A "real" 1911 project

[Kmai24]

Yes I'm directing this towards "MoisinVirus" because he's not human!! (Beautiful work from that guy mine cannot compare).

For us common folks..Well I did my first 1911 using TM's frame with a caspian slide. All internals were Wilson combat's and I cheated with a semi-drop in barrel from storm lake which I still had to do some fitting. Project took me about 24 man hours all broken down to 2-3 hours a night for about 2 weeks. It was a journey like no other more like relationship (you have your ups, downs and ups again). I was super hyped when I first started, I told myself that I was going to build my own 1911's from now on and about half way into it I said F this..I'd rather spend the money to get a quality gun. I had to nut and up finish and I was glad that I did, what a great feeling! The pinnacle of accomplishment in the "gun smithing" world, well at least for me it is.

Just some filing and sanding of the front sight to blend with the slide. I went with warren tactical plain rear with f/o front. Love those sights and planning on switching out all of my pistols to that setup.



Slide to frame blending (more filing and sanding). On the 2nd pic was me attempting to blend the grip safety and went a little too far. Okay, what had happened was..I started blending with a round file in the right side which took forever!! I'm not even going to lie, I took a dremel to the left side and that is the result. Lesson learned ** be patient and take it slow **




Countersinking the slide stop. I use a 3/8 ball end cutter, I didn't have a proper jig to hold down the frame so I got some chatter marks. It's okay, I thought it looked pretty cool.



This is where I pay my respects to all hand checkering smiths. My horribly failed attempt to hand checker 20lpi..aesthetically displeasing but 100% operator status. I figured what the hey, my hands are going to cover it anyways so I might as well make it work. This is where I should of done a little more homework before I started. I started horizontally (1st mistake) then went onto vertical. What a pain in the a*s!! I got all screwy eyed towards the end (lines kinda went a little slanted..I blame that on my Asian ancestries). I didn't use a 3-square file with a bend but rather a straight (accessible from my work but mistake #2 kinda). My index finger took a beating from pressing down on the file. I google many hand checkering and couldn't figure out how they got their diamonds so deep so in order to make it more grippy I made every other lines really deep going horizontally. Note, this is where I changed my mind on building 1911's!!! This process alone took up the bulk of the time. I put about 7-8 hours into it and that was the end result. I know, a little depressing but I'm happy with it. For people who's bashing this, I would like for you to try some hand checkering and then tell me your experience and for the people who has done it and does it well..I envy you (MV you don't count)



Here she is all put together



Next up..off to get her outfitted. Got her cerakoted sniper gray with graphite black. No I'm not a raiders fan but always wanted a pistol in this color combo. I even got the barrel cerakote graphite black. Went with black vz aliens slims. I just got the gun back yesterday, spent another 3 hours fitting it all back together again. Just got some 1000grit sand paper to remove some paint off certain surface areas. Well guys hope you've enjoyed this I know I sure did and yes I changed my mind again to building 1911 vs buying. Definitely building in the future, as a matter of fact I'm currently starting a commander build using stealth arms aluminum frame. Couldn't find any steel commanders in stock.

Here's the little gap from over filing



My awesome handcheckerking



That's oil, looks like scuff marks I know. Oh by the way, it didn't dawn on me about the hammer strut that's why it didn't get cerakoted.







Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics.

And that's all she wrote..for now. Thank you looking.

[Kmai24]

[Gringo Bandito]

Looks great man! Range report?

[Cody805]

Congrats on the beautiful build! And many thanks for the build pics !

[Kmai24]

Looks great man! Range report?

Thank you!..I've only took it out to test for functionality. Shot about 50 rounds from 5-7-10yrds and was able to make a 1-2" ragged hole. I thought I took pics of it but can't find it. Had a few failure to feed (on the first round, sling shooting the slide) but I blame that on my reloads. My OAL was too short. Unfortunately I didn't put any factory rounds through it.

[Kmai24]

Congrats on the beautiful build! And many thanks for the build pics !

Thank you and you're welcome!

[BDJ]

I think you did a fine job! Congrats on "nutting up" and finishing. As far as the hand checkering goes, I commend you for actually having the balls to try it on a frame that you had so much time and money invested into, and it being your first go at it. And about it not being straight or wonky like you say...pshhh no one will see that unless you point it out to them. I think it looks fantastic and your color combination looks great, you should be proud, Great job!

[Kmai24]

Thanks Bjas! Yeah it was a little disheartening as I was checkering but I did the best that I could to salvage it. This was a very fun project, learned a lot about the 1911 platform and how it functions.

