Essex Arms Corp.

[G320]

I have an Essex Arms Corp. 1911. From what I've read its mainly for Parts or a throw together sidearm. I REALLY would love to hold onto it and spruce it up to a decent shooting firearm since it is my first 1911 passed on to me. Is there any website or manufactorer that will fit on the frame of this weapon?


Thanks for your help

Tony

[Lanrezac]

G320, I asked a similar question a few months ago:

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/arch.../t-109350.html

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "website or manufactorer that will fit on the frame of this weapon" though. What are you looking for?

[G320]

Forgot the one key word, Looking for a slide to fit my .45 cal essex and arms 1911 frame. Will any slide work? Do I need a new barrel and spring for it? Going to a guns how in october and kind of want a shopping list to see what I can browse for. looking at your posts is very helpful

[old semperfi]

first off to my knowledge essex never built a complete pistol.in answer to your other questions all 1911 parts should fit.i have hand built a dozen 45 1911 pistols over the years and never had a problem with essex parts.i have used colt slides and a number of others,but like any mass produced part there are different paramiters and they may need hand fitting.good luck. old semperfi

[Hawg]

What Semperfi said. Any slide should work but will probably need some fitting.

[JLA]

Contract a 1911 saavy smith to fix you up. Essex is indeed a component manufacturer. I have a 1911 built on an enhanced essex frame and slide. Wilson parts mostly S&A grip safety and MSH and a briley spherial bushing. It is one sweet shooting .45

[G320]

Thanks for all the info, I really do appreciate it. This was my dads and I would like to spruce it up as a surprise to him. Again thanks for the help.

[old semperfi]

there are a number of shop manuals on 45 1911 models if your serious about doing the work your self i suggest you do the research and buy one,i have several. old semperfi

[aa1911]

I've dabbled with Essex arms also, built a commander with essex slide and frame. They make STI's stuff IIRC. both my slide and frame musta came outta the throw away box, both were pretty bad; the slide was machined crooked inside on the rails, the hole for the safety in the frame was way off inside, had to do hours and hours of cutting and fitting. But that's the exception apparantly, they do make good stuff (usually).

but any slide will work, there will be much fitting involved however. Slide/barrel/frame fit and lockup is the most crucial part of safety and function on the 1911.

[Shooter45]

Originally Posted by aa1911

I've dabbled with Essex arms also, built a commander with essex slide and frame. They make STI's stuff IIRC. both my slide and frame musta came outta the throw away box, both were pretty bad; the slide was machined crooked inside on the rails, the hole for the safety in the frame was way off inside, had to do hours and hours of cutting and fitting. But that's the exception apparantly, they do make good stuff (usually).

but any slide will work, there will be much fitting involved however. Slide/barrel/frame fit and lockup is the most crucial part of safety and function on the 1911.

You may want to double check your facts about Essex making parts for STI.

We don't need to be spreading the wrong info.

[aa1911]

Armscor, my bad, not Essex.

[Shooter45]

Armscor makes the frames and slides for the STI Spartan only. The Spartan is then fitted with STI internals. STI makes their own frames, slides and parts for their line if 1911's.

Essex has come a long way since their beginning. No more mismatches holes,etc. I've built several 1911's using their early frames and only had to send one back. That doesn't seem to happen anymore.

[JLA]

I built mine on a current Essex AR frame and Enhanced slide. The 2 mated up like they were made for each other.

[aa1911]

Originally Posted by Shooter45

Armscor makes the frames and slides for the STI Spartan only. The Spartan is then fitted with STI internals. STI makes their own frames, slides and parts for their line if 1911's.

Essex has come a long way since their beginning. No more mismatches holes,etc. I've built several 1911's using their early frames and only had to send one back. That doesn't seem to happen anymore.

Good to know, thanks Shooter!

Didn't realize it was just the Spartan