Springs and extractor

 

None of the parts of an in-spec pistol are going to break, and wear should be measured in tens of thousands of rounds.
I've broken an extractor, and a mag catch lock, in 80k plus rounds through my guns.

 

Recoil spring and firing pin springs. Good to have on hand. Maybe a pin set. Firing pin. Recoil plug. Mostly nice to have when you launch one across the room (you are not supposed to but I have more than once), or when something rolls off a table. And is not easily found. Parts are pretty easy to come by. Even with a national gun buying frenzy. I guess a package of grip screws wouldn’t hurt for what they cost.

Enjoy your new purchase!

 

Somewhere in my garage is a recoil plug, like above, it was launched into some never to be found place. So for that pistol, I ordered two spares. On one of my full custom guns, the barrel pad where the link is attached just sheared off, requiring a new fitted Barstow barrel, under warranty. I did not have a spare fitted Barstow barrel for that pistol. Can't plan for every eventuality, so like above, I would just suggest the usual wear items, like springs and maybe a firing pin.

On a related note, long ago in my Army days, I learned to always have a "back-up" for any essential item. But then I began to have a nagging compulsion to push this concept to absurdity. Because once you use your "back-up" item, you no long HAVE a "back-up" item, so I needed to carry a "back-up" for my "back-up", which got to be just a pursuit of infinity.

Carried to extremes, some concepts are just nuts. NV

 

Spring set, extra recoil spring, firing pin stop, maybe a spare recoil plug or a different set up that can be swapped in. Grip screws are not a bad idea either.

 

RickB got it right. The only part that ever broke on any of mine was an extractor. The other parts suggested are maintenance items like springs. Or the parts you lose when stripping the gun. Put a few thousand rounds thru it, inspect it and choose what you want to replace.

 

Other than recoil and firing pin springs and buggered up grip screws, the only parts we've replaced over many years were an extractor and a busted-in-half sear/disconnector pin. The gun ran fine but when we stripped the frame for cleaning the two pieces of the pin came out; was broken right in the center.

 

I had a colt slide go to 100% failure and lost the barrel bushing and spring plug (along with the font half of the slide) - so no spare parts would have saved me.
I really dont carry spare 1911 parts with me, the stuff i have had fail on me on 1911's are not field level repairs...

JAG

 

I definitely agree on the grip screws! So easily lost! I had mine in a paint can top on my work table in the living room. left them there overnight. Come the next day I go in and find the plastic cup on the far side of the room. Cat's love toys that rattle I guess. I found three pretty quick, the third one I figured was in a cats belly because it was no place to be seen on top of the carpet. I got the puck magnet and found it under a different table. I have since ordered new screws, three new sear springs, and a set of custom tuning springs. Next up will be a pin set.

Better to have them and never need them than to need them and not have them.

 

You should probably have one of every part, just in case. It would be cheaper to buy another gun instead of buying the parts separately. Just do the economical thing and buy another gun!

 

I'm always looking to! But sadly, bills come first.

 

I am for accumulating a few spare parts. Ideally on steep discount during a sale. 1911 tools too. And then, I can have pretty much what I want. It won’t have a fancy name on the slide. It won’t even be a high dollar gun. But it can function pretty well. Maybe as well as the fancy guns too.

 

My highest round count gun is my gcnm that i bought new in early 90s. Best I can figure 30,000 plus/minus. No broken parts on it or any others. I do keep new spare springs however.

Winchester mod 190 ? .22 rifle that I got for Christmas when 12 (1979) has a safety that stopped working a couple yrs ago. So 1 broken part in all these years.