Hello folks, this is my first attempt to upload photos so if they aren't good don't be too harsh. This GI model was bought cheap because it rattled like a can and couldn't hold 6 inches at 25 yards. I gave it a full once over and thought you might enjoy the journey.................. Here are a couple of pics of what I started with.........
My Latest Rebuild, a 1911 from SCRATCH
- Thread starter theQman23
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After I had a receiver and a slide working together I decided to do my own bobtail housing. Since the springfield used an all steel piece, I chose to cut down the arch even with the frame, relocate the pin to a new address that I sorta calculated, (won't match up with EB's I'm sure....) but you can see where the two pin holes are and where I started shaping everything. The main spring used to protrude through where my new curce was, so of course I had to weld up a plug to have something to file on later when it was time to do the checkering..... I bought the 20 lpi checkering file and the 65 degree I think it was from Brownell's. The next 2 pics show the fitment off the high rise safety after it was installed, the checkering work on the main spring housing after the welding and shaping was done, and then the last photo shows the barrel link fitting since the hooks had to be welded up and re-done in order to get a tight fit with the hood and such.
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ok, when the pistol was done, I decided to cold blue it. I warmed up the slide before I cold blued it, not much, just to say 120 degrees. Enough to hold in your hand. The receiver I did straight cold. You can't see in the photos but this created a bit of a two tone blueing, it was cool, but did NOT look as professional as factory work. I shot the gun with way for a month or two, and then had to go back to cold steel. Anyway, you can see the checkering work I did on the front strap, and the gunsmith fit, (i.e. super tight had to put in lathe to trim down) bushing I bought for the barrell to give it a more accurate steering point. With the barrell fitting, bushing fitting, and trigger parts and sear stoning job, this gun went from like 6 inches in 25 yards down to about 2 1/2 or maybe 2 with quality defense ammo...........
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This is my baby totally finished and complete. I bead blasted everything back to matte finish except the new extended controls and safeties I bought in stainless, they were already polished. I left the receiver totally matte, (after fitting a new stainless plunger tube,) and then on the slide I polished only the sides. These photos also show the rear sight I made, (didn't like the dinky stock one,) the new grips I bought and restained in a lighter color, and the new trigger I installed.
When I was done, I was very happy with the gun as it looked really nice and shot very well, but it didn't look unique, other than the homemade rear sight. So to give her a little uniqueness I milled a see through portal on the sides of the slide and then polished the barrel a little so you could see it from the sides. Oh yeah, these photos also show the one piece guide rod I made out of an old motorcycle axle on the lathe, and the spring guide bushing part I whittled out as well.
Is this the best 1911 I could have bought for under a grand? Maybe not for accuracy, if I bought a used LB or WC or EB from someone for that much. Is she worth much money as a collector piece being a springfield GI model? Heck no. But was this project educational, fulfilling, enjoyable, and worth every single moment and penny spent? HECK YEAH!!!!! This gun ain't fancy in the eyes of some, but she's my baby, I spent hours upon hours caressing her with my hands, and my eyes, and my good intentions for hours upon days and weeks. There's prettier girls in this world, but Sally....... well she's all mine. If you fellows come to shoot at my club I'll let you dance with her, but she will never, ever be sold for any amount, because at the end of the day she's going home with me. Forever. Shoot safe and may our father bless and keep you.
When I was done, I was very happy with the gun as it looked really nice and shot very well, but it didn't look unique, other than the homemade rear sight. So to give her a little uniqueness I milled a see through portal on the sides of the slide and then polished the barrel a little so you could see it from the sides. Oh yeah, these photos also show the one piece guide rod I made out of an old motorcycle axle on the lathe, and the spring guide bushing part I whittled out as well.
Is this the best 1911 I could have bought for under a grand? Maybe not for accuracy, if I bought a used LB or WC or EB from someone for that much. Is she worth much money as a collector piece being a springfield GI model? Heck no. But was this project educational, fulfilling, enjoyable, and worth every single moment and penny spent? HECK YEAH!!!!! This gun ain't fancy in the eyes of some, but she's my baby, I spent hours upon hours caressing her with my hands, and my eyes, and my good intentions for hours upon days and weeks. There's prettier girls in this world, but Sally....... well she's all mine. If you fellows come to shoot at my club I'll let you dance with her, but she will never, ever be sold for any amount, because at the end of the day she's going home with me. Forever. Shoot safe and may our father bless and keep you.
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Hunterdad
Member
Great job man.
critter
Member
MOST interesting. I'll bet that was a ton of fun and very fullfilling. Thanks for showing us.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
hard work pays off handsomely
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,319
First rate job; not only in the build itself but also with the narrative and photos that went along with it. Thanks for sharing.
