Need some help with a Colt Military Model 1905 .45

[jmoore]

Brought home a generally nice 1905 but somehow missed the fact that the ejector is missing! That or I forgot about it since I put it on layaway. At any rate, it needs a replacement if it's to be shot. If there's a reproduction version that's any account it would be fine, but I suspect fabricating a new one is in order. Found a suitable hunk of beryllium copper which out to be ideal for the purpose, but have no good reference from which to get dimensions. It's enough different from the .38 Automatic version that it'll be more or less reinventing the wheel.


Even some good detail photos of the ejector would help!


Then there's the drama of magazines...


Thanks for any help!

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[varifleman]

Here's a link to Colt 1905 Military Model .45ACP listed by Numrich which shows ejector part 23 listed for $21.05 but is currently out of stock. Perhaps email them to let you know when it's back in stock. [url="http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Colt-33188/AutoPistols-35748/190545AutoMilitary-34898.htm?page=2"]1905 45 AUTO MILITARY Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts[/url. Here are photos of my Colt Military Model 1905 .45 ACP pistol serial number 5090 (made 1910) which was shipped to Praeger Hardware Co. San Antonio TX on March 27, 1911 and sold to H. N. Moore Co. listed in the 1910 and 1912 San Antonio City Directory as a Sporting Goods Store on 326 West Commerce Street. The ammo is Winchester circa 1914 200-grain .45ACP which was adapted to this pistol.

[jmoore]

Have never had any success getting backorders from Numrich. Did order a CZ38 trigger return spring for about 15 years before one finally showed up...with a trigger still attached! Metric spring wire size. Couldn't get a US gage wire to work. Either too small and wouldn't return the trigger or too big to fit.


Failing a drawing or even good photos, I reckon it won't be hugely difficult to fabricate, but may need to do a test fit dummy first. That rear pin won't take kindly to multiple assembly cycles.

[browningautorifle]

Making one might not be that bad, but I'm hoping it looks and fits and acts like the 1911-and A1s that I'm familiar with. If so, the worst part for me would be hardening so it doesn't misshape after time. I'm not sure Kasenite will do it...

[jmoore]

Nope, the ejector is an unfortunate cobble, as the upsize to .45 from .38 ACP removed the front support near the end of the barrel. The ejector not only kicks the shell out of the pistol, but acts as cartridge support opposite the extractor during rearward slide movement.


Since the front pin was removed, a lug just aft of the retaining pin was added, but the geometry is terrible. The 1911 breech face was modified to provide extractor tension, so the ejector became a single function piece that is a vast improvement!


Some photos on camera, but have yet to go through all the hoops to upload, crop, size, etc. May fall back on P'bucket once more. It's a little quicker, anyway.


Will use beryllium copper instead of steel. seems better suited for the task.

[vintage hunter]

beryllium

Bad stuff to be fooling around with.

[jmoore]

Have been "fooling around" with it for years and years! BeCu is only particularly evil in dust form, and affects not everybody. Regardless, it's great for it's "fatigue" resistance, and machines well. I've made several high usage firing pins from said, including a competition Python and S&W 625. The Python's was done in haste just a few days before a match when the factory unit broke.


Let's try some photos:









The bad: No ejector, except for sheared off formerly integral retaining pin.

Ramped barrel! But note the small cutout behind the sheared off ejector retaining pin. That's all that keeps the works in line, and the ejector runs all the way forward to the end of the barrel...



Dunno if barrel impact or what broke the ejector, but it surely impacted. Not ideal, nor the norm with the earlier .38 Autos.



The ugly. Don't mind the rust so much as the scratches! Errrrr!!!

[jmoore]

The good:



Minor discoloring in bore. No complaints here!



Factory cut for and shipped with combo holster/shoulder stock. No stock currently, though!

[browningautorifle]

the ejector runs all the way forward to the end of the barrel...

I'd definitely need one to work from...not what I expected. That could be a task.

[jmoore]

Got a much appreciated assist from Jack Lesher, owner of Chuck's Firearms in Atlanta, GA. He has in his personal collection an early 1905. Working on getting a good drawing done with nominal dimensions, but if there's already info or parts out there, I'm still interested!




Here's some phone camera photos that I cropped in an to attempt to focus on the part in question: