I am glad you have a clearer picture of your gun's situation.

I need to start a thread on "Pets and Pests".
In furniture and cabinet work, we put minimum effort into the surfaces that only "Pets and Pests" will ever see. That is in keeping with a little peening or filing here and there for better fit.

For fun, I would coat the knuckle with green sharpie, and work the gun open and closed a bunch of times. You might be surprised how little bearing is actually used. It wipes off with most cleaners.

Out there doing it best I can.