Coldfire

Thanks for the update! I've been wondering how you build was going.

jlh820

As promised, here's a couple of pictures I took last night. As you can see, I'm headed towards the finish line. The 2nd picture shows the grip panels I'll be putting on it.

Steps left:

• Order/receive a couple of missing parts
• Test fire until satisfied with around 200 rounds successfully
• Order sights
• Have slide milled for rear sight
• Get gun Cerakoted
• Shoot, fondle, show off and just look at it for a long time!

Where I stopped off yesterday.


Just for kicks I set one of the grip panels on it to see how it looks.

fungun

This thread is inspiring me to dive a lot deeper into the handgun that I enjoy so much. Sounds very rewarding and educational

jlh820

I'm really enjoying it. I've always loved to learn new things on my own because my understanding and retention greatly increases.

It's not cheap, but it's not unreasonable. I don't remember now, but I think I've got somewhere around $1,200 invested in this, primarily because I chose to go exclusively with Wilson Combat parts from Wilson Combat.

Something I've learned since, is that Brownells sells quite a few WC parts, often for less, but their customer service is better and their shipping is less expensive.

For anyone wanting to try it, I recommend really researching your parts list first. Make sure you're getting what you really want and the best places to buy the parts from. One note on Wilson Combat; I was told by one of their service representatives that they are going to discontinue selling frame/slide kits to the public. This includes their bundled parts kit which is a great way to get started. So, make sure you've got a source for your frame and slide. Make a complete parts list, with proper name, manufacturer and part number. Then be prepared to wait. I'm not sure about other places but I waited for months for WC to get around to shipping my order to me. They would much prefer to sell you the parts already assembled!

Greyghost9

I am going to be starting my own project. I just got a RIA 1911 in Bi-tone Nickel and Blue, i have been on Midway USA looking at parts everyday. It is going to be a bit of a franken-gun but i can't wait to get started.

jlh820

Cool!

I've read about others who have built one from RIA. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Greyghost9

yeah i hope it turns out well, just a few updates, skeleton hammer, new beaver tail and main spring housing full length guide rod and mag well. It's my first 1911 and i don't know why i didnt buy one earlier.

jlh820

Good luck with it and keep us posted. I'm sure you'll do fine. The hammer, trigger, beaver tail and main spring are fairly unique to the 1911, but it's not that complicated. If you can get your hands on Kuhnhausen's books, they cover everything, but I wouldn't call it light reading!

jlh820

I've been working on it pretty steadily the last few days. I've got a couple more parts ordered which I'm hoping will arrive in a week or so. Iowegan warned me about this and of course, he's right again. I'm finding the most difficult part so far is fitting the thumb safety and grip safety. The grip safety is requiring quite a bit of fitting. I'm taking it slow so I don't remove too much material but apparently it's a very critical fitting so they purposely make the parts oversize. I think the thumb safety is finished but they work together and the grip safety isn't fit yet.

If I keep up this pace my time line might stay intact. But in the end I will feel that I truly made this gun.

Iowegan

jlh820, Good for you!!! Glad you are making progress on those safeties. Yes, the inside stud on a new thumb safety is always oversized. That's because it has to be a "zero tolerance fit" and because there are variations from gun-to-gun, a "drop-in" part is not feasible. The variations come from the hammer's sear notch depth, the length of the sear, and the thickness of the sear. The grip safety isn't as critical but the lever that interrupts the trigger is also oversized so it can be adjusted for the proper fit. Sometimes you have to fit the lower ears on the grip safety where it catches on the mainspring housing. I've also seen grip safeties that were too fat to fit in the frame channel .... better to dress down an oversized part for a perfect fit rather than have it fit too loose.

The beauty of making your own 1911 is ... you learn a lot about how the parts work together and what makes the gun "tick". It's also very rewarding when you finish the job and go to the range. Hopefully, you will end up with a good shooter. Keep us p[osted on your progress.

jlh820

Almost there...

The parts I ordered arrived today. The thumb safety and grip safety are fitted. However, I've found I need two more parts. ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!

I'm missing a plunger tube spring and a mainspring housing cap pin, at least that's what I think it's called. My 1911 schematic calls it a locking bolt. it's a small pin that goes into the mainspring housing from the back towards the front. It's purpose looks to be to hold the mainspring cap in place inside the housing. I just ordered them from WC.

On the good news front, I found someone locally that does handgun engraving that's supposed to be pretty good. I sent him an email this morning and got a response back this afternoon.

I'm starting to look at sights now. I think I'm going to go with the Wilson Combat 1911 sights, with a tritium front and an adjustable rear. I'll probably just go with the black blade since their tritium rear inserts are really small. However, I might just change my mind and go with the tritium front and back.

Now I've got to figure out how to pick the right front sight.

It's coming along...

jlh820

Another set back. The barrel links come in 5 sizes. I originally ordered the middle one. It wasn't right so I ordered the two smaller ones. Wrong way! I just ordered the two longer ones from Brownells. While I was at it, I ordered the other parts I was missing even though I'd already ordered them from Wilson Combat. I figure I'll be sure to get them fairly quickly and since I was already paying minimum shipping the other parts only cost a couple of bucks and some are coming in a kit so I'll have extras.

What a learning experience this has been! It's fun, though.

I'm working with an engraver now to figure out what to put on the slide.

jlh820

Well, thar she be!



100% American made, 100% new Wilson Combat parts and a whole lotta hours from me.

I have some finishing to do, The thumb safety is a bit stiff and sometimes there's a little notch in the trigger pull before it fires. I think this is the grip safety, which I'll need to touch up a bit. After I redo that, I'll make sure the trigger is nice and smooth (which it is now, providing I don't hit that little notch). Then off to the range.

After a couple of hundred successful rounds through it, then I'll get serious about the Cerakoting and sight purchase and installation. Engraving will probably come in there somewhere, but I'm not sure. Looking at it whole, I kind of like the plain look. We'll see.

Here's a chonological look at the build. Sorry, I didn't take a lot of pictures, but I did take a few.

In the beginning...



Barrel, bushing, slide/frame fitted...


Back to today...

polaris754

Hats off to you ,looks GREAT! A very rewarding project, some nice scrolling would really set it off , cant wait to hear she shoots!

jlh820

Thanks! If I do get it engraved, a little scroll work would definitely be involved. I've been emailing an engraver not too far from me but I'm waiting to hear back from him on some design suggestions. He's about 75 - 100 miles away and I want to pretty much have things nailed down before I make the trip.

I was going to take her out today, but it's getting late and I've got to finish up a new gun I've had soaking in FrogLube. Plus, I want to figure out what those two little issues are first.