1KPerDay
Member
Good stuff!
danbowkley
Member
Really gorgeous, you did a great job! I've been contemplating building something like this from scratch, probably either a rattlebox GI model from a gunshow or possibly new Caspian frame and slide. Just have to get the motivation, umm I mean cash, together.
Thank you all for the support, I know that you all appreciate the love that I have for the education received. I'm not a professional gunsmith, or even a 1911 expert. My background is in motorcycle racing and repair, and when I got into guns for defense and hunting reasons my love for metal pieces of mechanical art translated. (Don't worry, I like Glocks too....... have 2 of em' so plastic art is good too)
I highly recommend, that each and every one of you who complemented my effort, (thank you again, it is a touching project and to hear positive things enhances it,) but stronly recommend that each of you go ahead and work towards that next project of yours. It may or not be a 1911. It may or may not be a gun at all. But I urge all of you to do something that is OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE, that others tell you that you can NOT DO BECAUSE YOU AREN'T smart/financed/experienced/strong/patient/ or cool enough to do. Find a challenge, and conquer that dog. If you're an expert gunsmith and metal worker and projects like this are already too easy, then ok. Learn to grow a garden. And grow it well, and protect it, and share it with your friends. If you've never ridden a motorcycle, and are constantly told your crazy for wanting to learn, then learn.
Ok, I"m not Ghandi and I'm off my soap box now.
I highly recommend, that each and every one of you who complemented my effort, (thank you again, it is a touching project and to hear positive things enhances it,) but stronly recommend that each of you go ahead and work towards that next project of yours. It may or not be a 1911. It may or may not be a gun at all. But I urge all of you to do something that is OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE, that others tell you that you can NOT DO BECAUSE YOU AREN'T smart/financed/experienced/strong/patient/ or cool enough to do. Find a challenge, and conquer that dog. If you're an expert gunsmith and metal worker and projects like this are already too easy, then ok. Learn to grow a garden. And grow it well, and protect it, and share it with your friends. If you've never ridden a motorcycle, and are constantly told your crazy for wanting to learn, then learn.
Ok, I"m not Ghandi and I'm off my soap box now.
Greg528IT, you asked about the part on the gun laying on the right side. I was too impatient to mask over the serial number, so I simply picked up a small work punch off the bench and laid it over top. If you zoom in carefully you can see its actually not part of the gun. I know the character of the members on this forum are upstanding and trustworthy, but with ATF agents selling machine guns to drug runners these days I didn't want any government agents to see my serial number. (I bought it legally, by the way,)
As for the recoil spring, the stock one was okay, it was working and feeding, but just for fun I bought an assortment from wilson's (brownells had it in stock wilson didn't,) and it had recoil springs running from I think like 8 or 10 all the way up to 18 1/2. I went with the 17 pounder, which seemed a little stiff for the target ammo, (that felt like it shot nice with the 13 pound spring,) but when I loaded the hotter self defense hollow point stuff the heavier spring shortened the length of time that the gun "snapped". It still snapped, don't get me wrong, but with the 17 pounder it snapped real fast and landed back pointing straight again. The 18 1/2 pounder actually caused the old magazines to not lock the slide, (though the new mags with tight springs were good,) because I think the lock time was so fast the mag parts were still moving, so I dropped back from the 18.5 and decided to run the 17. It's a little tight for practice, but it's what will be in Sally if she ever needs to do business. And when I carry her I only carry the newest and most trusted magazines as well.
As for the recoil spring, the stock one was okay, it was working and feeding, but just for fun I bought an assortment from wilson's (brownells had it in stock wilson didn't,) and it had recoil springs running from I think like 8 or 10 all the way up to 18 1/2. I went with the 17 pounder, which seemed a little stiff for the target ammo, (that felt like it shot nice with the 13 pound spring,) but when I loaded the hotter self defense hollow point stuff the heavier spring shortened the length of time that the gun "snapped". It still snapped, don't get me wrong, but with the 17 pounder it snapped real fast and landed back pointing straight again. The 18 1/2 pounder actually caused the old magazines to not lock the slide, (though the new mags with tight springs were good,) because I think the lock time was so fast the mag parts were still moving, so I dropped back from the 18.5 and decided to run the 17. It's a little tight for practice, but it's what will be in Sally if she ever needs to do business. And when I carry her I only carry the newest and most trusted magazines as well.
sorry Greg, you asked about the main spring, not the recoil spring, I apologize. First, I cut the main spring knowing that with less coils over a shorter distance it would raise the poundage slightly, but it shot fine and seemed okay. After reading that technique is incorrect, and that you can buy springs specifically for bobtailed housings that hold the same rate but are shorter, I just bought one of those. It wasn't expensive, but honestly I don't know what the rate was. I asked the guy for "the stock rate but I need a short one" and he hooked me up over the phone.
