I finally saw my tuned extractor work perfectly on a stubborn case

Most folks in the trade say you should never bend an extractor, just replace it if it acts up. I've always thought a careful adjust can save the part and work better than new. Last week, I had a .45 ACP 1911 that kept dropping cases at my feet. Instead of ordering a new piece, I took my time and gently tweaked the extractor hook with a brass punch. After testing, it fed and ejected like a dream for fifty rounds straight. A lot of smiths would call that a hack job, but the result speaks for itself. This little success made my day and backs up my view that not every fix needs a new part. Sometimes a light touch and patience beat the bin.

3 comments

3 Comments

dianas321mo ago

Tuned an old Mauser extractor the same way last month. A careful nudge and it works a treat now.

kevinh101mo agoMost Upvoted

Call me cautious, but that 'careful nudge' sounds like a gamble on old steel! @nina_johnson86 has the right idea with a full polish for reliability.

nina_johnson861mo ago

That "careful nudge" approach always worries me with old parts. It's too easy to stress the metal and cause a crack. I prefer to fully remove and polish the extractor for a reliable fix.