Argentine M1911: Anvil 0125

From the 1916 Argentine government order, just beat the demand of the US going into the first half of the great war. Worn slap out, but the cosmetics are great. We tightened her up, for sure. NOT a tutorial...we show what you need to learn, not how to do . Cannot perform at this level? Do NOT attempt.
Support us: / anvil

[@papawheelie5835]

Folks, if ever there was a 1911 video you should save and watch again and again, this is it. Thank you Mr. Novak for sharing your vast knowledge and wisdom. There is so much more to properly fitting and timing a 1911 but these few principles shared here will make an "operational" example much more of a safe, accurate, and enjoyable firearm.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Beautiful work as always. Further proof that smithing is as much an art as it is a science. You're like Van Gogh--except you can hold TWO cigars with no hands. Cheers, and thank you Mr. Novak.

[@dpbeardslee]

I mean really - who doesn't love to watch a qualified gunsmith work on a 1911? Cool video!

[@RalphReagan]

Communists don't like. :)

[@gerryrandolph]

Someone has finally explained why the 1911’s I used in the Marines in the 1980’s were so crappy for accuracy! I always thought it was just the barrel bushing that was bad, but the way you explained the slide slop made perfect sense. Thank you.

[@jc3745]

Same for the 1911's we had in the Army in the 70's. Last purchase of them by the government was in WWII. They were flat worn out.

[@gerryrandolph]

@@jc3745 when I was at MCAS Tustin in 87, most of our 1911’’s were the A1 variant, but we did have a Springfield, straight up original, 1911 in the armory. I was an MP so these were routinely carried. Kinda cool thinking about carrying a piece of history around that was in the 70 year old range that was still “serviceable”

[@aarongreenfield9038]

A much more complicated procedure breaking one of those down than I ever imagined, but this video finally gave me the balls to break down the one inherited from my great grandfather, for proper cleaning and maintenance.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

Dont Worry! If you dont Like the new version, Keep Going! I just Nickel plated my first 1911 slide. I like it? fun, and learned.

[@itatane]

That's some dead sexy rust blueing, Mark. A friend of mine who does professional gunsmithing around here once said that "A gunsmith knows the real value of time. You're smack dab in between urgency and patience." I never really understood until I realized just how much he had to do, all while making sure he didn't screw something up.

[@johnjamieson6368]

"The gun runs great, just can't hit anything with it." That's how our boot camp 1911's were.

[@MikeM10293]

That’s how all my guns are 🤣 handguns at least. I struggle even at 25 yards with full size GI 1911s, only occasionally can I lob a round out to 75 and ring the plate. I should practice more but I can’t afford to shoot that much.

[@MrPlankinton]

That's is the same description I heard in boot camp 1975.

[@allenbuck5589]

Semper fi. I would draw a pistol 1911. From the armory. It was my weapon when I was doing special duty. They all would rattle and wobble hard to hit much. USMC. 71-74.

[@therideneverends1697]

i think your demonstration with the vice perfectly demonstrates just how careful an act it is, even with exceptional caution you still came close to overtightening. great video as always!

[@boomanh63]

In all the years I have been completely taking apart 1911's, this video taught me a few little hacks to make life easier! Like having a mag in when putting the sear and disconnector back it! One hack I learned elsewhere, was instead of pushing the plunger from the outside to get the takedown pin back in, was to come in from the opposite side with a small flat screwdriver and compress it while coming straight in with the takedown pin. Excellent video as usual Mark. Thank You for resurrecting this old lady!

[@ratride1]

I had an Argentine 1911 manufactured on Colt tooling back in the late 80s. My first 1911. It was well worn and the feed ramp was polished heavily and the grip safety never worked. The gun worked 100% with ball ammo. I think I paid 165. For it back then. It was a fun gun. I gifted it to my dad for his birthday because he always talked about his 45 that he brought back from the war and then sold it to help raise a family.

[@nexusofice9135]

This man basically massaged the metal back into place. A few love taps, a bit of pressure at the right points, and knowledge and experience got that slop cleaned up.

[@1revPCUSA]

That magazine tip at 34:22 is something I wish I had known long ago.

