1911 Build

The grip saftey went good

Then I blend the grip saftey top and bottom

I also fit the mainspring housing and the barrel bushing I will use, the slide stop and thumb safety. Next step when I have time will fit the barrel.

I some some time the past few evenings and I was able to fit the barrel. Kart barrels and Caspian slides don't like to play with each other, the barrel would not drop and have enough clearance in the slide. So I had to create the clearance required by removing material from the barrel from the 3:00-5:00 position and the 7:00-9:00 position

I cut the hood with and length to a semi hard fit and then lapped the barrel hood to the breach face for final fit. I also lapped the barrel to the bushing for the final fit with about .001 clearance. Then I cut the lower lugs using a lug cutter, first using a .186 cutter and then a .195 cutter, I forgot to take a pic of the cutter while cutting but this is the Brownells kit I used

Then I applied dykem to the lower lugs installed barrel and bushing in the slide, installed the slide stop and then racked the slide several times, then checked lower lugs for interference marks. Filed the lower lug with a round file to open up the .195 cut, slide stop pin is .200. I then Installed a #3 barrel link and checked the radius of the lower lugs, filed and polished so lugs would ride up the slide stop pin without barrel bump.

I then installed the barrel, bushing, #3 link into the slide and attached to the frame and installed slide stop, then attempted to rack the slide. No go slide wouldn't travel far enough forward to engage the thumb safety, also didn't have the barrel clearance with the slide had to think about it before doing anything. I tried a #2 barrel link

I then fit, tuned and adjusted extractor

I also fit a EGW square bottom FPS

This is where my build stands, more to come when I have some more time to fit some more parts.

Today I did a lot of sanding on the frame and slide, just to smooth out all the machining marks and sharp edges. Spent a good 6 hours just sanding, Lumberton sanding sticks sure come in handy. The trigger track I had to remove about .004 on both sides, that is a lot to remove with a file, sanding and then a stone.

I then installed the plunger tube, I take a ball cutter and on the inside of the frame open up the plunger tube holes to just a slight countersink. Then with a staking tool, stake the plunger tube in place.

I told my wife I am getting near the end I don't know what I will do, she said "build another one". I sure will, already thinking about a alloy bobtail commander frame. Probably build next pistol in .38 super, don't want to get ahead of myself, need to finish this pistol first but when she said build another one I need to order a frame, they take 4-6 weeks to get.

Today I installed the ejector, cut the notch in the front leg and then profiled the nose

I don't like the ejector to extend over the mag well

Then I installed mag release, it was oversized and needed fit like every other part. Even the magazine catch lock slot had to be open up and the catch lock filed down

Then I blended the mag release to the frame

Then I started on the fire control group of course had to fit the trigger, then checked sear to hammer engagement on the outside of the pistol much easier to see

I then installed the hammer strut to the hammer, no staking required it is a press fit, I pressed the pin through the hammer and strut using my machinist vise, my big one

I then finished assembly of pistol doing all saftey checks

Now I have to test fire for function and if all goes well I will blend the rear of the slide to the frame, not much varies from a 1/8" down to 1/16" then decide what finish and grips I want. Sights I have on the way from Dawson Precision

I had a rare short day of work so I had a chance to go to the range and test fire my pistol, functioned very well. Shot 100 rds. at 7yds and 10 yds, I don't have sights yet so I just looked down the slide.

After test firing I blended the slide to the frame

Now I have to decide what color Ceracote I want and order some and also a set of grips