Cast barrel question?

[Scott Gahimer]

I looked at a M1911 pistol for a local friend yesterday and it had this unmarked, cast barrel in it. Obviously, it's incorrect for the pistol, but I am curious as to who is making/using a cast barrel? I suppose it could be a stand-alone replacement part offered by someone. I've never really looked at many of the cheap 45 knock-offs offered today, so... Anyone know?









It's pretty crudely manufactured. If you look closely, you can see the seam in all the photos, even on the back of the lugs and down in the locking lugs.

Just curious as to the maker? Thanks.

[Scott Wilson]

I have never encountered a barrel such as that. Could it be of "jungle manufacture" from the Vietnam era? What era pistol was it found in?

[Scott Gahimer]

It was a 20K serial range M1911 receiver from 1913 with what appears to be a 1917 slide. The pistol is poor condition with some mismatched parts. The barrel doesn't really strike me as being that old, but I could be wrong. I suspect it to be a more current production piece from perhaps one of the manufacturers overseas. But I'm just guessing.

[Johnny P]

All the VC jungle .45's I have seen have smoothbore barrels unless the barrel came from something else.

Is the pink/purple color on the machined areas as evident as it appears in the photographs?

[Scott Gahimer]

Yes, the color of the photos is pretty accurate. Appears plum colored in bright light...a poor job of finishing.

[Johnny P]

I have heard that the silicon added to cast steel to remove oxygen has a tendency to cause the steel to turn plum when blued. It tends to turn over time rather than immediately. I would say the plum color is a good indication that the barrel is indeed cast. Nickel is also added to steel to increase the strength, and also has the problem of turning plum when hot caustic blued.

[da gimp]

Khyber pass/Afghan/Pakistan maybe? Have never seen cast barrels on anything from red China.................Heck I'd be scared to fire a round thru it.

[Emri]

Looks like one of those you once could buy from Numrich for $9.95. I've never seen a complete cast barrel. The ones I have seen were two piece. A cast rear section to include the locking lugs and the link lug with a steel barrel / chamber. If you want to see crude manufacturing, look at a Norinco 1911.

[joem]

I have a Norinco 1911 and to me it looks as good as any other 1911. It also outshot a new colt 1911. If I would have thought about it I would have bought 4 or 5 more when you could get them.