[@josefernandez6226]

I love the smell of burning hair in the morning…..

[@DB-yj3qc]

This is a great video on 1911s. A few of the things you demonstrated I got to see first hand by my 1SGT before we deployed to Desert Shield as one of few A.D. Army units still using 1911a1's. He was in AMU , shooting competition with 1911a1 and working on them. The technique you demonstrated on tightening slide to frame was pretty much the same. He used pencil lead (graphite) to slick up the action. Mine was a pre WW2 converted to 1911a1. I wish I had it, my Grandfather's, Uncle's, and father could have been issued it during their service.

[@rickjoyner3281]

Speaking of 1911's. When I was in boot camp in 1971 we went to the range. We were required to use a Weaver hold (2 hands). The instructor then called our attention to the ceiling of the indoor range. It seems a chief was qualifying with the old school side stance with 1 hand. The armory 45 went full auto and emptied the mag. Last round went straight up. Good times>

[@andywawa7227]

There is one and only Mark Novak. And the cigar behind the ear during the test shooting. Priceless..😊

[@Jordan-ce7sf]

Never thought to have a mag inserted when reinstalling sear and disconnector...Thanks shipmate!

[@FiveStringCommando]

18:30 Every Bubba out there decided he’s gonna squeeze his 1911 in a bench vice

[@donnyboon2896]

I was in the Marine Corps from 1982 to 1986. My arms were the 1911 and the M16-A1. To me those are the real deal. And I prefer the triangular handguards.

[@enricomandragona163]

I was there with you!!

[@user-ul3vu4ks2p]

John Browning would be proud to see this! 112 years later still working-

[@joshuawhitten5331]

Watching these videos has taught me so much. Hell, I reblued a 1930s S&W .38 special using the tips and tricks of Mark and she came out beautiful!

[@mohammedcohen]

MAN, Mark!!! This is an excellent explanation of how the safeties operate...THANKS!!!

[@disturbedmaynard3873]

All that rattling took me back to the old Colts that we were issued in the early 80's Marine Corps. Always figured I needed someone to call out windage and elevation when shooting at 25 yards with them. I purchased a Llama 1911 in the mid 80's, and wow, it didn't rattle, and I didn't feel like I was shooting from a mortar tube. Awesome video. Nice to still learn something about the one handgun I am most familiar with.

[@bhoward9378]

Thanks, Mark. I found the parts about the grip safety and the slide slop to be particularly interesting. Apparently, interchangeable parts aren't so interchangeable after all!

[@leeburks4540]

I de farbed my series 80 Colt back into the series 70 format with the spacer to replace the two widgets. The sequence was; re-assemble, despair, re-assemble, despair, 3 or 4 times until it functioned correctly and that is the LAST time I will tear into the frame that extensively at my age/patience level.

[@pdubb7591]

Wow! Fantastic video!!!The magician again shows us amateur's how to do it correctly. I love the tips on barrel removal, slide movement adjustment and reassembly with the magazine! You are the KING!!!

[@johnwhitley2898]

OMG!!! I remember when these 1920's Argentine Army/Navy contract 1911's were sent back to the US, in the late '80's, early '90's and were wholesaled out $200-$300 each! They were arsenal rebuilds, and looked beautiful! They just disappeared! A co workers brother got a bonus and bought six at once... Lucky B!.... (I had a crappy Ex--Cè la vié!). Can't touch one today for$2-3 grand.... Nice to see one get worked over and is still a runner!!

[@oni_goroshi]

The Argentine Colts made in the 1920s were made in much higher numbers. The one he has was one of about 1000 made by Colt around 1915\1916 for Argentina and are much harder to come by, especially with numbers matching barrel and slide.

[@brokkur7629]

22:48... Indeed. First time I installed an aftermarket Beavertail grip safety on one of these and tried it out, it went BRRRRP... Rather, BRP, as I wasn't a complete idiot and did load the mag with just 3 rounds. Very scary (and at the same time fun and exhilarating). 30-ish years ago now.

[@LeewardStudios]

And my education of how much I don’t know continues. Thank you Mark and Bruno. Top notch!

