TM 1911 Springfield Revisited for 2008
Custom Masterpieces from Qarmory

“Sexy lives on...

Certainly in the realm of replica and simulated handgun users, a fine sidearm of choice is at the heart of many a gun aficionado. Having a long experience with most of the high-end airsoft renditions of one-off 1911s, Glocks, Berettas, and some less common larger hand-cannons such as the MK23 and Desert Eagle, we believe the latest of all around “best” impressions is found by combining Japan’s tried and favorite Tokyo Marui single and double stack 1911 government and HiCapAs with Asia’s latest Aluminum CNC productions.

In particular, as the techs served with The Q Project until 2007, PGC had been the choice of our clients for many reasons. Now with our independent launch as a freelance technical custom service, Q-Armory, we now explore the offers from the new arrivals produced in high quality CNC aircraft aluminum and steel.

Our love for the 1911 has grown over the last 7-10 airsoft years and companies such as Sheriff, PDI, PGC, and now Nova are offering some fantastic upgrades for much less than our own in-house CNC’d components of yesteryear. Both firearms instructors and airsoft lovers alike have enjoyed years of owning Q’s greatest custom works. Operators training in San Diego’s 32nd Naval station, LA and SD SWAT, along with smaller PD departments across the USA, finally with our hardworking US Marine Corpsman have found no finer craftsmanship in training use in modified and built to specification airsoft handguns than with Q technicians’ replicas.

Our love for the 1911 has grown over the last 7-10 airsoft years and companies such as Sheriff, PDI, PGC, and now Nova are offering some fantastic upgrades for much less than our own in-house CNC’d components of yesteryear. Both firearms instructors and airsoft lovers alike have enjoyed years of owning Q’s greatest custom works. Operators training in San Diego’s 32nd Naval station, LA and SD SWAT, along with smaller PD departments across the USA, finally with our hardworking US Marine Corpsman have found no finer craftsmanship in training use in modified and built to specification airsoft handguns than with Q technicians’ replicas.

This review highlights Q Armory’s favorite series, the Springfield rendition of the single stack 1911. Having a long history in itself, now offered from us with the most recent flares represented in the real firearm arena.

As with our custom AEG carbines, we have stayed true to Japanese quality for our base components and designs. They have proven themselves time and again for reliability and functional prowess over the copycats. Taking extra precaution down to near mil-spec with our SAE instruments, we have lathed, milled, and re-fabricated for many years to retain these true to blueprint measurements for our customers. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that our choice stays with Tokyo Marui for this review and Nova’s frame and slide upgrade set.

Spring selection is critical for not only the recoil, but also the hammer. This is why we include a User’s Guide with every upgraded GBB stating “CAUTION!!! Never rack the slide when the catch is not installed - this can result in launching it airborne!” Many use Intrudershop spring sets, but we’ve since been able to find some private suppliers with slightly stronger gauges and lasting compression characteristics. Referring to our parts bin for both OEM and upgraded springs from McMaster Carr and local hardware providers, we found just the right gauge and diameter to cleanly activate the sear group. The results for double-tap shooting are able to be more effective for the blowback when fine-tuning is done. And for those with soft trigger fingers, some further adjustment is required since not doing so may cause the gun to improperly drop the hammer.

The process begins with checking tolerances and fittings with Nova’s slide and frame and also with TM components. More so, it’s standard procedure for us to take a comparative measurement of the OEMs as they relate to the aftermarket upgrades.

Building this beauty required selecting the choicest of Japan’s airsoft parts and a few US components to create a work of art. Hammer, Recoil guide, Sears and points of contact, proper spring decompression, valve output, rubber seal gauges, trigger and fork pull relationship, inner barrel alignment all play a significant role on how the gun will operate after assembly.

Industry leading buffing wheels and compounds were used to debur and polish the Nova frame to increase performance in all areas where the slide, frame, and internal chassis of the guide rails make contact. Also, for the sake of our operator clients, we chemically treat and polish magazine housings to ensure realistic magazine change-outs. Without doing so, friction within the mag-well usually creates sluggish mag changes, or worse even no free-play for fast reloading of a secondary.

Firstly, modification on mill and buffing wheel were completed to exactitude for the slide and frame leveling to meet or beat factory specs. Installing Nova’s complimentary chassis insert shored up the difference in the removal of the slide’s removal guide plate. It was not absolutely required to use the insert when a stronger recoil spring is used.

Selecting a specific rated recoil spring 165% in combination with a custom wound hammer spring slightly less than what most kits come with, the desired blowback effect was achieved. Double-taps are common and required for IPSC and competitive trainers, so this was a must for the action. Being able to put two downrange with little to no variance is a must.

Opting for a full length steel recoil bearing guide has been our preference when upgraded springs and FPS are demanded. The logic behind this is to ensure a smooth transition of the recoil spring from rest to compressed state and back. Cycling a slide without hanging up in a gas-operated “blowback” relies on an uninterrupted action to avoid both loss of air and accuracy per shot. The OEM spring guide does not allow for this action and many times results in partial cycling and slide lock-up.

During the time of this build, there were no aftermarket furniture parts for high-polish silver tones. So we got to work using a three part chemical process to remove both anodization and impurities from the external trigger, safeties, hammer housing, and other action parts. Usually this take 1-2 days of chemically treating the parts and then the buffing process begins. After the appropriate level of shine is achieved, a chemical clear coat is applied to protect oxidation and transferred body oils discouraging discoloration. Now, thanks to NOVA, many of the furniture pieces for TM’s 1911 series are available without the aftermarket work we provide. It’s good knowing that our collaborative affect in the industry brings about great offers from the manufacturer level!

Next attention was given to choosing a matching steel sear and hammer offered by a Japanese custom shop we have stayed with for years. Many users think that most of the abrasive action occurs on the slide and frame, when in fact the concern for wear and tear lies within the hammer mechanism and sear/ disconnect points. Taking a comparative reading of the tensions involved within the hammer housing versus the recoil slide section clearly points out this fact!

A SUS Delta hammer and sear set made for the handsome results when combined with a highflow mag valve with red-gas especially. This produces a sharp reactive kick and positive blowback without any skips in the chambering of the next round.

Ideally the IPSC shooter wants between 15-20rnds in a full load since reloads are mandatory, given the chance of varying ambient temperatures and misfires. Our experience during tactical training modules is much like IPSC in that room clearing via pie-slicing and building sweep methods demand for reloading in much the similar way.

Next year we'll dedicate our energies towards IPSC Open Class guns for the competitive shooters who want the best for at home drills!