Ed,
Nice looking 1911A1... the grips look as if they were made out of a piece of the hardwood flooring the gun was photographed on...
I used to have a plunger tube installation tool that I made myself but I think I traded it off...
The are real easy to make out of an inexpensive pair of pliers or even vice grips
On one jaw of the tool use a round file of appropriate diameter to cut a half-round trench in the jaw that is a comfortable fit over plunger tube... on the opposite side drill a hole that centers on the trench you cut into the other jaw... Tap the hole and then insert an appropriately hard screw and tighten... the length protruding on the inside of the jaw should be about .25 or .275 inches... so cut the screw off with a hacksaw and then remove the screw and rotate in a drill press or lathe so you can sharpen the end of the screw with a good file to about a 60 degree point...
put the screw back in the tool and you are ready to install plunger tubes all day if you want to.
just remember to insert a close fitting pin punch or drill rod inside the tube so it isn't crushed by the installation pressure...make sure the inserted mandril pin is long enough to easily get it out when you are done installing the tube and I would lubricate it generously to aid in getting it out.
I never had one come off using a tool made like this...
Good Luck.
__________________
regards, -John S
"...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL and are endowed by their Creator with certain UNALIENABLE rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."
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