I just read that you just finished a build yourself and may start a commander on an aluminum frame? Aluminum is so much easier to work with! You'll blow right by that

[MosinVirus]

Hey man, we all started at some point. My first one wasn't all I hoped it to be.
But I stuck with it and continued to practice, learn, and improve.

I think you have a fine pistol on your hands and it sounds like it shoots well. I actually like some stuff you tried and wish I had thought of that, like the skip line checkering. Looks like a great concept. By the way, the very first time I tried it, my lines got away from me too.

The best thing I saw in your description was that you wanted to build another one. That right there told me that you enjoyed your project.

You have a great start. Don't sell yourself short. Keep going.

For checkering, the way I go about it is as follows:

1. Get a decent checkering guide tool.
2. Start by identifying the last line over by the trigger guard. I do this by placing my file across the front strap and looking through the seam between the two to make sure I find the last/highest position on the front strap where the file is still laying flat. I then use the horizontal fixture of the guide and run a light horizontal pass.
3. When I have enough of depth to "feel" with the V file, I cut the highest horizontal line using a V file deep enough to lay a leather cord into so it doesn't get out. I tie the leather cord tightly around the frame and it sits there serving as a stop for the file when I cut the vertical lines.
4. Place the vertical fixture on the frame, and start lightly marking the frame. Stay in one place for a long time until it gets almost difficult to "get out of the lines"
5. Take the fixture off, and move the file over by 2 lines or so. Press more on the side with deeply cut lines, and slowly adjust pressure rocking the file over to the new lines. Continue in both directions until you reach the edge.
6. When all horizontal lines are marked deep enough for you to easily "locate" them with a V file, move back onto the horizontal lines.
7. Place the file back into the previously cut horizontal lines, and if it helps, while holding the file there, position the horizontal fixture back on the frame and press it up against the file. Secure in place. Use the fixture as a guide to deepen the horizontal starting lines. Yes, you take the leather cord off for this.
8. When the 1st strip of horizontal lines are done, start moving the file over by 2-3 lines and make sure you "feel" for the deeper lines as you pivot the file while cutting new lines.
9. When you have a cross pattern laid out as deep as it needs to be for you to "find" the lines by feel, start deepening your lines with a V file.
10. Layout dye helps to see how pyramids come to a point as you file down two adjacent lines. The blue strip between them will get finer and finer. That is how you determine how sharp your future pyramids will be.
11. I also look at the bottom of the cuts to ensure my one directional lines get cut deep the same way (intercepting the other directional lines) before I move onto the other direction. End result should be where looking down each direction you see the lines uninterrupted, meaning they are all sitting at the same depth. At the same time your pyramids should all look uniformly and equally tipped.

That is just how I do it. When I do it. The key is to follow the file, not lead it.

Mine is now finished by the way. Want to see pics?

[Kmai24]

^^ very much appreciated MV! Thank you for sharing some advice!..and you better believe that I want to see pics of your latest build! But not on my thread though because that's just unfair!! Hahaha

Also yes I really enjoyed this, albeit the costs and late nights it was well worth it. I only was able to work on the project after putting my 1yr old down for bed which is around 8-830. Some nights my wife had to pull me from the garage (at 12am) because I lost track of time.

[MosinVirus]

^^ very much appreciated MV! Thank you for sharing some advice!..and you better believe that I want to see pics of your latest build! But not on my thread though because that's just unfair!! Hahaha

I usually ask because I don't like just posting pics on someone else's thread. I will send you a PM.

[GSLapua]

Looks great! You should be proud! Anyone can buy something, but there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment after you build something from the ground up!

[Iminocca]

I really like the color combination, the grips, the overall look, good job! I'm getting ready to do a build like yours and I wasn't going to try checkering the frame, but I might now....thanks for posting!

[Kmai24]

Thank you Gslap. You should of seen my face when I went to test fire it, not the oh sh*t I hope I'll still have my face and fingers look but that girly gigglish grin with a sigh of relief because I didn't have to explain an ER trip to my wife.

Thank you as well Iminocca! i would say you should go for the checkering!! It may turn out great or like mine but as long as it's functional then who's to judge but yourself. It also makes it a little more personal. I didn't buy a jig from brownells or midway but I did use 2 aluminum blocks with a hole drilled through the center of both blocks and a long bolt and nut. I used that as my guide for a straight edge (well I actually did this for my 2nd build not the one I just posted). I throw up pics on jig I made.

[Kmai24]