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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Acceptable.
[:D]
just kidding...looks awesome [:p][:p][:p]0 -
I do want to thank perry shooter as he gave me some advice and some motivation before starting this project, whether he knows it or not.[^]
Ben0 -
Looks too good now to be a throw in the truck gun. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sarge_3ad
Looks too good now to be a throw in the truck gun.
Don't reckon I'll be "throwing" this one anywhere, at least no time soon.[:D] Now I have to buy something for the truck.[;)]
Ben0 -
That is one sweet looking 1911, reminds me of the Royal Blue Colt put on their Diamondbacks. I'm in for the giveaway!![;)][:D]
How many hours labor do you figure you have in it?0 -
You have 3 important things that I don't have: time, money and patience. I wish I had all 3, plus the tools. 0 -
Looks awesome... beautiful piece.
I have a question about the building process though. At what point of the process is it considered a "firearm" and not just parts? Which parts, or at what stage, would you be required to get a permit for it?
Here in Missouri we need a permit to acquire a handgun. Just curious how that would work here.0 -
quote:Originally posted by matwor
That is one sweet looking 1911, reminds me of the Royal Blue Colt put on their Diamondbacks. I'm in for the giveaway!![;)][:D]
How many hours labor do you figure you have in it?
Deal, Drawing will be Mar. 10th, 2056.[:D]
Realistically somewhere between 25-35hrs, including the bluing. But probably a couple months spent trying to pass off the funding for it.[:D]
Ben0 -
quote:Originally posted by Zulu7
You have 3 important things that I don't have: time, money and patience. I wish I had all 3, plus the tools.
Believe it or not most of this build was done between 11pm-2am whenI got finish with other folks guns and once the wife and kids were in bed.[;)]
Money, I can argue that point with you for sure![:D]
You're right though, you do need a little pateince.[8D]
Ben0 -
quote:Originally posted by Pensfan
Looks awesome... beautiful piece.
I have a question about the building process though. At what point of the process is it considered a "firearm" and not just parts? Which parts, or at what stage, would you be required to get a permit for it?
Here in Missouri we need a permit to acquire a handgun. Just curious how that would work here.
Not entirely sure, we don't have to have permits here in LA. But considering that the frame (with the SN) is the only part considered a firearm, my guess would be you'd need a permit as soon as you bought the frame. The rest of the parts are irrelevent.
Ben0 -
Sweet looking handgun. [^][^] 0 -
beeutiful, all i can say[:D] 0 -
From the looks of it, a labor of love to be sure.
NICE job. [:p]
Let us know how it shoots. (you'll have to touch it)
You know, this is the best excuse I have heard for a while, for getting a second firearm. You started out, wanting a truck gun. Wife OK's that I assume. Then you built this one, which obviously isn't going to be the truck gun. Now you STILL have to get a truck gun. [;)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by pickenup
You know, this is the best excuse I have heard for a while, for getting a second firearm. You started out, wanting a truck gun. Wife OK's that I assume. Then you built this one, which obviously isn't going to be the truck gun. Now you STILL have to get a truck gun. [;)]
Thanks
It's all part of the master plan my friend.[;)]
Ben0 -
And a beauty it is! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Pensfan
Looks awesome... beautiful piece.
I have a question about the building process though. At what point of the process is it considered a "firearm" and not just parts? Which parts, or at what stage, would you be required to get a permit for it?
Here in Missouri we need a permit to acquire a handgun. Just curious how that would work here.
Rest assured Pensfan, when jbw1776 bought the frame thru Brownells, it had to go thru a FFL, unless he is one himself. And then it still ends up on his logbook.
As a MO resident I can tell you that jbw1776 is correct, the frame that is serialized is the only thing you need the permit for. Sucks huh?!?0 -
Very nice, I love the look of 1911's
After all that work though, it seems like a shame to set off an explosive in the center of it (ie fire it).
Good decision to go blued instead of super shiny, if you had gone and chromed it up, it would be a shame "The last thing I wanted was a pimped-out 1911"0 -
So do we have a range report on this beauty yet?
I keep visiting this thread just to look at the pics. Damn that is such a beautiful gun. So much so in fact that I am dying to get my hands ona 1911 now.
Curse You!
[:D]0 -
AWSOME! Now you have raised the bar for any do it yourself projects. 0 -
Fine piece of mechanical art 0 -
Niccccccce project ! [:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Pensfan
So do we have a range report on this beauty yet?
I keep visiting this thread just to look at the pics. Damn that is such a beautiful gun. So much so in fact that I am dying to get my hands ona 1911 now.
Curse You!
[:D]
Sorry pensfan[:D], but everyone should have at least one.......or 10.[;)][:D]
Well, actually the I've delayed the range report for about a week. When I built this thing I used all the best parts that my budget would allow me to, EXCEPT on probably the most important part, the barrel. Funds were getting tight so I used an old barrel that I had lying around the shop from another fellows gun just to be able to finish the build. I just polished it up and used it. I don't have any idea what brand of barrel this is but I think it's a pretty cheap one. When looking through the bore I see imperfections in it, it's not perfectly smooth. I see a high spot where the barrel meets the chamber. I spent so much time and money on the build that it would just be a shame to leave this junk barrel in it, so Friday I ordered a new Storm Lake barrel that should be here middle of next week. I'll get it fitted up and then take her out for a range report then. Sorry for the delay, but I just can't sleep at night knowing this junk barrel is in my new "baby".[:D] I promise to post the results end of next week.
Ben0 -
Gotcha... can't say I blame you for wanting to put high quality barrel in there. Man I hate you... I just love this piece.
I have already started convincing the wife I need a 45.0 -
You did a heck of a job. I'll trade you my first born for it? 0 -
I saw a 1911 barrell reivew, tested used GI , caspian, wilson ,top brands and some more budget type, and the conclusion was that the bbl was not that important in accuracy, suprisingly.
Gun tests magazine? maybe0 -
I have to admit it. I am not a 100% 1911 fan, but I have to say that you did a great job. That would be a gun I would be proud to own. I stand (well sit since I am at the computer) in awe at your talent. I couldn't do that right now if I tried, but then again I have never tried.
Well done kind sir....well done!0 -
WOW
i would love to learn how to do that.
oh jedi gunmaster...would you teach me?
seriously, would love to learn to smith ... especially like that.0 -
Handsome gun. Good you had the smarts to use an A-1 arched mainspring housing. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
I saw a 1911 barrell reivew, tested used GI , caspian, wilson ,top brands and some more budget type, and the conclusion was that the bbl was not that important in accuracy, suprisingly.
Gun tests magazine? maybe
They very well might be right, but I'll feel better with the new one in it. Least I'll know then that I did everything I could to make it as accurate as possible.
I kinda look at it the same as refinishing a '69 Camaro and using some old steel wheels that I painted chrome color because I was too tight to buy some nice billet rims.[;)]
quote:Originally posted by v35
Handsome gun. Good you had the smarts to use an A-1 arched mainspring housing.
Just feels right to me. Kinda partial to the looks as well.[:)]
Ben0 -
WANNA SELL IT? just kidden you realy did a great job 0
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