pat142•14d ago

Showerthought: I used to hand-fit every extractor on a 1911, but a jig changed my life

For years, I'd spend maybe 45 minutes on each 1911 extractor, filing and checking by eye. It worked, but it was slow and sometimes the tension was just a bit off. Last year, I bought a specific extractor fitting jig from a tool maker in Ohio. The first time I used it, I had a perfect extractor fit in under 15 minutes. The jig holds everything at the exact angle and lets you take off material in a controlled way. The big difference is repeatability. Now every extractor I fit has the same hook geometry and tension, and I can do it fast. It was about 90 bucks, but it paid for itself in two jobs. Has anyone else found a simple jig that saved them a ton of time on a common job?

2 comments

2 Comments

barbaraschmidt13d ago

That jig sounds like a total game changer for 1911 work.

wadefoster14d ago

Yeah, I had the same thing happen with a simple sight pusher. Was using a brass punch and a hammer for the longest time, always worried about scratching the slide. Got a basic jig off Amazon for like forty bucks. Now it takes two minutes, no guesswork, and I haven't marred a finish since.