Left hand twist? (1911)

C

Capt. Charlie

Moderator Emeritus
This is just a curiosity thing, but I've been idly wondering why Colt went with a left hand twist in the rifling of their 1911's, and are most other 1911 clones the same?
 
Just a guess, but probably because the rifling equipmemnt they had was already set up that way. For a screwed in barrel reversing the rifling and the barrel threads has some advantages...the barrel does not unscrew when the bullet slams into the rifling.
 
Colt has long used left-handed rifling in their pistols, including revolvers.

That's what they used in the original 1911, and that's just what most makers copied.

Screw-in revolver barrels are standard right hand threaded, NOT reversed left-hand threads.
 
Yeah, but why? Every other maker of firearms I can think of, including long guns, uses a right hand twist. There must be some logic to it. :confused:
 
LH Twist

Dear Shooters:
I have a confession to make. After working for Novaks' for years on 1911s' & clones, and in my own shop for years I have NEVER looked to see if the twist is R.H. or L.H.! :o
Should I be ashamed; or do I need help, or forgiveness?
I've just paid no attention on rifle or handgun in this regard but rather on the condition, straightness, and uniformity of those bores.
Surely, in the eyes of you SMITHS I am undone!
Harry B. :o :o
 
Don't beat yourself up, Harry. :) I wouldn't have known it either, except that I was a Navy gunner's mate in the late 60's early 70's and they (literally) beat that stuff into our heads in training. Hell, they would wake us up at some ungodly hour and make us rattle off muzzle velocities, weight, dimensions, and stuff like rifling twist (which helped me HOW in the field???). I have no idea why (some of) that stuff stuck in my head. :rolleyes: :D
 
Colt used left hand twist as far back as the percussion days. For a while, their .36 caliber guns were LH, and the .44's were right, then in the cartridge era they went to LH for everything.

The auto pistols were LH simply because everything else Colt made was LH, and that was the way the rifling machines were set up. When the M1911 was adopted by the army, the rifling specs went with it, and were carried over to contract guns and then to the clones. There is no real reason for it.

Jim
 
There was considerable discussion and theorizing among bulls eye competitors about 15 years ago that shooter's elbow could be mitigated by going to a reverse rifling twist. Bar-sto, for example, offers both so lefties and righties can choose their poison. I went from a Colt barrel to a right-hand twist Bar-sto when I was having trouble with my elbow, but if anything it got worse. I just wore the brace.

Nick
 
Huh! And here I thought it had to do with something exotic and mysterious involving the earth's magnetic field or rotation or something like that :D (Hey, it affects which way the water swirls when you flush the commode! :rolleyes: :D ) My faith in the complexities of engineering has forever been shattered; oh woe is me! :D
 
The age of the Great Engineers is past. The Brooklyn Bridge has been built. The Dayton Conservancy District, the TVA, the Panama Canal. All done. Nobody any longer believes the world's engineers will save us from a life of toil (though bone-wear on skeletal remains from archaeological digs suggests they already have).

Now, about the direction of 1911 barrel twist protecting you from UFO abduction, well that's another story. . .


Nick
 
Aluminum foil bowler hat? No wonder I've been abducted 8 times! And here I thought it was a metal hubcap. Guess I can take it off now :D .
 
Yeah. A steel hubcap not only has a higher R/sq than aluminum, but it is magnetic, so it allows induced and extended magnetic fields to be formed in it. Kind of like introducing scissors into a full-contact oragami competition. ;)
 
Some aftermarket barrels (1911's) have right hand twists. I am with Harry. I never notice and I really don't care which way they go. Every barrel maker is the World's Foremost Authority on this subject. It does make a difference when shooting the gun if you are one in a million and can tell.
Harry: I hope our reputation is not smashed for good here because of our our lack of concern........................
 
I don't know how, Dave, but I think you're taking my question all wrong. It truly was an idle curiosity thing. You know, a "why is the sky blue?" type thing. Sorry if it came across as something else, and I can barely fix a broken toaster, let alone call myself a 'smith. I have nothing but respect for gunsmiths and consider the good one's true artists. :)
 
Please forgive me Capt Charlie. I know why the sky is blue. It is because God made it that way. I also like the way He did it! I was juist woofin' and Harry and I are certifiably weird Gunguys and have a strange sense of humor. There really are reasons and I have heard them but did not keep them for very long in the old crammed up file cabinet between my ears. You are a nice person and I like you. Hope this cleans us up!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top