Frame Up Custom Build
 

Sorry, this is a bit long...

I mentioned a while back that I was going to start a custom build and was trying to decide whether to try to do it myself or farm it out.

Well, in the end I wasn't confident enough in my own abilities to try it myself, given the cost of the parts. I got lucky and found a local guy who has done many. He actually lives just around the corner from me and is an active duty Navy Chief to boot.

So he's doing the work and I'm watching over his shoulder as I can.

I'll do the 2nd one myself after taking the Cylinder and Slide 1911 custom build course in March.

I hope to document the build as best I can here.

Here's a partial build list:

Remsport Commander frame in carbon steel
Caspian Naked Slide, Novak cut, in carbon steel
Wilson Combat Match Barrel
EGW Beavertail Grip Safety
Gold Dot front sight, plain black rear sight

Most of the other internals are EGW and WC, with some STI, EB, and Cylinder and Slide thrown in as well.

The only parts not yet received are the slide (it's shipped), and the Novak thumb safety (it's backordered).

So, it's a Commander, bobtailed pistol. It's going to be blued, and have a very minimalist flavor. It will be a working, carry gun.

Here's a couple of pics of the work so far:

The grip safety has been fitted and is being blended and shaped.
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...rip_safety.jpg

The mag release is being fitted and shaped.
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...d/IMG_0489.jpg

More to follow...

Boats

Nice! it'll be very cool personal piece once it's completed.

Boats glad you found someone close to where you live that will build your Dream 1911. Also you are very lucky that he will let you document it and take pics of it to post on here.
So far it looks really nice keep us informed please........ Can't wait to see it when it is done.......


Clyde

Good deal Tom, I hope it all works out well!!!:)

What he said!:)

i love build threads, this is going to be one cool Commander!

Hope you all like it. :D

Need to get some new pics up of the BT and bob.

Ahhh... I hadn't mentioned who was doing the build, but it is our own...

Navman!

Doesn't matter what they think. It's what I think that counts! :D

Boats

Truth!

I'll try to keep this updated with pics for you Tom.

Slide dame in from Caspian. Fit up to the frame. Zero play (except front to back :D). Smooth as oiled glass on glass. Wilson combat barrel hood and upper lugs fit to slide, bushing still needs to be final lapped in, tight as all hell right now.

Pics later, heading to the gym right now.

I spent some time with Navman last night looking at/playing with the pistol, swapping lies, and sipping scotch.

The pistol so far is exceeding expectations. It's a thing of beauty.

We've got a basic plan to finish it down to high gloss (something like 1000), and send it off in pieces to Glenrock for bluing. That process should be quick and inexpensive since the real expensive and time consuming part for them is disassembly/assembly, and finishing.

Doc, apparently nobody does Royale Blue except Colt. Glenrock does not, and doesn't know anyone else who does. Is there something I'm missing? Also, as you, I really like the look of Royal Blue, but do you think it's appropriate as a finish for a working/carry gun. I'm planning on this pistol being my go to weapon, not a closet queen.

Zane, I'll be needing some slim, bobtail camel bone grips right soon!

Boats

The Journey Continues...

Barrel and bushing hard fit, slide fit and laoped. Ignition parts tuned for 4 lbs pull (glass break vice roll) Still waiting for the Novak thumb safety.

Next up....tune feeding for defense loads (already feeds Ball ;))

Pics:
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0067.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0069.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0068.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0070.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0071.jpg

Thanks namman and Boats for the Updates.....and new Pics......


Clyde

i was planning on ordering some more camel scales tomorrow so i should get them by the end of next week.;)

Oh, Boy! Goodies!

Boats

Nice lookin pistola

Looking good!!!:)

That slide fit looks really good, from the hammer side! :hail:

I'll get some more pics up later but here is a question for you all...

How do you fix an (in my opinion) unacceptable gap under the blade (not the dovetail) of the front sight blade? Unacceptable to me is anything over .0001 (yes that is 3 zero's or 1 ten thousandth of an inch).

:)

BTW it has already been fixed and the install is good to go. :cool:

Really, no guess'....

Alright then. I use silver solder to add just a few thousandths under the blade, then mill or file to fit. The cold blue in the following pics is to see how much (if any) of the silver solder remains, the goal being as little visible as possible (especially if the gun is to be blued like this one, blueing doesn't like silver solder). Not sure how clear it is in the pics, but there is no visible solder to affect the blueing.

The blend job is almost complete. What appears to be a slight gap between the frame rails and the bottom of the slide is actually just a minute bevel on the back edge of the slide rails.

The rear sight is a 10-8 U notch and the front is an SDM Gold Bead, now fit with zero gap under either.

The rear of the slide has been blended with the frame, extractor and ejector, still needs to be finished...enjoy.

