[mtho]

Does anyone here have any information on the military issued 779 slide and barrel. Here in the Philippines gunsmith call them 779 slide, they're known to be the hardest slides around, they also weigh less and are not stainless.i'd appreciate info on where or who manufactures this slides and barrel and if they also make frames. and how do they compare to other commercially produced slides?

 

[Jim Watson]

I am not an expert, but will tell what I know until one shows up.
The "779" slide is known as the military match hard slide. They were made for the US Army by Colt, Drake, and I have seen them marked TZZ for IMI - Israel. I do not think they are in production now, all you see are military surplus, and they were not sold new commercially.

There is no corresponding receiver. A military match pistol would have been made by putting a new barrel and slide on an existing frame, and otherwise accurizing the assembly.

Some gunsmiths will tell you they are not as good as current production commercial slides from makers like Caspian. I am not qualified to judge, but my local gunsmith has assembled some very accurate pistols under "779" slides. He does prefer Kart barrels to the "779" type.

 

[mtho]

Jim,
thanks for the info. so you mean they have been produced from different places? if that is so then the quality of these slide might not be consistent, and would depend on which manufacturer made them. how can we know which is supplied from where?

 

[Jim Watson]

There is a long discussion of "779" parts at
http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthr ... rake+slide

Search showed some others
http://www.1911forum.com/forums/search. ... descending

Some say they are match parts, some say they are standard replacement parts. I feel like I know less now than when I started reading it. But they are all made to US Military Specification and all the ones I have seen were of good quality and made up into good guns. There are some with nonstandard rear sight cuts; a long flat surface and a small dovetail. I think those are for the Kensight which is no longer made. They usually have a tall front sight of military target style factory installed.

Mine has a standard GI rear dovetail and no front sight. I am keeping it and a Nowlin barrel that I won at a match for a custom gun to be built when I have the specifications figured out.

I wish I could be of more help. You might ask at 1911forum.com for more information.

 

[trigger96]

Great info on this old thread. I have a question which may resurrect if anyone can help with some additional info. I recently purchased one of the early Colt roll marked hardened slides and I have an IMI NM bbl which I will be using in a USGI 1960's NM clone.

The bbl doesn't have the link or link pin, I ordered a NM link pin from Bill Ricca (the only source I have found online who may have it) but that thief mixed up my order with another one, and won't fix it after I spent $81 on parts (will gladly post that email exchange at a later time).

What commercial production link and link pin can be used on original NM bbl's? Thanks for the help.

 

[dfariswheel]

You can get Match links and pins from Brownell's:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...s/1911-auto-match-grade-link-pin-prod915.aspx

Which pin you buy depends on the hole in the barrel. Most pros precision ream the barrel link hole to a uniform diameter, then fit a link pin.
Some NM barrels have undersized link pin holes so you precision ream the hole to uniform it then use a standard link pin.

Brownell's also sell Match links:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...inks/1911-auto-barrel-link-kit-prod23089.aspx

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...l-links/1911-auto-barrel-links-prod24559.aspx
(Out of stock, but back soon).

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...el-links/1911-auto-barrel-link-prod16412.aspx

 

[dixie.valdez01]

You can get Match links and pins from Brownell's:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...s/1911-auto-match-grade-link-pin-prod915.aspx

Which pin you buy depends on the hole in the barrel. Most pros precision ream the barrel link hole to a uniform diameter, then fit a link pin.
Some NM barrels have undersized link pin holes so you precision ream the hole to uniform it then use a standard link pin.

Brownell's also sell Match links:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...inks/1911-auto-barrel-link-kit-prod23089.aspx

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...l-links/1911-auto-barrel-links-prod24559.aspx
(Out of stock, but back soon).

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...el-links/1911-auto-barrel-link-prod16412.aspx

Thanks for sharing this information as I was also looking for the answer.

 

[rj6640696]

I am not an expert, but will tell what I know until one shows up.
The "779" slide is known as the military match hard slide. They were made for the US Army by Colt, Drake, and I have seen them marked TZZ for IMI - Israel. I do not think they are in production now, all you see are military surplus, and they were not sold new commercially.

There is no corresponding receiver. A military match pistol would have been made by putting a new barrel and slide on an existing frame, and otherwise accurizing the assembly.

Some gunsmiths will tell you they are not as good as current production commercial slides from makers like Caspian. I am not qualified to judge, but my local gunsmith has assembled some very accurate pistols under "779" slides. He does prefer Kart barrels to the "779" type.

Best slides ever match mitlary well for air force match nation team better any other colt slides ever made even a gold cup a hard 779 is rare and is all mitlary well. Made very nice u wiunt find any better gun smith is wrong on that case u get a 779 u got big bucks now day s it's true air force national match and all others not close a Essex fram match barrel u can pick off flys yes best ever

 

[rj6640696]

Jim,
thanks for the info. so you mean they have been produced from different places? if that is so then the quality of these slide might not be consistent, and would depend on which manufacturer made them. how can we know which is supplied from where?

U got a winner it's a match barrel mitlary best colt hard sliid ever doubt listen to lite on here bout other slide now or better that one is cream of the crop just lk a cast essex fram not a colt but ten cent worth have seen them out shoot gold cup colts and yes out last a forged frams cracking and breaking a colt forge they say better cast u never heard cast break lk a forge and yrs a Essex fram over 100000 rds plus out did a colt fram made of forge and mite ready be a bit stronger as well. Now that's facks colt 779 march slides best made for mitly air force team

Does anyone here have any information on the military issued 779 slide and barrel. Here in the Philippines gunsmith call them 779 slide, they're known to be the hardest slides around, they also weigh less and are not stainless.i'd appreciate info on where or who manufactures this slides and barrel and if they also make frames. and how do they compare to other commercially produced slides?

Got one that's mitlary match and is of Satan nickel best u find best colt slides made Nation match us army slides Essex fram colt gtg cast frames do run hard and forge crack over life time and over 100000 rds to on a Essex fram so doubt listen all u hear bout stuff on here lots wash lots good cast is really stronger then forage in some cases alum they used years on 45 u thing a good cast is not it is