[popeye]

A friend of mine has 2 1903's. One has what appears to be a FP bushing that's loose and protrudes from the breach face. It can be pushed back in but is an obvious problem as the case rims catch on it as they feed.
Schematic pics do not show a bushing. Is this a repair gone bad done somewhere in the past?

 

[popeye]

I'm working on getting some pictures. If he doesn't come up with pics soon I'll do it.

Thanks, Jim

 

[popeye]

Thanks for replies and special thanks for pic of FP assm.. I will post pics as soon as I can. I jumped the gun and started the thread without pics thinking maybe this was a known or at least experienced by someone issue.

Jim

 

[popeye]

O.K. Here's the scoop. Walt is the owner of the 2 1903's and machinist extraordinaire. Walt took the gun to a local gunsmith and between them they figured it out. All these guns have bushings pressed in from the front until they're flush with the breach face. The firing pin channel was drilled from the front. The two piece FP is necessary so the FP can be replaced. Walt will remove the bushing and make a new one, or maybe knurl the old one and use it. I took these pics and you can see it. One slide has the bushing sticking out. The second slide is still in tact but you can see the outline of the bushing on the face

 

[popeye]

The thinking is the bushing is present on all 1903's. There's no way too drill the firing pin channel from the rear, It's enclosed by the slide rear. The firing pin channel was drilled from the front during mfg., through the slide barrel opening. Then the bushing pressed in. The bushing was never expected to wear out so no references to it on schematic parts breakdowns. In the pic below you can see the slide rear (black) is directly in line with the pin hole (red)

 

[popeye]

On the offending pistol with the loose bushing, I would knick up the outside of the bushing to raise some metal and drive it back in place, perhaps with some red Loctite for good measure.

(Apologies to anyone offended by my "delivery.")

I spent 40 mins. at Walts place trying to remove that bushing with hemostats. The thing turns 180 degrees freely but what ever Colt used to hold it would not allow it to come out more than 1/16". Walt had to sic his dog on me to keep me from throwing the slide out into the street. At 67 I've grown impatient.
I talked to Walt last night and he in fact arrived at the same repair approach. He had a heck of a time driving the bushing back flush with the face. I would have liked to see that thing removed as maybe it's a "tube" affair enclosing the entire front FP assm. Test fire is today or tomorrow.
I'm a revolver guy, these automatic things with all their jimcracks and doohickies will never catch on.