[@justinbouvier132]

That vice does just as good as that tool. The tool people need is patience and a brake pedal so they wont rush a job…

[@ThatPNWGuy2024]

Sweet, time for a depriming session and a good video. Thanks as always Mark for the great videos.

[@galegregory341]

Love it when you show guns that work that old

[@helipilotuh1]

I read stories about Armorers for tier one teams accurizing 1911’s in the 80’s by peening the rails, and I always wondered what that looked like, thanks for showing me Mark,

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

Great video mark. I work on a lot of antique firearms. I came up with a way of making the metal on new parts match the original guns texture fairly easy. I use a power supply. Hook up the positive to the part you're trying to match to the gun. Then hook the negative up to a Q-tip dipped in saltwater. By lightly going over the part. You can make the new part match very well. So then after bluing it matches the rest of the guns texture and wear.

[@marknovak8255]

Powered galvanic corrosion. EPIC, adding to my playback.

[@davidcoudriet8439]

What a cool idea!

[@WHATAGIRLWANTS2009]

Mark, I really appreciate your experience and knowledge that offers insights to us novices. Thanks

[@uncleroysmusic]

Fantastic explanation of the different safeties on a 1911. I thank you sir.

[@marknovak8255]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@richardturk7162]

Thanks to you and this video I replaced a thumb safety on my Para Ordinance 14/45 wide body 1911. Made a jig so I would stone the thumb safety at the right angle. It took 6 or 7 tries just sneaking up on the perfect fitment. Found a Para thumb safety on APEX's site and fixed it myself and now I have a proper functioning 1911. I always learn something new watching your videos.

[@nhwnhw02]

Bingo! First person I have seen on KZbin disassemble a 1911 correctly!

[@makevelicustoms]

You are such a master craftsman Sir 👍🏻

[@bluescatreimer]

I always look forward to your videos, thanks for posting Mark.

[@gradystarkey4498]

I just watched a 36 minute Master Class on 1911s and boy did I learn a lot!

[@gordoncouger9648]

Mark, Thanks for showing us how to fix a loose slide. You sure make it look much easier when you know the best methods and order of operations for each job. 1911 pistols can have such good triggers because of their good design and all the hand fitting they need. If it isn't a junker, it takes a lot of nerve to work on the first one. A wood block with a pair of tapered shims made from wooden shingles would make good filler blocks for frames and slides.

[@REXOB9]

Thanks for the deep down look at the working of the 1911. Incredible how all these parts work at such small tolerances, and how you adjust those tolerances with a hammer or a vice.

[@timfarley274]

Very rewarding to fix up an old tool like that.

[@kanionargentina4157]

Hi Mark, your channel is wonderful. An important piece of information for users of DGFM weapons, (Colt or Browning HP system). According to a great connoisseur of Argentine weapons named Pantaleon Kotelchuk, whom I was able to interview, the FM engineers gave it that intentional slide set, calculated so that it would not fail due to dirt accumulation, also the hardness of the triggers was because it was intended for recruits and Thus accidents would be avoided.

[@James-fs4rn]

👍 can't get enough of the 1911 videos. Thanks for sharing!

[@jeffmayhew4148]

Once again, a superb video that oozes more wisdom per second than any others available from other sources. Thank you Mark!

[@CameronMcCreary]

I owned a 1918, 1911 pistol and it never bit me. I enjoyed the feel of the 1911. I wish I still had it but it was stolen and has never turned up anywhere.

[@johnmcmorris1170]

Tremendous video. Many take away's but the best one for me was to insert a mag when you are putting the sear back in. Great tip.

