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
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Well I got the Storm Lake barrel in and fitted to the gun (I can sleep better now tsavo303[:D]), so I took her out to see what WE could do. I've never been known for my handgun marksmanship, more of a long gun guy, but I didn't do too bad. I shot this pistol better than I shoot my others (or it shot better than my others).
This is a 14rd group (2 mags.) using Blazer Brass 230gr. at 20yds off a bench. I did pull one a little as you can see. The white-dot sights aren't what I'd call target sights, but beyond that I am pleased with how she performed. Some target sights and one of our bullseye shooters we have here and I believe the group would have been tighter. But this is simply the best I can do.[;)]
Well I thoroughly enjoyed the build, hope y'all enjoyed seeing it. Hopefully it inspired someone out there go start a project similar to this of their own. I've already got new ideas for the next one![:D][8D]
Ben0 -
Good job! she looks and shoot great! 0 -
awesome... I say that accuracy at 20 yards is just fine.
Now... how much for you to build one for me?
[8D]0 -
Hot-diggety, that's nice.
There's a guy here in Sterling that builds his 1911's from the ground up... I wonder if I bought the pieces and minded my manner, if he'd let me help.
Thanks for the inspiration.0 -
Very nice work...Congratulations..!!! 0 -
Just checked out the pictures and think your 45 looks awsome!
I can't wait to see your range report. I assume it may take some tweeking to get it to fire the way you want it to.
I would love to have your talent! Keep up the good work.0 -
Your treatment of mirror finish and flat is artistry. I'm not a fan of the 1911 but that is a gorgeous weapon. You should be very proud of yourself.
Clouder..0 -
Thanks everybody![:)]
quote:Originally posted by Colonel Plink
Hot-diggety, that's nice.
There's a guy here in Sterling that builds his 1911's from the ground up... I wonder if I bought the pieces and minded my manner, if he'd let me help.
Thanks for the inspiration.
If he won't and you decide to do it yourself and need some pointers, just let me know, I'll be glad to help.[:)]
quote:Originally posted by sig232
Just checked out the pictures and think your 45 looks awsome!
I can't wait to see your range report. I assume it may take some tweeking to get it to fire the way you want it to.
I would love to have your talent! Keep up the good work.
Thanks Sig, the range report is just 5 posts up from yours.[:D]
Actually I did all the "reliability" tweeking before I started on cleaning up the metal before finishing it. Spent a lot of time in that department. Subsequently, I haven't had one feed or ejection problem from the first shot, including a box of Federal Hydra-Shocks that I ran through it. So basically just had to play with the sights to get it where it is above.
quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
Your treatment of mirror finish and flat is artistry. I'm not a fan of the 1911 but that is a gorgeous weapon. You should be very proud of yourself.
Clouder..
Thanks Clouder, the finish does show fingerprints, but they wipe off easily, so I guess I can live with that.[8D]
Ben0
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