I Call Her "Black Beauty" 1911 *Update*
Update on page 2
Well, I've worked on enough 1911's until one day, several months ago, I got the bug to have one of my very own. My plan was to buy a cheap parts kit/frame and slide from Sarco (against Perry Shooters suggestion[:D]) and have a cheap, throw in the truck, 1911 for around $250. I could have easily bought one, but where's the fun in that.[;)] A couple weeks after I ordered all the parts, I realized that there was a problem with Sarco, as I never received my parts. I kept getting the run around from them and that's where my plans changed. I cancelled my order with them and decided at that point to build the nicest, match quality, custom 1911 that I could afford (the wife and I disagree on what I can afford[:D][;)]). I wanted it semi-GI looking, with just a few tastefull modifications. The last thing I wanted was a pimped-out 1911.
I bought an oversized Essex frame and slide from Brownells and one by one, pieced the rest of the parts together from Midway. The only parts I used were Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Cylinder & Slide, and Chip McCormick. Every part required fitting to some degree. Some extensive, some semi-drop in, but that's good, I wanted this gun to be "tight".
Below are some pics of the progress and completed. What started out to be a $250 "truck gun" has turned into, I think, a nice looking and shooting 1911 that I'm proud of. I ended up with $850+ in just the parts and I did all the work myself, including bluing it. I know these type of projects aren't great investments but that's not why I built it.[:)]
Hope y'all like it.[:)]
Here's the Essex frame when I got it. I already installed the beavertail safety and fitted the slide when I took this pic. I forgot to take a before pic of this step, so we'll have to start here.[:D]
Just cleaning up some casting marks on the slide.
The frame and slide fitted. And yes I like diet Coke![:D]
Blending in the beavertail safety.
Stripped off the original finish. "They" called it bluing, I'm not so sure.[:D]
Fitted the rest of the parts, and put it together for a function test before I started to clean up the metal.
Now I could have just blasted the whole thing like every other one I see, Lord knows it would have been easier, but I decided to blast all the round parts and put a mirror finish on all the flats, with a few strategic polishing/blasting here and there. Polishings getting there......
Once I got the metal the way I wanted it I blued it and reassembled it. Well here it is, any marks you see aren't in the metal, just smudges, damn mirror finish, who's idea was that anyways![:D] Sorry the pics aren't brighter, I'm having camera battery problems. I haven't shot it yet since I got it back together, but will shortly.
Thanks For Looking![8D]
Ben
Well, I've worked on enough 1911's until one day, several months ago, I got the bug to have one of my very own. My plan was to buy a cheap parts kit/frame and slide from Sarco (against Perry Shooters suggestion[:D]) and have a cheap, throw in the truck, 1911 for around $250. I could have easily bought one, but where's the fun in that.[;)] A couple weeks after I ordered all the parts, I realized that there was a problem with Sarco, as I never received my parts. I kept getting the run around from them and that's where my plans changed. I cancelled my order with them and decided at that point to build the nicest, match quality, custom 1911 that I could afford (the wife and I disagree on what I can afford[:D][;)]). I wanted it semi-GI looking, with just a few tastefull modifications. The last thing I wanted was a pimped-out 1911.
I bought an oversized Essex frame and slide from Brownells and one by one, pieced the rest of the parts together from Midway. The only parts I used were Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Cylinder & Slide, and Chip McCormick. Every part required fitting to some degree. Some extensive, some semi-drop in, but that's good, I wanted this gun to be "tight".
Below are some pics of the progress and completed. What started out to be a $250 "truck gun" has turned into, I think, a nice looking and shooting 1911 that I'm proud of. I ended up with $850+ in just the parts and I did all the work myself, including bluing it. I know these type of projects aren't great investments but that's not why I built it.[:)]
Hope y'all like it.[:)]
Here's the Essex frame when I got it. I already installed the beavertail safety and fitted the slide when I took this pic. I forgot to take a before pic of this step, so we'll have to start here.[:D]
Just cleaning up some casting marks on the slide.
