DavidQ 170 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I recently picked up my first 1911. It is the commander size 7 round mag with a bull barrel, .45 cal. The barrel looks a little rough on the outside. You can see the machining marks, or what I assume they are, through the ejection port on the slide. Should I just leave it as is or polish it out? I did purchase this gun used with an unknown round count. It came from an estate sale that my FFL purchased about 37 guns from so i assume it was well cared for and not abused. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shandlanos 1,470 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Pics would definitely help. Have you stripped it down to inspect the barrel by itself? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidQ 170 Posted October 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Completely stripped down before firing for inspection. Everything looked good and locks up real tight with very minimal wiggle to the slide. Pics coming up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidQ 170 Posted October 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Here are some photos of what I am describing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shandlanos 1,470 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 It's hard to tell with certainty from pics, but I don't see anything that looks out of the ordinary. That patch that looks scuffed just looks like the patch that was scuffed on my 1911, presumably from contact with the inside of the slide during firing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magsite20 1,664 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) to me it looks more like an officers model than a commander, slide seems shorter Edited October 31, 2014 by the 4th Doctor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidQ 170 Posted October 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 On the side of the slide is says 1911-A1 CS. Seems to me to be the commander size but I could be wrong. I'm not too familiar with the 1911 platform as this is my first one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magsite20 1,664 Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 yeah I just looked at their web site I guess yours has the 3.5" barrel their "compact", a standard commander has a 4.25" their "mid" size they made a officers size upper (usually 6 round mag) on a standard size lower a little longer but takes standard mags I take it there is no barrel bushing with the bull barrel and the recoil rod and spring are a captive system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidQ 170 Posted November 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 Yes you are correct. There is no barrel bushing due to it having a bull barrel so should not have an issue replacing the barrel and having to match the bushing to it. Needless to say I love this gun. The size is perfect and recoil is minimal compared to the glock 23 I owned previously. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magsite20 1,664 Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 as to your ? sure you can polish it that like you said looks like machine marks not drag marks from the slide lock up and barrel rubbing that might take a new barrel link to fix. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidQ 170 Posted November 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 It doesn't look like it's rubbing but I will try to smooth it out in the next couple days. It's a great shooter, I just want to improve the look of that area. I believe you are correct in saying that this is their compact size and that is where the cs comes from. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james lambert 3,059 Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 you can polish the barrel hood, it has nothing really to do with function. the barrel locks up with the front face of the hood so just dont remove much metal, just polish out the marks Use will mar your polish job, as the top of the barrel hood will contact the slide 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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