Staff

[Stonewall Jackson]

Colt Manufacturing Company has announced a recall of six 1911-styled pistol models because parts were not manufactured to Colt specifications and could break, causing safety issues with the handguns.

The following models sold after March 2007 are affected by the recall, which will require replacement of the Slide Lock Safety, the Recoil Spring Guide Pad or both:

• 1911 WWI Replica (O1911) - 4597WMK to 5414WMK (safety)
• 1918 WWI Replica (O1918) – 1001WWI to 3431WWI (safety)
• Combat Elite (O7810D) – CG10000E to CG11293E (safety)
• Defender (O7000D) – DR33036 to DR35948 (guide pad)
• Talo Night Defender (O7000NDF) – NDF0001 to NDF0400 (guide pad)
• New Agent (O7810D) – GT01001 to GT04505 both parts require replacing

Customers owning models in the listed serial number range should stop using the handgun immediately, and contact Colt Customer Service for instructions. The models requiring the Slide Lock Safety replacement must be returned to Colt for repair, while the Defender models can be repaired at home with a replacement part.

Customers can contact Colt Manufacturing Company LLC by phone, mail or online at:
• (800) 962-2658 (Option 2)
• 545 New Park Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110
• www.coltsmfg.com
• Recall@colt.com

Colt determined that the parts for the models listed above were of improper hardness, and could wear, bend or crack, causing safety issues or rendering the pistol inoperable. While there has been no reports of injuries or property damage, Colt advises owners to immediately stop using the affected firearms, and contact Colt to learn how to have the handguns repaired at no cost.

[yarddog]

I think we may be having a problem that the extractor and ejector are two different parts. The ejector is a blade pinned to the left side of the frame it is easy to see when the slide id off. It rides in a groove in the slide and when the recoiling slide containing the case hits it, it is knocked out the ejector port on the right side of the slide.

During this time the extractor pulls the case out of the chamber and holds it against the slide face until the ejector knocks it out. It is the extractor which fits in a tube in the slide and is inserted into the slide though a hole in the back of the slide. It is held in place by a flat piece of metal which also holds the firing pin/firing pin spring in. The tension of the firing piin spring makes the firing pin protrude through a hole in piece which locks it in.

[hiredhand]

I think we may be having a problem that the extractor and ejector are two different parts. The ejector is a blade pinned to the left side of the frame it is easy to see when the slide id off. It rides in a groove in the slide and when the recoiling slide containing the case hits it, it is knocked out the ejector port on the right side of the slide.

During this time the extractor pulls the case out of the chamber and holds it against the slide face until the ejector knocks it out. It is the extractor which fits in a tube in the slide and is inserted into the slide though a hole in the back of the slide. It is held in place by a flat piece of metal which also holds the firing pin/firing pin spring in. The tension of the firing piin spring makes the firing pin protrude through a hole in piece which locks it in.

My apologies. I do believe I used incorrect terminology! I'm talking about the extractor. ...the part that hooks onto the case groove to pull it out... the back end of it is just to the right of the hammer at the rear of the slide, looking at the pistol as if you were going to fire it. :-) It's the extractor which failed on my friend's pistol.

[Lurker]

The ejector is one part I've never had any issues with.

Note to self: Order spare ejector tomorrow.

[yarddog]

Ok that is what I thought might be the case. The extractor can sometimes be bent back to provide tension as like I said it provides it’s own tension by it’s shape but since it is a tempered part it might break.

Once it gets bent it is probably a good idea to just replace it. It is extremely easy to replace and not too expensive.

[hiredhand]

Now that we’ve talked about it, you’ll break one right?! :-)

[hiredhand]

Sorry again about the confusion. That’s exactly what my buddy did...REPLACED it. He kept the old one, because it “did” function after he bent it back.

[PAR35]

because parts were not manufactured to Colt specifications

Parts made in China?

[Lurker]

Of course!

[MarkL]

If you use quality magazines and you give your 1911 to a good gunsmith (one who specializes in the 1911s), in less than 1 hour, you'll have a handgun that will feed empty casings from the magazine (well the first one, carefully placed, at least).

Seriously, I've got one what's been worked over by Leonard Beatty of NC, and on a lark, I "loaded" some .45ACP "Wadcutters" by taking a 250 grain .452 hard cast lead bullet, and loaded it backwards in an empty, unprimed case. I was able to hand cycle a full magazine of 8 rounds with no misfeeds a couple of times.

Mark

[vetvetdoug]

My original Colts that I used are in a museum in Savannah, Tennessee; 1860 Army and 1850 Navy...I quit using them when good sense intervened. I do shoot an original Colt 1860 Army that was made by Colt here in the US in 1960. It is made very well and is far superior to the Italian Colts, even though they are made with the same machines. I’ve stocked up on caps and powder as the black powder weapons are not registered and there is no paperwork with them. Black powder is becoming hard to come by as the requirements for storage by the sellers have become strict. I have a Whitworth with the hexagonal bullet..I have the molds and patterns for the hexagonal patches. The ballistics for the Whitworth are the roughly the same as the .306. My Colt 1911’s are all fifty years or older and quite functional. OTOH I have a Kimber Concealed 1911 and a full sized Kimber 1911 and a Para Ordinance. I wish I could post pictures.

[Shooter 2.5]

Thanks for the information and I’m glad you don’t shoot the originals anymore.

I use Photobucket for my picture hosting. It’s a quality site and doesn’t cost anything.

Enjoy to all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P4XJTKzKEU

[Still Thinking]

Eww.

[Still Thinking]

You gotta be real, real careful doing that. You can easily over-relieve it and dangerously reduce case support. Sounds like you did it right, since I see the words “polishing wheel”, hopefully accompanied by rouge.

[Still Thinking]

You mean ejector (the thing that pops the empty out the port) or the extractor (the thing that grabs and drags the empty out the chamber? I’ve heard of more extractor problems than ejector, especially externals.

[dalereed]

Guess my 1942 issue model won't be affected.

[dalereed]

I don’t know if you still can but 60 years ago I used to buy the components, sulfur, salt peter, and charcoal, at the local drug atore and make my own for firecrackers and rockets.

[William Tell]

Here is a link to the Smith & Wesson web page describing a recall.

Quoting from that page:
"Smith & Wesson has identified a condition that may exist in certain PPK and PPK/S pistols which may permit a round to be discharged without the trigger being pulled. When the manual safety is disengaged, Smith & Wesson’s Product Engineering Group has determined that the possibility exists in certain firearms that lowering the hammer may cause a chambered round to fire."

Smith & Wesson has a backlog of about eight weeks in doing repairs. I'm still waiting for my PPK to be returned.

[Trailerpark Badass]

LOL, do you think Kimber would issue a paid recall for bad slide stops?

They almost ran the company into the ground with bad MIM parts, and they never acknowledged it.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Amen.

[PureSolace]

Wow. I almost bought one of these too. If you were to buy a 1911, which would you get? It’s almost fall, which means it’s time to buy another gun for the long winter months of indoor range shooting.