[@patanvalle9379]

Hello, congratulations, excellent video... These pistols were built under the direct supervision of the Colt factory, following quality controls and as stipulated in the license agreement... The machines used to build these pistols were specially purchased in Germany ... were manufactured until the beginning of the 70's, although they were no longer used by the armed and security forces and the last ones were intended only for the civilian market. As an interesting fact, I can point out that due to several sabotage attacks carried out on the factory (FM, Military Fabrications) carried out by guerrilla groups of communist origin, the pistol was finally discontinued, since many came out with major termination failures and operation, caused by disloyal employees infiltrated in the factory... Finally, the facilities where it was manufactured was dismantled, the factory was fully dedicated to producing the new Browning Hi Power FN 9mm pistol and the machines used to build the legendary Colt 1927 System were sold for their value by weight as scrap... Sad ending for a high-quality product, which even today in some faraway places in my country continues to provide services... I congratulate you on your video, I subscribed to your channel. I send you my greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina

[@enricomandragona163]

Very interesting kudo's ✌️

[@patanvalle9379]

Thanks. Greetings from Buenos Aires@@enricomandragona163

[@oni_goroshi]

That particular Colt wasn't made under supervision of Colt on Colt tooling in another country, that was made in the US at the Colt factory, then sold to Argentina. I have one made in 1915 that is about 300 guns away from his serial number. They only made 1000 guns in that run for Argentina. The barrel should also have the same serial number as well as the slide and frame if it's all correct.

[@patanvalle9379]

@@oni_goroshi Yes, if the gun is from 1915 it could be from the original factory. Argentina adopted the Colt 45 pistol to replace the Steyr Mannlicher 7.63 mm. From the beginning the original idea was to buy from the factory, but this became complicated when the US entered the war and had to buy large quantities of material for its armed forces... That prevented the factory from selling to Argentina (not actually was just that item) there was also a lack of supply of almost all the items of industrial material that Argentina imported from the US and Europe (that motivated the development of State policies called "Import Substitution")... as a consequence, Argentina in the case of the Colt pistol decided to buy the license from the factory to manufacture the pistol in my country... The Argentine model is the Colt System Semi-Automatic Pistol model 1927). The ones before that date were North American from the factory of origin, they were very few as you mention. Those after 1927 were already built here in Argentina. Likewise, some from the US continued to arrive. generally those that were for the provision of ships and other transport that Argentina bought from the United States after the war ended. Thanks for your comment. Greetings from Buenos Aires

[@dw5523]

This is the perfect answer to the question, "Why are good 1911's so expensive?" As always, fantastic work and fantastically edu-taining.

[@richardweilandt3315]

I've never seen a 1911 that I didn't love. Remington's, Singer Sewing Machine, Union Switch and Signal, Ithaca, all in my reserve unit Arm's room. Fired expert every time. Wish I could have bought them when the unit deactivated and I went active duty at 19.

[@warrenharrison9490]

Did you see the cans of US donation WW2 1911's and Thompsons in that Ukraine Soviet bunker 😲

[@richardweilandt3315]

@@warrenharrison9490 no I didn't

[@DeathToTheWicked3]

thank you for the great video. I just restored a Norinco (model of the) 1911A1, and wish I had watched this before. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into these videos.

[@svenramnefjell7742]

Me too. Exept I modded the hell out of it, all the bells and whistles. But man, that Steel was hard. Never gonna do it again😜😝

[@mbenjamin292]

This is the most informative video I have ever seen in my life 57 years old new sub thank you.

[@ArchieBunker1974]

Outstanding!

[@josephcormier5974]

Thank you sir for another awesome video this was very informative six stars

[@mikeseigel6566]

Very nice Mark. My first USGI 1911 rattled like a rock in a 55 gallon drum. But it worked every time.

[@jercas8811]

This is a great lesson on the mechanicals of a 1911. I have several old pistols where this video has helped me to keep them reliably operational. Thank you sir for the great pointers.

[@handyandy7706]

Thank you Mark and Bruno. As an amateur I really appreciate all the details you include.

[@macfilms9904]

"You can't be in two places at once" ...Quantum Mechanics has entered the chat

[@robertdeen8741]

It’s a privilege and true joy to watch a master working. I suspect John Moses would approve of everything you do. Thank you sir for sharing your knowledge. Knowledge learned the long hard way, before there was a KZbin. You’d of made a most excellent industrial arts teacher at a high school or technical college

[@marknovak8255]

I taught mechatronics if that counts

[@robertdeen8741]

@@marknovak8255 Hell yeah. All I seem to recall was that you were an electrician on a boomer or banger, or does my memory fail me? Seems the once the odometer passed 60 a few years ago, the brain isn’t functioning half as well as it once had. Dang, it’s all down hill from here. On the bright side, I can just chose to coast.

