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Thread: Lower rail on an old 1911?

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    Senior Member L1A1Rocker's Avatar

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    Lower rail on an old 1911?

    I've seen that the new 1911's are now equipped with a mini rail on the dust cover for lights, lasers and other do-dads. I was wondering if it is possible to put one of those things on my current Para-Ordance so I can keep up with all the cool kids. Is this possible? If so how?

    Thanks folks.
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    Senior Member L1A1Rocker's Avatar

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    i don't guess any of the "cool folks" here have done this.
    US Constitution: Article 1 Section 8 Paragraph 4

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    Senior Member Dr. Gonzo GED's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by L1A1Rocker View Post
    I've seen that the new 1911's are now equipped with a mini rail on the dust cover for lights, lasers and other do-dads. I was wondering if it is possible to put one of those things on my current Para-Ordance so I can keep up with all the cool kids. Is this possible? If so how?

    Thanks folks.
    First place I would look is to Para themselves. See if you can get the frame you want and just swap the parts out.

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    Senior Member L1A1Rocker's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dr. Gonzo GED View Post
    First place I would look is to Para themselves. See if you can get the frame you want and just swap the parts out.
    This is a custom gun that came with oversized rails on both the slide (Caspian) and frame (Para). I'm just wanting to add a lower rail. I'll check out Para though, and see if they have an add on. Thanks.
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    Senior Member L1A1Rocker's Avatar

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    Well, here's something by Caspian


    Available from Midway for under $60.00.
    http://www.midwayusa.com/product/471...ent-steel-blue

    Have any of ya'll used one of these things?
    US Constitution: Article 1 Section 8 Paragraph 4

    The Congress shall have Power To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization

  6. #6
    Senior Member Dr. Gonzo GED's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by L1A1Rocker View Post
    This is a custom gun that came with oversized rails on both the slide (Caspian) and frame (Para). I'm just wanting to add a lower rail. I'll check out Para though, and see if they have an add on. Thanks.
    That bolt-on option would have been my next suggestion. That's the "old school" way of putting custom rails on handguns. Probably your best bet since the gun is built to custom specks.

    Those bolt ons have got to be worth something. Theyre still a popular choice for adding optics to race guns. There's some pretty slick options these days but the idea definitely goes back beyond the the modern rail fetish:


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    Contributor 02/2014 FunkyPertwee's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by L1A1Rocker View Post
    Well, here's something by Caspian

    Available from Midway for under $60.00.
    http://www.midwayusa.com/product/471...ent-steel-blue

    Have any of ya'll used one of these things?

    I was thinking of something like this before you posted it.

    Seems like a good concept to me.
    "I'm fucking furious, I'm violently angry, and I like it. If you don't know what that feels like then I feel bad for you"

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    Forum Administrator Schuetzenman's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by L1A1Rocker View Post
    i don't guess any of the "cool folks" here have done this.
    No, no I haven't. I see you've found at least one bolt on pic rail system. Have you looked at Brownell's web site, they carry a lot of handgun customization parts, especially for the 1911's.

    http://www.brownells.com/optics-moun...prod27001.aspx

    http://www.brownells.com/shooting-ac...prod22337.aspx

    Found 2 types.
    Last edited by Schuetzenman; 09-10-2013 at 06:24 PM.

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    Senior Member L1A1Rocker's Avatar

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    Well, after doing some playing on the interwebs I think I found exactly what I want(ed). Of course they are no longer made. Around 07 Dave Dawson got together with surefire and came out with the "light speed" mount. That was quickly copied someone called Yost. The rail is narrower and works by use of an adaptor to mount standard stuff on it. That way the pistol without the light would still fight in normal 1911 holsters.

    Here's a picture:

    Yost on the left, Dave's on the right.

    But, neither is being made anymore. Soooo, I'm off to follow Shuetzens links. . . .
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    Forum Administrator Schuetzenman's Avatar

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    BTW, do you have a milling machine? If so you could simply make your own out of some bar stock and do the 1 slot style like the ones shown in your photo.

