Build a 1911

[LaConservationist]

Guys I am looking for a special 1911. Well what do I call special? Hell I don't know for sure!
I actually don't care for a everyday cookie cutter! I would like to get something that has all proven parts, shoots like dream with dead nutts accuracy!
Not looking for something with cheap parts and I am not looking to pay out of my arse just for a NAME!
I have a few firearms Smith&Wesson 29-2 “S” series 44mag. As well as a STG style FAL that I am going to sell or either try and do some horse trading.


For those in the know what frame and then slide would be the best to start with and other manufacture major components would you recommend.
I like the chit outta the BCG Lightning Slide BUT I don't know anything about it other than it looks cool as CHIT, and it is only avaliable in the .40 and the .38super. I WANT this to be a .45.

http://www.1911store.com/ProductImages/10-201l.gif

Give me some input and ideas.
Thanks!
LC

[jugrunner]

Go here:

http://www.fusionfirearms.com/menu/menu.htm

http://www.caspianarms.com/

http://www.edbrown.com/

http://www.lesbaer.com/

http://www.egw-guns.com/

someone else I know of has some funky cut slides ... race gun style stuff ... I'll remember and post it also ...

these are just some sites to get a feel of what's out there maybe ...

[LaConservationist]

Thanks Jug, I have been checking all those out EXCEPT the ED brown one and I like it as much as any!!

Thanks agaiN!

[MAINER]

You seem to be missing at least one option. These folks produce some really
radical- looking 1911 sorta type pistols.

http://www.stiguns.com/

My tastes are more mundane. :rolleyes:

[AndyC]

Slo Cat's 1911 (http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227077) - absolutely outstanding. Might give you some ideas :wink:

[LaConservationist]

Originally posted by AndyC
Slo Cat's 1911 (http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227077) - absolutely outstanding. Might give you some ideas :wink:

That is the TOPS of all TOPS right there!! Awesome 1911!!

[AndyC]

Yeah, I'm going to get a Damascus slide one day too and try my hand at it :biggrin:

[LaConservationist]

Originally posted by AndyC
Slo Cat's 1911 (http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227077) - absolutely outstanding. Might give you some ideas :wink:

Yeah that does give me an idea.......SLOCAT how much for you to build one close to that for me? Don't want an exact copy but something close?

How's that for an idea????

OH in a .45 too! (Since they don't make a .46)

[LaConservationist]

SLOOOOO------CAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT!!!

[AndyC]

He's been kinda busy of late (http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=267682) :wink:

[LaConservationist]

Thanks Andy, looks like he has been kicking some BUTT???

[Tiecuando]

You can find parts from the Brownell's catalog. You can order it for free.

[the gman]

I started building this first one for my wife for her birthday in 2008. This was the first 1911 I ever tried to build & I got stuck at the barrel fitting point plus a few other little items. Managed to get on the NRA Summer Gunsmithing course at Trinidad Junior State College in CO a couple of weeks ago & with the help, assistance & patience of the wonderful instructors that Brownells kindly allowed to attend, I got it finished.

It's a .45, built on an Essex SS frame. Frame started off as a brushed/blasted finish that I really didn't like so lots of handwork with progressive grits of sandpaper later, it's shiny!! Just the right amount of bling for the woman in my life.....:wink:

Caspian slide, Storm Lake barrel (nice barrels BTW) ambi safety, mostly Ed Brown parts but some McCormick, Wilson, Nowlin parts in there too. Sights are MMC night sights. Grip safety is a Smith & Alexander & was a bit of a bitch to fit, just lots of hand filing to blend it in. Probably won't use them again.

Pics:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1136590/Stef%20.45%20LH.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1136590/Stef%20.45%20RH.jpg

Next one I built was similar to Slo Cat's that he built for his boy. I grabbed the Damascus slide at SHOT Show last year from my bud at Caspian, $435 with dealer discount, ouch!!! Sat in the wrap for some time & then early last year I lucked in to a LEO who was selling a Ti frame.

Got Damascus hammer & trigger just after SHOT last year & a bunch of other stuff from the good guys at Brownells & Caspian. Barrel is another Storm Lake, sights are MMC tritium front & Caspian combat adj at the rear. Most internals are Wilson/Brown. Slightly extended mag button too.