[@robertgarza760]

You Sir are A Bad Ass Thank you very much I have a1928 Argentine Gov 1911 it belonged to my Dad A WWII Vet from TEXAS but lives in MICHIGAN RIP POPS

[@lordhefman]

I have a 1971 Star model B super, a spanish 1911 but different, with a lot of slop in the slide. Im going to have to watch this video a dozen times and then try to fix it a little bit. Its not that its a historic gun like you are working on but its $300 of fun and i hope to make that fun last.

[@mkupkatx]

Mark, another fantastic video. You gave me the inspiration and confidence to very gently attempt to tighten up the slop on my 1915 dated CMP 1911.

[@marknovak8255]

Very, gently, grasshopper............

[@nobodytraining]

Great video! As always full of great information. I appreciate you taking the time to do these videos.

[@JF-xq6fr]

Love the muffin tin lead ingot... Been using the same for the same kinda work for decades... Even has an oh so fancy hole drilled on one side. As for fine Argentine pistols, my two Sistema 1927 Navy models, one blued and one Parkerized are as Tuco would say: Tight... tight, tight, tight and both are in excellent condition. Only odd thing is the mag wells for both are on the very minimum dimension, and many magazines will not fit or fit very tightly. The OEM serialized magazines work perfectly, and believe it or not Triple K magazines do as well. Norinco ones are pretty good, but Metalform magazines took a lot of fitting (filing) to get to where they would even get to the point where they could be inserted. Great video Mark.

[@fringehead]

The subject of the 1911 and its fitting is one you can come back to several times to make us all happy

[@KPutubing]

Howdy from Sacramento! I occasionally work on my 1911s, and although not to the depth shown here, I still appreciate the knowledge. Thanks for sharing!

[@user-jj3hi3gh4u]

When I was in the Army in the 70s, I saved my Pennie’s and bought a 1911 Gold Cup NM, took it to the MTU at Ft Campbell KY, to show it off. The NCOIC approved of my new toy, and asked me if I wanted to fix it. Brand new Gold Cup??? I said sure WTF, he had me take the gun apart, he crimped the slide and installed a new barrel link that he made, he gave me a pot of rubbing compound and told me to get to work until the slide went home. Steam cleaned the slide and frame, put everything back together oiled it up. Put the gun in a rest ,used match ammo little bit more than 1” group at 25 yards. He told me that now if I missed it was my fault. I only shoot 185 gr bullets that I reload. It works good and has lasted a long time, replaced the extractor a while back though.

[@fredtippett670]

Thanks, Mark. Much appreciated. Will share video with son who took over my 1911 years ago. Excellent 1911 tutorial.

[@boomdawg56]

Great video, I really appreciate the training on 1911s. I like buying on guns and refurbing them, I have built a few 1911s, probably would have been cheaper to pay a professional but I enjoy it. Anything I can learn from someone like you is appreciated.

[@muskaos]

Series 80 passive firing spring safety ups the degree of difficulty for sear/disconnector installation. I've been detail stripping my 1911s to clean them for many years. :)

[@99Racker]

About the only thing we did not see was how you reduced the inside dimension of the bushing to make it tighter. Thanks for the video.

[@warrenharrison9490]

I'm curious if he simply replaced it.

[@Uncleroger1225]

Thanks Mark, instructive and inspiring as always! I love my 1911's Roger, Sgt. USMC

[@skiphill9]

Perfect timing as usual! I just dug out my 1911's to clean them up and discovered the thumb safety on one was not working! So down the rabbit hole I go!

[@ScottKenny1978]

D'oh! Dive, dive!

[@th.burggraf7814]

Thanks for passing on your knowledge to the next generation. Very much appreciated. 🤝🏼

[@richardneagle3177]

Such a pleasure to see a perfectionist true gunsmith at work,who shares his hard earned experience 👏 Thank you very much

[@26betsam]

A pleasant surprise that this came up. Made my day. Sipping on a cocktail .

