1911 national match barrel link

C.J. · 06-30-2012, 07:20 AM

Nearing completion of a Colt target pistol and in need of a #21 (.299) barrel ink. Marvel, discontinued them a couple of years ago, has no more. Neither does Brownells, Midway, Guns USA, Les Baer and every other parts supplier I've managed to locate through a variety of search engines. My hope at this point is that somewhere there is a gunsmith who has some that he is willing to sell. One will do, would prefer two, just in case. A #17 (.295) will work, but would require some additional slide work to meet the tolerances I'm looking for. Last option is to have them made. Anybody?

retDAC · 07-01-2012, 09:24 PM

Have you checked with these people: Individual Barrel Links: Evolution Gun Works Inc.

George Smith is good to deal with.

C.J. · 07-02-2012, 01:11 PM

I just received their (EGW) email stating that they do not make or carry the requested size.

Thanks for the tip though.

I really think the only place I'll find these is in a gunsmith shop that specializes in 1911's. If I get them made, I'll probably have a number of them made. Once the die's set, the extra won't be as much as the first.

retDAC · 07-02-2012, 06:38 PM

Good luck. Please post your results.

C.J. · 07-05-2012, 02:03 AM

They have been found @ Para Ordinance.

Wild Bill Caldwell · 07-05-2012, 02:38 AM

Be sure You measure this link closely an anything else You buy from Para.....I used to have a write up on the Wild Bill Forum concernin a 16/40 Para limited I bought new and had to replace just about everything in the pistol.....I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut the links are MIM....maybe OK, may not be

Wild Bill

C.J. · 07-05-2012, 02:02 PM

Always do . . . but thanks for looking out! I'll post some pictures . . . after it's sighted in. Have to shoot it first.

JohnnyT · 07-07-2012, 01:17 AM

Just curious. Why such a long link?

C.J. · 07-09-2012, 01:40 AM

It's what is needed for a good fit after the modifications.

JohnnyT · 07-09-2012, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.J.

It's what is needed for a good fit after the modifications.

<---Still

JohnnyT · 07-09-2012, 02:41 PM

Okay! Got a little free time and I can get into it a little deeper.

Not tryin' to bust your balls or anything, CJ. Just tryin' to wrap my head around what modifications would cause a .020 longer link to be required in a gun that didn't require one that long before. I ask because there are some misunderstandings around what the link is there for...what its function is.

The link has one function. It's there to get the barrel lugs clear of the slide lugs so that the slide can pass over the top without tearing the lugs off the barrel. This is a timed event. Juggling different link on-center lengths changes the timing of the barrel drop.

A longer link delays and retards it. Too long, and the barrel can't link down and disengage from the upper lugs, and when it strikes the vertical impact surface in the frame...crash.

Too short, and the barrel starts linkdown early. Too early, and it tries to drop while the bullet is still in the barrel and the lugs still horizontally locked. Lugs are damaged.

Additionally, a short link can also cause the barrel to hit the frame bed before or at the same time that it hits the VIS or cause the barrel to stop on the link instead of the VIS. I've seen it pull the lower lugs off the barrels...sometimes pulling it clear through to the chamber. Bad JuJu either way.

In any event, the link isn't supposed to push the barrel higher into the slide in the mistaken notion that it increases "lockup" even though it's a popular trick whenever somebody notices that their barrel will drop slightly when pushed with the pistol in battery. The barrel doesn't lock vertically anyway. It engages with the slide vertically...but it locks horizontally when the gun fires with the lugs in opposition under shearing forces.

Long-linking also places the impact force of stopping the slide's forward motion further down on the lower lug feet instead of in the stronger, more supported radius of the lug. The feet can deform, and in extreme cases, it can crack the lug.

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06-30-2012, 07:20 AM	#1
C.J. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 6	HELP! In need of a #21 or #17 National Match barrel link Nearing completion of a Colt target pistol and in need of a #21 (.299) barrel ink. Marvel, discontinued them a couple of years ago, has no more. Neither does Brownells, Midway, Guns USA, Les Baer and every other parts supplier I've managed to locate through a variety of search engines. My hope at this point is that somewhere there is a gunsmith who has some that he is willing to sell. One will do, would prefer two, just in case. A #17 (.295) will work, but would require some additional slide work to meet the tolerances I'm looking for. Last option is to have them made. Anybody?

07-01-2012, 09:24 PM	#2
retDAC Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Huntsville, Ala. Posts: 409	Have you checked with these people: Individual Barrel Links: Evolution Gun Works Inc. George Smith is good to deal with.

07-02-2012, 01:11 PM	#3
C.J. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 6	I just received their (EGW) email stating that they do not make or carry the requested size. Thanks for the tip though. I really think the only place I'll find these is in a gunsmith shop that specializes in 1911's. If I get them made, I'll probably have a number of them made. Once the die's set, the extra won't be as much as the first.

07-02-2012, 06:38 PM	#4
retDAC Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Huntsville, Ala. Posts: 409	Good luck. Please post your results.

07-05-2012, 02:03 AM	#5
C.J. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 6	They have been found @ Para Ordinance.

07-05-2012, 02:38 AM	#6
Wild Bill Caldwell Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 526	Be sure You measure this link closely an anything else You buy from Para.....I used to have a write up on the Wild Bill Forum concernin a 16/40 Para limited I bought new and had to replace just about everything in the pistol.....I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut the links are MIM....maybe OK, may not be Wild Bill

07-05-2012, 02:02 PM	#7
C.J. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 6	Always do . . . but thanks for looking out! I'll post some pictures . . . after it's sighted in. Have to shoot it first.

07-07-2012, 01:17 AM	#8
JohnnyT Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 626	Just curious. Why such a long link?

07-09-2012, 01:40 AM	#9
C.J. Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 6	It's what is needed for a good fit after the modifications.

07-09-2012, 02:41 PM	#11
JohnnyT Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 626	Okay! Got a little free time and I can get into it a little deeper. Not tryin' to bust your balls or anything, CJ. Just tryin' to wrap my head around what modifications would cause a .020 longer link to be required in a gun that didn't require one that long before. I ask because there are some misunderstandings around what the link is there for...what its function is. The link has one function. It's there to get the barrel lugs clear of the slide lugs so that the slide can pass over the top without tearing the lugs off the barrel. This is a timed event. Juggling different link on-center lengths changes the timing of the barrel drop. A longer link delays and retards it. Too long, and the barrel can't link down and disengage from the upper lugs, and when it strikes the vertical impact surface in the frame...crash. Too short, and the barrel starts linkdown early. Too early, and it tries to drop while the bullet is still in the barrel and the lugs still horizontally locked. Lugs are damaged. Additionally, a short link can also cause the barrel to hit the frame bed before or at the same time that it hits the VIS or cause the barrel to stop on the link instead of the VIS. I've seen it pull the lower lugs off the barrels...sometimes pulling it clear through to the chamber. Bad JuJu either way. In any event, the link isn't supposed to push the barrel higher into the slide in the mistaken notion that it increases "lockup" even though it's a popular trick whenever somebody notices that their barrel will drop slightly when pushed with the pistol in battery. The barrel doesn't lock vertically anyway. It engages with the slide vertically...but it locks horizontally when the gun fires with the lugs in opposition under shearing forces. Long-linking also places the impact force of stopping the slide's forward motion further down on the lower lug feet instead of in the stronger, more supported radius of the lug. The feet can deform, and in extreme cases, it can crack the lug.