My CMP 1911 came with an Ithaca frame and TZ hardened GI replacement slide.
I bought a proper Ithaca slide for it and sold my hardened replacement slide for $150.

It seems like a lot of the round 3 guns are coming with replacement slides.
I can't be the only one wanting to get a matching slide for their 1911 and would be willing to let the replacement go.
I'd post a WTB ad on the CMP forum - that is where I found the Ithaca and sold the replacement (all in one day).

 

I built a number of commercial Colt and Springfield Armory guns (and a single NORINCO) to "GI" standard because, well, I love GI guns and I wanted no-worries functional blasters. Genuine GI parts run the gamut from beat to hell to pristine and pricey.

I found quite a few affordable new-old stock GI replacement barrels dating from 1985 through I guess 1993. Some are chrome-lined, and all need throating to shoot hollow-points and semi-wadcutters. I also bought a number of modern commercial Colt take-offs that made me giddy for the price (somewhere around $60-85 apiece, some already throated). I was able to find cherry (hard) Drake and Colt GI National Match slides and Numax and IMI slides.

I shoot them like abused step-children and they make me happy because they seem to always work. I'm not worried about them cracking or depreciating collector value. The first giveaway that mine aren't pure GI guns are the replacement Harrison Retro rear sights and Novak Gold Dot front sights (I'm old and blind and want sights I can see).

Blasphemy, I know, but if you want to shoot your CMP gun I'd be happy with modern depot rebuild parts, or commercial parts you can parkerize yourself or send out. Someone will want the Colt slide and Flannery barrel. If you find or trade for post-war contract replacement parts in good shape you may be upgrading from CMP "Rack" to "Field" grade.

Random sample: NOT a CMP GI gun but a NORINCO with chrome-lined GI TZZ barrel and Harrison medium-length trigger:

 

Question about my CMP Rack Grade.
I want to shoot my pistol often but it has a typical WWII Colt slide with an untold amount of rounds.
I’m really considering trading my Colt slide for a hardened USGI slide.
Will that affect any value or collectibility? Also would it be a wise decision for a direct swap including the Flannery barrel for a chrome lined USGI replacement barrel?

Thanks for your advice.
Happy Thanksgiving

Like you I too am also a shooter. Your pistol is no longer correct other than it was a as issued weapon, they are only ever correct once. Yes I would find a good hard slide and have fun with it, sell or trade the current slide too offset the cost or break even with someone looking too make there pistol parts correct. Everyone makes out in the end and there happy.

Is the current barrel roached out? These pistols were meant too be mixed and matched parts interchangeable without worry, slapped together and go.

 

FWIW, put your 1911A-1 up and buy a Tisas to shoot. Glad I bought a used GI slide about 4-5 years ago for less than $100 as should get the call from CMP next week or week after? Will have a slide if I need it. Just saw same slides from same dealer last week for $350!

 

Have my newer Colt and Springfield 1911s for shooting
I save the WWII relics for special occasions and preserve them for their historical value.

 

I have two pristine M1911A1’s. I really want to just have this as my shooter. I’m thinking about keeping the slide and adding another for the shooting side.
Anyone know where I can buy an extra hardened slide?

 

I have two pristine M1911A1’s. I really want to just have this as my shooter. I’m thinking about keeping the slide and adding another for the shooting side.
Anyone know where I can buy an extra hardened slide?

I'd recommend posting a "WANT TO BUY" ad on the CMP Forum

Parts Wanted - CMP Forums

Use this Forum to find that specific part to complete your rifle build.

forums.thecmp.org

 

I have a Rand and a Colt I have shot since the 70's with midrange loads with no problems. I'm not going to worry until something happens. I bought this slide from <Jack The Dog> I was going to put on a WW11 frame but ended up on this. It was about $150 + shipping and came with sights.

 

My 2cents, Keep your USGI and buy a Tisas and shoot the snot out of it. That's what I do. It's just a suggestion and maybe save you some headaches down the road.

 

I have bought more than a few parts off eBay before. There used to be a seller on there who would sell for less if he was deep in the part.

 

I respect both opinions and we don't have to change each other. I'm a "caretaker" not necessarily a user. I try to keep things in at least as good a condition as they were when I got them. I never had a chance to own a GI 1911 until the CMP program. What I got was a pistol that could have been issued in the 80s, not one in the configuration that could have been issued to my dad in WWII. I knew it was the luck of the draw and took my chance. Never been lucky.

 

I rebuilt this commercial Colt from a bare 1920 frame -- over 101 years old now.

Your GI frame should last yours' and your kids' lifetimes (at least). GI guns have lasted this long (to include with 1950s-90s contract overhaul parts) because they're Energizer Bunnies. The .45's low-pressure cartridge doesn't wreck the pistol like high-pressure / fast-hard recoil.

 

The frame isn’t the issue, the slide is. It’s well known that the upper lugs in the WWII slides will shear off or the slide will crack.

 

Correct.

I commanded counter-terrorist teams in the late-80s - early-90s transition between M1911A1s and Berettas. We broke a number of war-era slides, but not the 779- slide rebuilds. Same frames.

At the Army Marksmanship Unit we built new match guns with GI and Caspian frames.

 

Correct.

I commanded counter-terrorist teams in the late-80s - early-90s transition between M1911A1s and Berettas. We broke a number of war-era slides, but not the 779- slide rebuilds. Same frames.

At the Army Marksmanship Unit we built new match guns with GI and Caspian frames.

I figured as much by your screen name.💪🏼🇺🇸
My dream is to build a Delta gun described by MSG (Ret) Vickers.

I was just a Carpenter in the Air Force that morphed into Psychological Warfare out of Ft Bragg.

 

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