No, that is not the thumb safety that will end up on the build, waiting for a NOVAK (if not I have an EGW that will get reprofiled.)

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0075.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0072.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0074.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0076.jpg

It is coming along really nice navman!!!:)

My son Sean and I went over to Navman's house last night for some bullsh***ing, gun talk, scotch sipping and to take a look at my pistol.

Damn it looks good. Really starting to take shape. The only part we're waiting on is the thumb safety, but it looks like we'll go ahead with something we have in hand as the one we specified is still back ordered.

Otherwise, Navman is working on the action, and reliability next.

We also were thinking about whether bluing was the right choice, or perhaps IonBond Diamond Black. We took a look at an ion bonded slide and it really looks good. ion binding is also quite a bit more durable than bluing.

So I'm thinking about that and will be talking to the ionbond people today.

Overall, I'm really happy with the progress.

The scotch was tasty, too!

Boats

It always tastes better when it's free! :p

It wasn't free... I bought it and brought it over!

Boats

Speaking of which picked up a bottle of Glenmorangie Sherry Cask 12yo...

And for the holidays, an update on the pistol:

Rear of slide final blended and serrated at 50lpi to match rear sight, extracor and ejector serrated to match. Dehorned and carry beveled all sharp edges. Blended in the high cut front strap. Finished and bordered the checkering on thne front strap.

Wow, are you already home from the Folks?

That Glenmorangie is what Glenfiddich copied the bottle I brought over from, I think. Couldn't find the Glenmorangie when I was shopping for a sipping bottle for us.

You didn't drink it all already, did you?

I think Sean and I need to come over after Christmas to check out the progress on the pistol :D

Hate to let it go for two months, but pretty soon it goes to get ion bonded.

Boats

Boats Good Custom work takes time I should Know I sent my Springer off to Dave Severns and to get all my Custom work done to it,, it took 14 months................


Clyde

BTW where are the new pics of it??????????????:D:D:D:D

Never happened without Pics........................... Hint Hint Hint



Clyde

I was getting to it...had to do some last minute gift shopping for the kid.:D

Grips are temporary.

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0078.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0077.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0080.jpg
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMGP0081.jpg

Beautiful work navman!!!!:)

AutoMag is Finally Right, Very Nice Work,


Clyde

+1000

I am not saying that I am always right.................but I have never been wrong so far!!!!:D:D

John that is not what your wife told me the last time I talked to her, she said you are always wrong especially when she asks for your opinion..............


Clyde

You got me there Clyde!!!:D

Man that looks great. Makes mine look a monkey put it together nanner

Never underestimate the skill of a monkey....


Damn dirty apes.

A visit with Navman
 

Sean and I went over to Navman's last night for more fun Navy, gun & girl talk, a bit of scotch sipping, and the fondling of beautiful pistols. There's nothing like the comradeship of some guys that have a common lingo and really enjoy some of the same things.

The 18yo Glenlivet was pretty darned smooth, but I think Navman's 12yo sherry cask stored Glenmorangie was slightly better. In truth, it took me two or three (or was it four?) glasses to really get a sense of it. :facepalm:

Sean fell in love with a full sized Colt built by Navman. He especially liked the smooth wood grips and the look of the steel. Unhappily what he was looking at was just unfinished carbon steel. I think he was disappointed when Navman told him it was going to get blued. At least it gives me an idea of what Sean might want as a first 1911 some day. Unfortunately he now has very expensive taste in pistols :D

And since this is a family forum, I'll leave off the girl part of the discussion... except that I do remember some talk about a young, female EDO officer...

Not sure what Sean makes of all this. Until recently, he's been pretty much of an innocent kid. It's so much fun to watch him grow.

My pistol is very nearly ready to be shipped off for finishing. It just keeps getting better. The feel of it in my hand is fantastic. The gold dot sight is incredible, and it points unbelievably well. The trigger pull is a snappy 4# with no noticeable take-up or creep. The pistol is incredibly tight, but not so tight it can't be cycled.

It's an all-carbon steel pistol, so pretty beefy. I'm a big guy, and I like a heavy pistol.

Still left to do physically are stippling the grip safety, shaving off a bit of the thumb safety ramp, a bit more work on the action, and a final blast down to about 1200. I might be forgetting a little, but not much. I'm sure Navman will chime in if I've missed anything significant.

Then off it goes for ion bonding.

Here's a couple of pics. The slide is bare steel and the frame is cold dipped. The grips are a set of VZ's that Navman had on hand. Zane is going to make me a set of slim camel boned grips for it. It's going to look amazing when it's done. Just exactly what I was hoping for - my vision of the perfect pistol.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4eb3a163.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps057acc44.jpg

Good Deal, that's a beautiful pistol!:)

Beautiful piece of work. How many bottles of Scotch went into that pistol?