[@jesscobb2279]

Another bad-ass video! I never get tired of your content. I tried to disassemble my 1911 the way you always do it but my slide just will not come off with the barrel bushing. I wish I could remove it as easily as you do. That slop fix is absolute confidence in knowing your firearms and skill level. U R the best.

[@bryanwilliams7380]

Love the cigar behind the ear! Another great vid Mark.

[@kalaharimine]

Great tutorial from a 1911 guru, outstanding!

[@grahampalmer9337]

Yet again - thank you for dusting a little of your wisdom on our lives.

[@ArmeroPR]

I’ve been working on these for years and feel like I still learned a lot from your systematic and logical approach to working on it from beginning to end. Thank you

[@warbirdnut9269]

Good tips! To avoid scratching the frame with the slide stop, you can get a business card and hold it against the frame when you're removing the slide stop. I think you're the first person here that I've seen say to take the slide off first instead of messing with the barrel bushing first. That beats sending the recoil spring plug flying across the room or breaking light bulbs. :) I'll have to try inserting a mag next time I try pulling the sear and disconnector.

[@baconx4]

HA! I stood petty officer of the watch with one of those sloppy1911's. I chuckled aloud when you said that.

[@charleshooper1465]

I am a non mechanical person. I can take my Springfield Armory 1915 1911 apart for a basic cleaning but putting it back together is an altogether different situation . I .eventually get it back together. watching you get that pistol back together and working was out F***ingstanding. you are truly good at what you do!!

[@koolkats724]

Great work as always Mark!

[@petermonck5448]

Cigar behind ear😂😂😂

[@Nebulax123]

My first 45 was an Argentine and was in pretty fair shape, some of my friends and I were shooting in a field years ago and we had set up some coke cans on the other side of the field to plink at with our 22 rifles I told them I could hit one with my 45 and held about a foot over a coke can and drilled it right through the O. I would like to say it was my great skill but we all know that is BS it was just blind luck. I still have the can and I didn't shoot anymore that day how could I top that. Wish I had kept that gun.

[@magoid]

2:40 Bruno was doing a animation of a 1911? That means what I think it means?

[@Tunkkis]

Othias and Mae were just recently traveling to film a 1909 (I believe). The time is drawing ever nearer.

[@slowhand1198]

Thanks for all the insight. Love the tip about installing the mag for disconnect & sear reassembly.

[@crusader4273]

This Guy knows what he's doing. Great Video! ☝🏽

[@buckaroobonsi555]

My Dad was in the Army 1973 to about 1998. I can remember how the 1911's where before they went to the Bereta in 9mm. They all rattled a lot. You had to work to qualify! The Army for a long time if I remember correctly would service a weapon something like every 3-5 years and the unit or company level armours would do maintenance on them but not rebuild them. If they needed to be rebuilt they only did it maybe 3 times and then they where often sold to the US Navy Marine Corps.! Not sure if the main stream US Navy was the same. If so I can only imagine the 1911's you saw! I am almost 50 now so that gives you some reference! I have children that own and carry a 1911. It is though not what I carry! I like smaller lighter for EDC!

[@ScottKenny1978]

Yeah, "old slabsides" does weigh a bit.

[@tingley428]

The cigar LMFAO

[@raymondhorvatin1050]

Thanks for sharing your expert non expert skills good looking 1911

[@tpaktop2_1na]

My brother had a .38 rattle pistol gun when he was a security agent. The pistol was supplied by his employer. I was surprise that it did not blow up in his hand.

[@douglasbidwell3229]

I was issued a 1911A1 mfg by Ithaca Gun Co. "Best Most Accurate Sidearm I ever carried!" Thanks for the Video!

[@PlayerSalt]

now jimmy when you decide to take the slop out of your 1911 and you fuck it up remember this comment

[@johnchamberlain5435]

Another 1911 vid! Always enjoy picking up any tips and/or facts on the venerable 1911. Thanks!

[@RalphReagan]

The most beautiful 1911