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Boeydafunk · 02-19-2007, 03:59 PM

How hard is it to build ones own 1911 pistol? Was thinking about ordering all wilson combat parts and fitting and assembling myself. Could this be a way to get a WC for like 1/3 of the cost? Is this way to hard for one to do? What would be involved.
Thanks
DaFunk

Byrd · 02-19-2007, 06:03 PM

I just finished my 9th 1911 build...and it is not just a matter of buying parts and putting them together. You have very improtant things that must be properly fitted to have a safe and reliable weapon. Such parts are the hammer hooks height, and the surface of the sear. The thumb safety must be fitted to the sear for the weapon to be safe, and the grip safety must be fitted to the rear of the trigger bow to work properly. That being said...it is FUN! I will never buy another stock 1911, unless I get one cheap that I can build on myself. There is a certian satisfaction to say "I built it" when someone asks who did the work. Get books, look on the net, Blindhog has a good site. Get Kunhausens books on the 1911 from Brownells. If you do your homework and go slow, you can have a very accurate reliable 1911 that is unique to you.

Go for it!

Gator · 02-19-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrd

I just finished my 9th 1911 build...and it is not just a matter of buying parts and putting them together. You have very improtant things that must be properly fitted to have a safe and reliable weapon. Such parts are the hammer hooks height, and the surface of the sear. The thumb safety must be fitted to the sear for the weapon to be safe, and the grip safety must be fitted to the rear of the trigger bow to work properly. That being said...it is FUN! I will never buy another stock 1911, unless I get one cheap that I can build on myself. There is a certian satisfaction to say "I built it" when someone asks who did the work. Get books, look on the net, Blindhog has a good site. Get Kunhausens books on the 1911 from Brownells. If you do your homework and go slow, you can have a very accurate reliable 1911 that is unique to you.

Go for it!

Byrd,
I assume that there is also some machine work involved. Do you do your own?

Polymerhead · 02-19-2007, 07:06 PM

I don't think there's much machine work involved. They make fixtures for fitting a slide to a frame that attaches where a barrel bushing would go, and then you vise up the frame and use some lapping compound and a mallet to fit it. Files and metal sandpaper will fit the barrel, bushing and internals.

Boeydafunk · 02-20-2007, 01:14 PM

Which part is the "GUN"? Meaning do any of the parts for a 1911 type gun need to be sent to my FFL? How do you register a gun that has no markings on it? Thanks

DaFUnk

ichy_trigger · 02-20-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boeydafunk

Which part is the "GUN"? Meaning do any of the parts for a 1911 type gun need to be sent to my FFL? How do you register a gun that has no markings on it? Thanks

DaFUnk

The frame is the gun

Byrd · 02-20-2007, 05:01 PM

The frame must be purchased from an FFL as it is the gun. All my work I do by hand, using tools purchased from Brownells. Since I do it as a hobby, I don't see the need, nor have the space or money for anything else. My last build was on a Caspian frame & slide using the file & progressivly finge grits of polishing compound until the slide would travel the length of the frame. You can spend as much or as little as you want. I have used Essex frames & slides, and despite what some say make fine guns. I have used the Sarco builders kit for a friend, that is all the parts except the frame, and will never do that again, for all the fitting it was not worth it.
Chip McCormick trigger groups are pretty much drop in, and give a fine trigger pull, but the thumb safety and grip safety still must be fit to the individual gun.
A friend bought a SA Mil-Spec last fall and we gutted it, and replaces all the internals, fitted a beavertail safety, and an EGW bbl. bushing, and have yet to refinish it, but now he has as much in it as a new Springfield Loaded.
Last year another friend (retired Marine) gave me a Remington Rand slide & frame that someone polished & put new sights on, and when I looked through my parts bin, all I had to buy were $60 worth of odds & ends to build another pistol. I has a Kart bbl. in it that was given to me by another friend, and it will shoot as good as my Series I Kimber.
So there you go...it is a fun and addicting hobby, you can never have enough 1911's, and you always have another idea as to what you want.
Then there is how does the hobbiest put a finish on one? That is another interesting subject for another post!
Read all you can, do your homework buy the tools you need as you need them, and you will have a blast.

02-19-2007, 03:59 PM	#1
Boeydafunk XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boulder City Posts: 259	Building Advice How hard is it to build ones own 1911 pistol? Was thinking about ordering all wilson combat parts and fitting and assembling myself. Could this be a way to get a WC for like 1/3 of the cost? Is this way to hard for one to do? What would be involved. Thanks DaFunk

02-19-2007, 07:06 PM	#4
Polymerhead XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: MO, USA Posts: 1,530	I don't think there's much machine work involved. They make fixtures for fitting a slide to a frame that attaches where a barrel bushing would go, and then you vise up the frame and use some lapping compound and a mallet to fit it. Files and metal sandpaper will fit the barrel, bushing and internals. __________________ No alarms and no surprises, please.

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02-19-2007, 06:03 PM	#2
Byrd XDTalk Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 77	I just finished my 9th 1911 build...and it is not just a matter of buying parts and putting them together. You have very improtant things that must be properly fitted to have a safe and reliable weapon. Such parts are the hammer hooks height, and the surface of the sear. The thumb safety must be fitted to the sear for the weapon to be safe, and the grip safety must be fitted to the rear of the trigger bow to work properly. That being said...it is FUN! I will never buy another stock 1911, unless I get one cheap that I can build on myself. There is a certian satisfaction to say "I built it" when someone asks who did the work. Get books, look on the net, Blindhog has a good site. Get Kunhausens books on the 1911 from Brownells. If you do your homework and go slow, you can have a very accurate reliable 1911 that is unique to you. Go for it!

02-20-2007, 01:14 PM	#5
Boeydafunk XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boulder City Posts: 259	Which part is the "GUN"? Meaning do any of the parts for a 1911 type gun need to be sent to my FFL? How do you register a gun that has no markings on it? Thanks DaFUnk

02-20-2007, 05:01 PM	#7
Byrd XDTalk Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 77	The frame must be purchased from an FFL as it is the gun. All my work I do by hand, using tools purchased from Brownells. Since I do it as a hobby, I don't see the need, nor have the space or money for anything else. My last build was on a Caspian frame & slide using the file & progressivly finge grits of polishing compound until the slide would travel the length of the frame. You can spend as much or as little as you want. I have used Essex frames & slides, and despite what some say make fine guns. I have used the Sarco builders kit for a friend, that is all the parts except the frame, and will never do that again, for all the fitting it was not worth it. Chip McCormick trigger groups are pretty much drop in, and give a fine trigger pull, but the thumb safety and grip safety still must be fit to the individual gun. A friend bought a SA Mil-Spec last fall and we gutted it, and replaces all the internals, fitted a beavertail safety, and an EGW bbl. bushing, and have yet to refinish it, but now he has as much in it as a new Springfield Loaded. Last year another friend (retired Marine) gave me a Remington Rand slide & frame that someone polished & put new sights on, and when I looked through my parts bin, all I had to buy were $60 worth of odds & ends to build another pistol. I has a Kart bbl. in it that was given to me by another friend, and it will shoot as good as my Series I Kimber. So there you go...it is a fun and addicting hobby, you can never have enough 1911's, and you always have another idea as to what you want. Then there is how does the hobbiest put a finish on one? That is another interesting subject for another post! Read all you can, do your homework buy the tools you need as you need them, and you will have a blast.