If you are planning to do a bobtail project, I do recommend just buying one that looks rigth and then fitting it. Making mine out of a normal one required welding in the old spring hole, then jigging, and the angle for the spring has to be right......... if I do it again I'll just buy one designed to work that way and then fit it.
If you are planning to do a bobtail project, I do recommend just buying one that looks rigth and then fitting it. Making mine out of a normal one required welding in the old spring hole, then jigging, and the angle for the spring has to be right......... if I do it again I'll just buy one designed to work that way and then fit it.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 5,717
Nicely done.
I am envious of your machine tools and your abilty to use them.
If you are close to retirement age, you may have a well-paying hobby and a source of income readily available.
If you are younger, you are on track to becoming a very talented 1911-smith by the time you reach retirement age.
Please keep us apprised of your future projects.
PS--I have seven motorcyces (two running) and no car.
If you are in North Texas, please pm me.
I am envious of your machine tools and your abilty to use them.
If you are close to retirement age, you may have a well-paying hobby and a source of income readily available.
If you are younger, you are on track to becoming a very talented 1911-smith by the time you reach retirement age.
Please keep us apprised of your future projects.
PS--I have seven motorcyces (two running) and no car.
If you are in North Texas, please pm me.
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Texasred
Member
very nice man
thank you again gentleman, I want to stress to you all that I didn't post this to show what I did. (Okay, that's a lie, I guess I did...........)
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I want those of you who doubt yourself, and who won't try something new because some ninny said you couldn't, to do it. If you mess up, someone will help you, and with all the forum data and you tube videos out there you can do it. The only tools used in this project that the average homeowner doesn't have, was a welder, bead blaster, and a mille and a lathe. So okay, don't do the bobtail convert, use an actual bobtail mainspring housing. Then you don't need a welder. Don't build your own recoil guide rod, buy one for 30 bucks, and then you don't need a lathe. Use a flat file and round file to lower your ejection port, (it'll take 5 times as long, but so what, it'll be fun,) and then you don't need a mill. Hand sand the parts with metal sandpaper and then cerakoate or duracoat when your done and then you don't need a bead blaster.
Any of you at home can do this project, without special tools if you buy more parts and manufacture less parts.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I want those of you who doubt yourself, and who won't try something new because some ninny said you couldn't, to do it. If you mess up, someone will help you, and with all the forum data and you tube videos out there you can do it. The only tools used in this project that the average homeowner doesn't have, was a welder, bead blaster, and a mille and a lathe. So okay, don't do the bobtail convert, use an actual bobtail mainspring housing. Then you don't need a welder. Don't build your own recoil guide rod, buy one for 30 bucks, and then you don't need a lathe. Use a flat file and round file to lower your ejection port, (it'll take 5 times as long, but so what, it'll be fun,) and then you don't need a mill. Hand sand the parts with metal sandpaper and then cerakoate or duracoat when your done and then you don't need a bead blaster.
Any of you at home can do this project, without special tools if you buy more parts and manufacture less parts.
orionengr wrote: If you are in North Texas, please pm me
I would, I would love to meet other pro 2nd amendment people. I live in the communist corridor right between the District of Criminals and Baltimore, MD. Out here, you have to have a receipt or a range badge showing that you are going to or from a practice event to even legally have your gun in your car? Can you believe that? And permits to carry? In MD? yeah right.....................
I'm moving in the 2 or 3 months, because where I live if you talk about guns in public, people stare at you, and threaten to call the cops, even if you're just talking about guns, and don't have one on you at the time.
One of my neighbors stopped by the garage to see what I was tinkering on, and when I showed him the gun parts on the bench and explained what I was doing, he asked me if what I was doing was legal......................
AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHGHGHGHHHHH!!!!!!!
I would, I would love to meet other pro 2nd amendment people. I live in the communist corridor right between the District of Criminals and Baltimore, MD. Out here, you have to have a receipt or a range badge showing that you are going to or from a practice event to even legally have your gun in your car? Can you believe that? And permits to carry? In MD? yeah right.....................
I'm moving in the 2 or 3 months, because where I live if you talk about guns in public, people stare at you, and threaten to call the cops, even if you're just talking about guns, and don't have one on you at the time.
One of my neighbors stopped by the garage to see what I was tinkering on, and when I showed him the gun parts on the bench and explained what I was doing, he asked me if what I was doing was legal......................
AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHGHGHGHHHHH!!!!!!!
birddog2
Member
Great work, wish I had the time!
I am in no way interested in selling Sally, but a number of locals have asked me what I would charge to build something like this for them. Legally without an FFL I can't do work on othe people's guns here in the repuplik of Marylandistan, but if I bought another gun like this, and did a 2nd one, how much could I then sell it for?
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