The frame and slide fitted. And yes I like diet Coke![:D]
Blending in the beavertail safety.
Stripped off the original finish. "They" called it bluing, I'm not so sure.[:D]
Fitted the rest of the parts, and put it together for a function test before I started to clean up the metal.
Now I could have just blasted the whole thing like every other one I see, Lord knows it would have been easier, but I decided to blast all the round parts and put a mirror finish on all the flats, with a few strategic polishing/blasting here and there. Polishings getting there......
Once I got the metal the way I wanted it I blued it and reassembled it. Well here it is, any marks you see aren't in the metal, just smudges, damn mirror finish, who's idea was that anyways![:D] Sorry the pics aren't brighter, I'm having camera battery problems. I haven't shot it yet since I got it back together, but will shortly.
Thanks For Looking![8D]
Ben
0
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truly something to be proud of. It's purty.[^]
Ben0 -
Thanks for posting your project.
Ver Very Nice!!!0 -
Very nice weapon. 0 -
Awesome job, That finish with the wood is sweet. 0 -
Looks great!! Thanks for posting with all of the pics. 0 -
That's beautiful! Great work! [:D] 0 -
I think you did it ... she looks tight! 0 -
Damn that look good. What do you charge?? 0 -
Very nice! I been feelin' the bug for a 1911 myself the last three or four years.
What's an oversize frame?0 -
I stand in awe at your talent.[:0] 0 -
Thanks for all the positive comments everybody, means a lot.[:)] My wife could care less about this gun, so it's nice to my "extended family" here to show it off to.[^]
Damn that look good. What do you charge??
Hadn't put a pencil to it for a start to finish job. You can email me for quotes on a break down of the work.
Ben0 -
I like that alot! I enjoy seeing pics of projects people do here on GB.
Thanks, This has to be the best topic I've seen here for a while.0 -
quote:Originally posted by MT357
Very nice! I been feelin' the bug for a 1911 myself the last three or four years.
What's an oversize frame?
The frame rails, where the slide rides, are oversized so you can fit it to the slide extremely tight.[8D]
Ben0 -
I'm impressed![8D][8D] 0 -
[8D] 0 -
That's purely beautiful.
If you were aiming at "tasteful", ya hit the x-ring, man.0 -
DAMN! That finish looks great!!! Good Job Awesome project. I was going to ask you to build me one, until I saw the parts bill!
Be proud of it
How's it shoot?0 -
That's prettier than the last girl at the bar after last call.....and I'm still sober!!!! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
DAMN! That finish looks great!!! Good Job Awesome project. I was going to ask you to build me one, until I saw the parts bill!
Be proud of it
How's it shoot?
Thanks!
They make less expensive parts.[:D]
I only function tested it, without sights, before I started on the metal cleanup. It functioned flawlessly.
I haven't shot it yet since it's been back together. I'm still at that stage of just looking at it, not really wanting to touch it yet.[:D] Though I am curious of how tight of groups it will shoot. I'll get it outside soon.[;)][8D]
Ben0 -
Man you do great work! 0 -
that is sweet
you are an artist0 -
Very nice piece,a cousin got my grandfathers 1911,Ive had a hankering for one a long time,I love old colts but I fire my hi power much better than the .45..heckva job and very best. 0 -
That sure is some nice work you did.I really like the trigger you used.The pistol looks great.Keep us posted on how it does at the range. 0 -
Sweet pistol.[:p] 0 -
Very Nice....How does she shoot ????? 0 -
How did you blue the gun? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by William81
Very Nice....How does she shoot ?????
Thanks again everybody![:)]
Well, I'm not quite sure just yet. I realize this is as clean as this pistol will ever be, so I'm having a hard time touching it![:D][:D]
Seriously, I'll take it out in the next couple days probably when I get some time. The function test was perfect, but I too would like to see how she groups.[;)]
Ben0 -
quote:Originally posted by mogley98
How did you blue the gun?
Hot blue....Oxynate 7
Ben0 -
Great job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [8D] 0 -
Wow!! What a great job. That looks beautiful. 0
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