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    Surefire makes one that bolted on through the slide stop if you don't want to drill and tap your frame or solder one on.
    EGW makes a solder on version I think.

    http://www.surefire.com/mr07-mounting-rail.html

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    Senior Member L1A1Rocker's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Schuetzenman View Post
    BTW, do you have a milling machine? If so you could simply make your own out of some bar stock and do the 1 slot style like the ones shown in your photo.
    Yes, I've got a very old horizontal milling machine by Atlas. It's VERY limited and I'm not really very good with it. But it IS an idea. Would you believe that the cut that has me the most perplexed is the radius that mates up to the dust cover??? I have no idea how to do that.

    However, your idea may be worth pursuing, if for no other reason than
    fun of a challenging project
    Last edited by L1A1Rocker; 09-11-2013 at 11:50 PM.
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    The Congress shall have Power To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization

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    Forum Administrator Schuetzenman's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by L1A1Rocker View Post
    Yes, I've got a very old horizontal milling machine by Atlas. It's VERY limited and I'm not really very good with it. But it IS an idea. Would you believe that the cut that has me the most perplexed is the radius that mates up to the dust cover??? I have no idea how to do that.

    However, your idea may be worth pursuing, if for no other reason than
    fun of a challenging project
    A large ball Endmill is how I'd do it. Measure the Rad on the weapon and order a ball endmill that will match it. OR you could match the rad by boring on a lathe a solid hunk of bar stock to create the radius via a hole then saw out a section to then mill into the rail.

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    Senior Member L1A1Rocker's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Schuetzenman View Post
    A large ball Endmill is how I'd do it. Measure the Rad on the weapon and order a ball endmill that will match it. OR you could match the rad by boring on a lathe a solid hunk of bar stock to create the radius via a hole then saw out a section to then mill into the rail.
    Hummm, very good ideas there. Thanks.

    Just FYI, here's a pic of an Atlas mill. (Not mine but just like it)

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    The Congress shall have Power To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization

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    Forum Administrator Schuetzenman's Avatar

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    I've done a lot with vertical knee mills but never used a horizontal. I should imagine that a radiused cutter is available where you could mill the radius for the dust cover fit. Then flip it over to mill the square top and sides. I'd imagine cutters for that horizontal mill would be a lot more expense than for a vertical type mill. Using your lathe probably is the cheapest way to get the rad. Drill a large pilot hole in bar stock, then you can use a boring bare to dress the hole for an exact radius match.

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    Team GunsNet Silver 07/2012 NewbieAKguy's Avatar

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    I took a 1911 armorer's course earlier in the year and when it came to rails on 1911s, his .02 was that if you want a rail on a 1911 then get one with it already a part of the frame; not an aftermarket bolt/screw on. His reasoning (was a tool & die maker for many years) is that he has yet to see a "bolt on" one strong enough that he'd trust. Much of that stemming from the fact that there's not much thickness in the dustcover for enough threads or whatever to attach to.

    If you'd like I can pass along contact info.
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    Team Gunsnet SILVER 05/2012 deth502's Avatar

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    13/32"

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    Forum Administrator Schuetzenman's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by NewbieAKguy View Post
    I took a 1911 armorer's course earlier in the year and when it came to rails on 1911s, his .02 was that if you want a rail on a 1911 then get one with it already a part of the frame; not an aftermarket bolt/screw on. His reasoning (was a tool & die maker for many years) is that he has yet to see a "bolt on" one strong enough that he'd trust. Much of that stemming from the fact that there's not much thickness in the dustcover for enough threads or whatever to attach to.

    If you'd like I can pass along contact info.
    I can understand the point about the thin nature of the dust cover metal. Even a 6x48 scope base screw thread won't have many threads to engage with. It might benefit from a sliver soldering to really tack one in place.

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