Little bit of building the next 1911

[Magnumite]

Building a new pistol. First steps are to prep the slide and frame - a general deburring and inspection. Then measurements to map out the slide and frame ways/rail dimensions. No pics of a mill…all done by hand.
Frame and slide rails and ways dimensions are typically measured in four places along their length.

Pic 1: Determining placement center of ways/rails done off the disconnector bore on the frame.

Pic 2: using pin gauge (numbered drill) to determine slide way depth.

Pic 3: using two numbered drills to determine slide way width

Other random pics to determine a few of the other measurements.

 

[Magnumite]

Some of the mapping of the slide and frame measurements after I worked over over top of the target. As you can see I have grown fond of using old targets over my mat.

 

[Magnumite]

I fit with files, different cuts so the frame and slide can just be worked together. Then I use polishing compound…or an 800 grit garnet compound as coarsest lapper mixed with oil. Anyway, I got the following results for the final slide to frame fit. These are the numbers after barrel fitting, sans barrel, of course.

Components are a Caspian frame and Baer slide. Measurements taken with a dial indicator with slide in battery position on the frame. In three dimensions, front and rear vertical and rear lateral, the slide/frame fit is .0004” to .0009”.
In a fourth dimension (front lateral) it is .0018”. Yeah, screwed the pooch on that one.

Pics of rail polish.

 

[Magnumite]

Then barrel fitting…couple of pics.

After just knocking the corners off the slide locking lugs seating the lugs with an old barrel and a loose bushing Smacked it good.

Ah, barrel hood just touching one side of the slide breech face. I had to shim the barrel on the v block to correct.

 

[Magnumite]

Some barrel fitting success:
Right and left side upper lug groove contact pads. These will burnish and impact fit in more during initial firing;
Barrel muzzle bushing contact, bottom and top;
Lower lug impact on slide stop pin;
Slide stop pin comtact pounts, lug flats, arc and feet

 

[Magnumite]

Not fan of jigs, scribe mark on frame tang as file close to point.

6.5 hours later, Ed Brown gunsmith grip safety fitted to tangs, blocking arm depth fitted to frame. EGW thimb safety.

 

[Magnumite]

Now for some external blending on the grip safety and rear of the frame.

 

[Rockzilla]

Hey Mag it's about time

45?? or did I miss it somewhere
Looking goode as usual...

-Rock

 

[Magnumite]

A little slow off the line…asleep at the wheel, I guess.

45 ACP. Goes well in a 1911.

 

[Magnumite]

preliminary beavertail blend, a little on the thumb safety, and trigger guard under cut roughed in.

 

[Magnumite]

starting to look like something…

 

[Magnumite]

A bit more on the btgs…lotsa time though

Some more prep on the thumb safety

 

[Magnumite]

working in the undercut behind trigger guard

 

[Magnumite]

Discovering a porosity flaw! Doesn’t look deep or compromising the frame….but still… Eeeeiiiiii!!!!!

I was going to do my first checkering…but looks like I’ll be stippling….to cover that.

 

[Rockzilla]

Got the slide / frame name that your using
but...but who's barrel? noticed it was / is
a .45 NM.. Looking great as usual.
I've probably said this before don't know
about you but doing a 1911 all basically
by hand is "relaxing /calming" in your own
little world.

-Rock

 

[Magnumite]

It is comforting. Getting much of the sculpting right for aesthetics is kinda like whittling. Get the basic shape, paper it, look for the pesty spots, touch with dremel/file/paper. Banzai tree approach.

Fine fitting the barrel…like porting polishing and camming an engine. The barrel is a Kart NM.

 

[gtodave]

This is very motivating for me...looks awesome!

 

[Magnumite]

Thank you. A good amount of time but when it turns out right…awesome.

 

[Magnumite]

Softening the EGW thumb safety. These are thumb savers. I typically like a narrower paddle, but this Ed Brown type downward lateral slope plain works. You can see on some of my other pistol where I put similar slope on the paddles.

The all important back of the thumb safety flange with edges minutely beveled and softened to reduce frame finish marking.

 

[Magnumite]

Smoothing fitting reliefs on grip safety. Setting side clearance.