Essex Arms 1911 .45 Frame . Magazines? Help

[WAOsborne]

I have a 1911 .45. It looks like it was built from a kit as the slide was made
by another company. The frame was made by Essex Arm of New Hampshire.
The gun shoots great and has had some custom work done on it. I was interested
in obtaining a few extra magazines for bowling pin shoots. The problem is that
a standard .45 magazine in a bit oversized and will not fit (seems to be a bit
wide).

I guess I could buy another frame, but that seems a bit extreme. Does anyone
know where I could purchase extra magazines. I've checked in the latest
Gun Parts catalog and could not find anything on Essex Arms.

Please reply to WAOs...@aol.com

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[keith whaley]

WAOsborne wrote:
#
# I have a 1911 .45. It looks like it was built from a kit as the slide was made
# by another company. The frame was made by Essex Arm of New Hampshire.
# The gun shoots great and has had some custom work done on it. I was interested
# in obtaining a few extra magazines for bowling pin shoots. The problem is that
# a standard .45 magazine in a bit oversized and will not fit (seems to be a bit
# wide).
#
# I guess I could buy another frame, but that seems a bit extreme. Does anyone
# know where I could purchase extra magazines. I've checked in the latest
# Gun Parts catalog and could not find anything on Essex Arms.

An Essex frame is a good qualilty frame, made 100% to Colt 1911A1 specifications.
No reason it should not accept any good 1911 magazine, unless either the
magazine is distorted, or the frame is distorted.
On the other hand, it's possible the grip screws are extending into the
magazine well too far. It happens.
If some "custom work" was done on it, it's also possible the "gunsmith"
didn't use a mag well insert when he put the frame in the vise, and
that's when some distortion occurred. So, look for that as well.
If you have access to other 1911 mags, try all you can find. That will
eliminate that one magazine as being a problem. If they ALL do it, it's
either a frame problem or grip screws. Or both...

Keith Whaley - pistolsmith
WHALEY's Gunsmithing
Westchester (Los Angeles), CA

[Mike in Oregon]

I to have a custom 1911 built on an Essex frame. I also found some of my mags a
little tight. I found that the grip screws were too long with my rose wood grips
and made contact with the mag body. It's also possible for the grip screw bushings
to protrude inside the mag well as well, so check that out. I also found the frame
casting to be rather crude compared to the better frame kits offered today. It
would be a simple task for any gunsmith to file the mag well a bit and open it up
a bit. Have the smith open up the mag well opening as well while he/she is at it.
I believe it's better to fix the pistol to work with all mags rather than vice
versa.
BTW, Brownells still currently sells Essex fram kits to this day.
Mike in Oregon

WAOsborne wrote:

# I have a 1911 .45. It looks like it was built from a kit as the slide was made
# by another company. The frame was made by Essex Arm of New Hampshire.
# The gun shoots great and has had some custom work done on it. I was interested
# in obtaining a few extra magazines for bowling pin shoots. The problem is that
# a standard .45 magazine in a bit oversized and will not fit (seems to be a bit
# wide).
#
# I guess I could buy another frame, but that seems a bit extreme. Does anyone
# know where I could purchase extra magazines. I've checked in the latest
# Gun Parts catalog and could not find anything on Essex Arms.

#
# Please reply to WAOs...@aol.com