Building (assembling) a 1911...

[kdm]

Been thinking of building my own 1911...buying a 100% frame, then slowly assembling from off-the-shelf parts.

Easy in words, but I know there's lots of fitting involved. How difficult is this? I'm mechanically inclined and such, but haven't had any appreciable experience in gunsmithing.

Is this something that can be done, given the correct book to follow?

[Chief-7700]

You can't import a bare 1911 frame into the nanny state of California. The best 1911 books are by Jerry Kuhnhausen you can get them at Brownells.

[eaglemike]

For your first build I'd suggest mil-spec parts kit. Then it's pretty much slam dunk and you can learn how. Then decide a piece at a time what to do next. Barrel fitting will end up a pain the first time or two. Fitting a high-ride beavertail will be interesting the first time. The best version (IMHO) requires a fair amount of time and skill. When/if you fit a thumb safety go slow, be sure you understand how it all works.
all the best,
Mike

[ojisan]

^ This.

Death to the Roster.

[TMC]

Beyond the issue of getting a frame its not to difficult building a 1911. Guns are just little machines like any other, there's no vodoo involved. There's lots of info out there in books and on the web. For a couple jobs its easier with special tools but they are not critical to have. Quality sharp files are a must and you will need a few special files. If you take your time it will work out fine.

[Chief-7700]

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=21/k=/t=P/mfg=/Products/Books

Link to Jerry's books.

Lapping the slide to the frame and fitting the barrel hood, lugs is always fun. Along with fitting the thumb safety,barrel bushing,extractor and firing pin stop. Ok I forgot the ignition parts including hammer, sear, trigger and disco.

[edwardm]

It's not that "hard" to do. I've fit slide stops, adjusted extractors and ejectors, fit barrels, bushings on 1911's more than a few times now.

Look at it this way - nothing is necessarily hard about any of that. There is a set of data and a set of skills you need to acquire and master in order to do that. If it was hard, 3 people in the world could build 1911's. But that's not the case. It's going to be a question of 3 things:

1. Time
2. Dedication
3. Asking lots of questions and making sure you understand the answers

If you can give 100% to all 3, you'll be fine.

Been thinking of building my own 1911...buying a 100% frame, then slowly assembling from off-the-shelf parts.

Easy in words, but I know there's lots of fitting involved. How difficult is this? I'm mechanically inclined and such, but haven't had any appreciable experience in gunsmithing.

Is this something that can be done, given the correct book to follow?

[kdm]

Thanks, guys.

Maybe this part belongs in the 2A forum...Chief-7700, wouldn't a bare frame be considered a non-gun? My understanding is, a non-gun is roster exempt.

[ar15barrels]

Thanks, guys.

Maybe this part belongs in the 2A forum...Chief-7700, wouldn't a bare frame be considered a non-gun? My understanding is, a non-gun is roster exempt.

A bare frame is still a firearm.
Firearms have to transfer through dealers.
The frame has to dros as a handgun if you want to make a handgun with it.
Handguns have to be on the roster or somehow be exempt.

[Chief-7700]

The following may help.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=12537/GunTechdetail/Building_A_1911___Part_I

[navyretired 1]

You might consider a 80% 1911 frame but some of the tools necessary are expensive (grip bushing taps, correct drills, reamers and such but 80% are non-guns so you can buy. Just web search for sources.
With Kuhnhausen's book go step by step and it's not that easy. Try to get forged or barstock parts as alot of the parts available are MIMS (metal in molds) or what used to be call sintered parts. MIM's are ok but won't take a mirror finish for top fitting.
80% frames have no serial numbers and don'thave to be DROSED to buy, come thru US Mail.

[sava6e]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P4XJTKzKEU

just in case you like visuals

[motorhead]

the reciver/frame is the gun. all the rest is just metal.

[sarge1572]

1911

I just finished one. A 100% frame (and like the others said, the FRAME is considered THE GUN, why? because it's the only part with a serial number I suppose and your 1911 will be registered as whatever brand frame you buy no matter HOW awesome your parts are) and found a box of parts that I made fit (yes those ARE all SS Colt Gold Cup parts!!). It shoots like a champ. I'm not a gun smith, just an armorer, and I may have just lucked out, but it was a very satisfying project. I did everything by hand. Took a little longer, but worth it.

If you have some skill, and a lot of patience you'll learn a LOT, and have a gun you'll keep a long time.

Someone else mentioned, the hardest part is finding a frame already in the peoples republik. You can't import it 'cause frames aren't on the approved list.

I think I posted a pic, at least I HOPE I did.

Good luck, and yes, you should do it.

[Roccobro]

The owner of my old LGS told me about a cop who DROS'd 10 bare Caspian frames with his exemption. I've been thinking of doing the same with all the Roster crap still around and Cal Gunners needing 1911's.

Justin