ISMI Gunsprings

WELCOME TO THE NO BS ZONE OF TEDDY JACOBSON


NOTE: First let me say that I want to get back on track and get away from the aggravation of the frauds in the chat rooms and on the forums and I have decided to start writing commentaries that will be most benificial to the honest sincere gun owner that truly wants to be educated. I will start writing about companies and their products that I like and that I have used. Even though I am now slowing down in my semi retirement I will still be here to help you. When a new commentary goes up it will be written in a different color print so you will know immediately that its a new Blog. In a world of compromise, I will never deviate from what I feel is a just and true cause and or procedure or product.


ISMI stands for Integrated Systems Management, Incorporated and was founded by Marc Cosat. He is the sole owner and is a one man shop. Hes a very nice man.

Before I get into this commentary about springs let me first tell you that I have been buying Wolff Gunsprings for 40 years. I used to know Walter Wolff Senior who was a fine man and he always helped me. The Wolff Spring Company is now owned and run by Walter Wolff Jr. who is a very nice man and I have known him for many years and I like him and his product. Wolff springs are made using music wire. I still buy and use music wire springs made by W.C. Wolff spring co.

Your firearm is a mechanical device comprised of numerous parts or sub systems which work together in order to form an integrated system. This system is made operational by the use of springs. Without the use of quality springs there is no way you could ever have an operational firearm as we know it today.


What sets ISMI apart from other companies that make springs are the way they are made and the spring stock that Marc uses. You must remember that Marc is a one person operation just like I have been and that in itself is not easy. The theory of ISMI and their product line in making springs is very different than the use of music wire springs. Marc uses Chrome Silicon Alloy wire as his main type of spring wire but as certain applications require some of his springs are made of stainless steel. There is a reason for all this that I will explain. I do not mind helping other Smiths that will understand that I know what I am talking about and respect my knowledge.


ISMI uses ISO 9002 quality control standards. All of their springs are heat treated, shot peened and stress relieved. Before I go any further let me define those terms for you so that you will understand what I am talking about.

Heat Treated - Fixturing a spring at an elevated temperature to minimize load loss at operating temperature.

Shot Peened - This is a cold working process in which the material surface is peened to induce compressive stresses and thereby improves fatigue life.

Stress Relieved - This subjects springs to low temperature heat treatment so as to relieve residual stresses.

Buying these ISMI chrome silicon alloy wire springs is more money than music wire. Only you can determine if you want to go the extra mile for this very well made spring. Many guns are made and manufactured to be cost effective. Most gun companies put out bids for large volume of spring purchases. I can easily pin it down for you and say using a spring made with chrome silicon vs. music wire in many ways is a different philosophy.

In this project street gun, Mr. Camp and I decided to use a recoil spring made of chrome silicon alloy wire. We decided to also use a hammer (mainspring) using stainless steel because we do not ever want to see rust form in the main spring housing due to climate conditions. We are also using a stainless steel spring in the magazine catch assembly. Of course the price is higher, but our set of values comes first. There is no question that traditional music wire would have worked fine but we went the extra mile because we will not compromise with anything.

I have always gone to other industries while the other Smiths were still using the traditional products that have been around for 50 years, of course they work but I am never satisfied until my research is complete. I do not just accept the traditional answers I get until all my entire investigation is complete.

Lets talk about recoil springs, most of you know what they are and it will make things easier for me to explain. This single component has a tremendous influence on the operation of your semi auto than most any other part. You can ask 7 different people how often they change their recoil spring and you will get 7 different answers. Most people change regular music wire recoil springs between 1000 and 2000 rounds. As a recoil spring takes a set it loses load at the installed height when the pistol is in full battery. This permits the slide to unlock faster and travel rearward at a greater velocity. NOW this spring has lost its ability to absorb energy, the result is that in the case of a 1911 pistol this energy is now being transmitted to your barrel lugs, slide, frame, hammer and to you through your hands. inconsistant spring fuctioning can cause barrel lugs to break and frames to crack and slides to crack. A total breakdown is coming with a really failed recoil spring.

Let me make a suggestion. I want you to take a brand new music wire recoil spring that is for your (Government size) 1911 pistol that has a 16 lb. rating and measure the phyical length of it before it is ever installed in your pistol. I want you to then write this number down and install this spring in a five inch government model. You can either leave the gun in full battery or locked back for one week. Then I want you to remove this spring and measure the length.
NOW you will do the very same, using an ISMI chrome silicon alloy wire recoil spring of the same 16 lb. rating. After one week of being in your pistol in the same position as in full battery or locked back, remove it and measure it with your tape measure as you did with the music wire spring.
Please email me your findings. I will let you discover what I already know.

I stock a great many springs and I am letting my stock go way down as I will no longer ever do the amount of work that I have in the past. My life has changed, I do not think for the better but IT IS WHAT IT IS. I am going to start to teach you the hard lessons I have learned through out my life as a Pistolsmith. My wife and son Charles will never be able to carry gun work on once I am gone but my honesty and integrity will always be remembered. I want you to start to use the best products money can buy. If a particular spring for instance is two or three times the money you are used to paying just ask your self why, ask questions that have logical answers. What makes different spring materials cost so much more, there is a reason and only you can decide what is best for you.

Are all spring materials heat treated and or shot peened and or stress relieved, answer is NO. Times have changed, technology has given us better products, not necessarily in the gun industry but if you open your eyes and look beyond you will see a world that has advanced products and methods far beyond anything the gun companies ever dreamed of. They are too busy cheapening parts and raising their prices so they can make more and more money to satisfy the bean counters.

How many of you can sit down and make an honest list of your favorite handguns and the improvements that have been made to every new model of handgun you have purchased in the past 5 years. We are living in a world of BS. In most cases you get what you pay for, but not all.

For those that want to know more about ISMI gunsprings please call Marc at 800 773 1940 or go to his website at www.ismi-gunsprings.com
you can email Marc at sales@ismi-gunsprings.com


My good friend Mr. Camp and Mr. Taylor and I have discussed the use of gunsprings in great detail. Mr. Camp has discussed springs in his excellent book or you can go to Mr. Camps website at www.hipowersandhandguns.com

My friend Mr. Taylor is sharp as a tack and is the Vp of Cheytac and you can go to www.cheytac.com
We have all been using ISMI recoil springs made of Chrome Silicon alloy wire and we know what a truly good quality product that Marc is making.


AUTHORS PERSONAL NOTATION:
This commentary as well as all my previous commentaries are my personal opinion and my personal viewpoint only.


Teddy Jacobson / Pistolsmith (semi retired)
www.actionsbyt.com
281 277 4008
tjacobson@houston.rr.com
jaj45f@alltel.net
www.actionsbyt.blogspot.com/