Clark .38 1911

This is my Clark .38 WC gun built on a SA NM frame and Colt Kit slide and barrel.  It is marked "1.74  J. E. Clark  Shreveport LA  3.65" on the inside of the slide and it came with 4 magazines from Clark's shop.

I haven't shot it yet (but I will) but I would like to know if the milling and d/t on the rear of the slide were for a flat-bottomed Bo-Mar sight?  I know I've seen pictures of Clark guns with such a sight mounted, and if possible I would like to obtain and install one.  Can anyone confirm that there is such a sight?  And, the big question--does anyone have one they could part with?

BTW, I did email Clark last week about this gun but I haven't heard anything from them.  With the time difference between LA and HI, my window to call them is limited.

That slide flat cut is for the Bomar Mini-rib rear sight. They are very rare and expensive to find replacement mini-ribs. Last one on eBay was $200+
The numbers under the slide are the month/year of build and serial number of receiver. The numbers do not match your receiver and receiver is missing tiger tooth stippling on the front strap. So slide was taken off original receiver and put on the SA. 
Jon

Thank you Jon for the information.  Now I know what to look for--a Bo Mar mini rib sight.

I was wondering why there was no stippling on the front strap and the beavertail looks to be a Wilson drop in type as well--not the usual work you'd expect from Clark.  The hammer appears to be a S&W mim part as well.

Bomar mini-rib with extended front sight.
Jon

Since you are missing the mini-rib , it’s very likely that your barrel has excessive vertical play. The mini-rib had a built in tuner/radius that the barrel hood pushed up against for lock up when in battery. Also since it is a Kit Gun barrel it’s even more likely to be loose vertically.
Jon

Greetings,

I have seen the "mini-rib" in old Hebard catalogs.

It has me wondering if a full length tuner rib could be cut off to make a mini-rib?

Cheers,

Dave

Dave, standard Bomar rib has radiused bottom and mini-rib has flat bottom. I haven’t seen a higher mini-rib (45 only pistols?)off a pistol in so long I can’t remember if flat bottomed or not. Then we have the tuner issue. Every Clark 38 I’ve seen with mini-rib has always had barrel fit to the tuner. So the adaption of a full length rib would require machining the bottom flat, drilling the mounting hole pattern to match existing slide holes, and machining the tuner. Probably easier to fabricate new base and using new Kensight leaf/blade.

Jon

Jon,
The mix-master pistol that I bought from kjanracing - the one you fitted together for him - has one of those tuners, doesn’t it?  You cut it down so it no longer “tunes”. Correct?

Edit: I can’t see the picture that you posted. Is it a photo of my pistol with the extended front sight?

RodJ,
Yes that barrel was fit to slide lugs and the tuner cut down to no longer contact the barrel for lockup. In my opinion full upper barrel engagement is crucial. Also your pistol is 45 caliber which has more recoil furthering the need for more lug engagement. 38 is not as noticeable, but when I rebuild (weld up barrel for refit) I try to bypass the tuner during the barrel fitting if possible.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:Dave, standard Bomar rib has radiused bottom and mini-rib has flat bottom. I haven’t seen a higher mini-rib (45 only pistols?)off a pistol in so long I can’t remember if flat bottomed or not. Then we have the tuner issue. Every Clark 38 I’ve seen with mini-rib has always had barrel fit to the tuner. So the adaption of a full length rib would require machining the bottom flat, drilling the mounting hole pattern to match existing slide holes, and machining the tuner. Probably easier to fabricate new base and using new Kensight leaf/blade.

Jon

Greetings Jon,

I need to get new glasses. I see the flat in the first photo. I machined a mini rib scope rail for a friend to replace the Mini-Rib. Had to machine the hood radius "just right".

Hebard used to sell Mini-Ribs with Tuners to remove a little bit of weight.

Cheers,

Dave

I talked to a couple of bullseye shooters at the local range today and started putting the word out.  I'm in no hurry but it would be nice to find one.

That is a helluva gun! Clark made some of the most accurate 1911s, and his front stippling is amazing.

My mini-rib doesn't have a tuner. A 1969 build. Under a tight fitted and pinned cover, It has 3 socket screws forward and perhaps just a pin rearmost, unless it was a socket head that broke off. 

Funny l just had it apart to change the bomar sight module. I took the cross pin from the old one but messed up the elevation screw detent spring when reassembling. I took off the cover this time so I could depress the detent spring and hold it in place with a slave pin.

Bruce,
The tuner was not adjustable, so not visible in same way as adjustable tuner ribs. Mini-ribs extend over the ejection port; tuner.
Does the top of your barrel hood show marks from engaging the tuner/rib?
Jon

Maybe, it's close

A 1 mil feeler sticks but I think just in the beveled area.

That’s a built-in non-adjustable tuner rib. Prevents barrel lugs from completely engaging slide lugs.
Jon

Probable SCAM alert:  "jabby" (no rating) knows a guy who has exactly what I want and if I'm still interested I should contact "edwardaustin283 at gmail dot com."  

Seems to fit the MO perfectly, thought I'd report it.

I got one as well!

hello are you still interested in getting this?.

you can contact Edward he has a left hand grips for a Supermatic 107 Military. for sale........... PM him @ edwardaustin283 at gmail dot com

willnewton:
"Jabby is a confirmed scammer and banned now.  This same person messaged 5 or 6 members today with that exact message."

'edwardaustin283'  too.

(From the Commercial Row Sticky forum in case others are reading this.)