Grip safety is Caspian too. Messed up fitting that, one of the instructors mistakenly thought it was a S&A .220 radius so I get started grinding. It didn't seem to be right so I saw the other instructor & it was at this point we realized that it was actually a Clark/Wilson radius...:cry: :cry: :cry: Too late, too much ground out of the frame so there is a little gap either side of the tang on the grip safety. Can't re-weld the frame or should I say, I can't re-weld the frame as Ti is a bitch to do so I'll end up welding the grip safety instead.

Lesson learned; check, check & check again BEFORE you grind.....:eek:

Another lesson learned was that Ti is a bitch to work with, nowhere near as easy as SS or CM. :cry: Good job the other 3 frames I have are all either SS or CM.........:biggrin:

Damascus was easy to work with, once you get past the idea that you are going to irreparably damage the finish by filing or machining it. A quick run through the blast cabinet & 5 minute dip in Muriatic acid followed by a rinse in hot soapy water brings all the etching back to life. Watch it with that Muriatic acid tho', really cleans out yer sinuses......:eek:

Pics:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1136590/Gman%20.45%20LH.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1136590/Gman%20.45%20RH.jpg

Be glad to answer any questions.

[LaConservationist]

Beautiful work GMAN! Have you round any amount of rounds thru them yet?How do they run?

Thanks!
LC

[LaConservationist]

Internal vs external ejectors? What are your thoughts? What are the pro's and cons?

[the gman]

Damascus/Ti is TIGHT, like, really, really tight & has led to short stroking. Oil 'er up & work the slide while I watch TV & then I'll be shooting her again. Wife's is a little looser. Wanted it that way as she is carrying it as CCW. Don't need a really tight piece for that. It shoots great!

Internal extractors. More trouble to fit properly & tune but traditional.

Got one more internal extractor slide & then I'll build an external. Used to externals with BHP & Beretta's etc.

Go Caspian on slides & frames. Can't buy better for the money on those parts. Essex are OK, cheaper than Caspian & prolly better to practice on. I have 3 Essex frames here that I'll be messing with over the next few months.

One guy in my class had a Les Baer frame that was FUBAR right out of the gate. Our main instructor, Mike Watkins is a member of the American Pistolsmith Guild & a former Pistolsmith of the Year so he knows 1911's & even he couldn't make the Baer work. He recommended the guy send it back for refund. Even when you spend big money, you don't always get quality first time round. Another guy had an STI & that had a few wrinkles too.

Building a 1911 ain't like any other gun I've ever put together. It's way more intense than a FAL or even a High Power.

If you are going to build your own 1911, I have a few tips:

1. Buy Kuhnhausen's 1911 books, both of them. Can't say enough good things about them. Required reading.

2. Join both these forums: http://forums.1911forum.com/ & http://forum.m1911.org/index.php? Don't be like tracyballard & be a dick in messing with them over there like we do here, you will get run off. However, especially on the first forum, there are some seriously talented & top flight 1911 smiths who will help you with advice if you need it or ask for it. Do them a favor tho'; read a LOT of the forums first before asking....

3. Look at these sites: http://www.blindhogg.com/index.html & http://www.roderuscustom.tzo.com/ Talented self taught folks.

4. Get yourself on some form of gunsmithing course, preferably one that deals with 1911's. There will be things you learn that you just can't get out of the books. Cylinder & Slide run one but by God is it expensive!! You may find an experienced smith in your area who will, for a fee, teach you some things. Check your local colleges too. A good tip is to take a machine tech course as much of the hand work on a 1911 can be done on a mill or a lathe. If you know how to run both, you are way ahead. NRA gunsmithing courses are well worth the money. Mine was $411 for the week; $300 tution, $11 admin fee, $100 dorm rent. Excellent value for money!:bow:

5. Buy some cheap slides & frames to practice on. Grinding a beavertail to fit isn't going to be an issue if you are working on a $29 Sarco special frame as opposed to a $400 Ti.....:eek: Ditto slides. You can buy a whole bunch of slides from Sarco to practice machining on for less than the cost of one slide from Caspian.

All this advice is from my own experience & may not jive with what others have done, how they learned or what they recommend. I am no 1911 expert & don't think I ever will be. I will prolly get better at not fcuking things up but I sure ain't the next Bill Wilson.....:rofl: