One of the roughest weapons of WitW yet. The IRA Colt M1911A1 with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson

Published on August 16, 2023
Duration: 19:03

This review details a heavily modified Remington Rand M1911A1 used by the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, featuring a rare full-automatic conversion. Expert Jonathan Ferguson highlights the crude but effective 'shed-style' modifications, including a brazed foregrip, added buttstock, extended magazine, and an oversized external extractor for automatic fire. The conversion's mechanics are explained, drawing parallels to earlier gangster-era modifications.

Quick Summary

Jonathan Ferguson examines a rare IRA-modified Colt M1911A1 from the 1970s, converted to full-automatic fire. Modifications include a brazed foregrip, added buttstock, crude 14-round extended magazine, and an oversized external extractor for reliability.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Modified M1911A1
  2. 01:20Historical Context: IRA Use
  3. 02:09Full-Auto Control Mods
  4. 04:29Extended Magazine
  5. 06:45Extractor & Chamber Mods
  6. 08:12Internal Full-Auto Mechanism
  7. 13:20Comparison to Gangster Conversions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is unique about the IRA Colt M1911A1 discussed by Jonathan Ferguson?

This Remington Rand M1911A1 was heavily modified by the Provisional IRA in the 1970s for full-automatic fire. It features a brazed wooden foregrip, an added steel buttstock, a crude 14-round extended magazine, and an oversized external extractor.

How was the M1911A1 converted to full-automatic fire?

The conversion involved adding an auto-sear mechanism that bypassed the standard disconnector. A sear extension was fitted to the frame, and a notch was cut into the slide to trip the auto-sear, allowing continuous fire when the trigger is held.

What modifications were made to improve reliability in the IRA's full-auto M1911A1?

A large external extractor was added to the slide, requiring the chamber to be modified. This 'claw' extractor was designed to better grip the cartridge rim during the rapid cycling of automatic fire, aiming to prevent extraction failures.

What historical context surrounds this modified M1911A1?

The pistol is identified as a Provisional IRA weapon from the 1970s, seized in Northern Ireland. It exemplifies 'shed-style' operations where firearms were modified in machine shops after hours, similar in concept to earlier gangster-era conversions.

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