I got into gunsmithing shortly after my civic was stolen and I wanted to tinker. I purchased a mini mill, and went to town. This project started with a 80% casting 1911 frame. Basically that means that 80% of the machining work was done to the frame. So on with the pics.

here is what I started with, parts kit and 80% frame


here is a quick moc up to see how all the parts fit. Notice how there are no rails cut into the frame for the slide to travel in.


Right after the rails were cut


The cuts are cut about a thou under to allow a nice tolerance and for hand fitting. Here is a pic of the slide being lapped onto the frame.


Here is the gun assembled and not yet coated. (it is now coated with black Gun Kote)


Here is a tool that I used to cut the rails. Its called a slitting saw. I bought the cutter but had to make the holder.


Here is the mandrel (holder) fresh out of the lathe.


Just wanted to share some fabrication with you guys


Rob

 

me thinks you are gonna try and use this little "project" of yours to protect your property from being stolen again....

Nice work....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RagingAngel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">me thinks you are gonna try and use this little "project" of yours to protect your property from being stolen again....

Nice work.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

HA HA never thought of it like that. But unfortunately...you cannot use a weapon to stop someone from stealing your junk in CA..... But if someone comes into the house, then they can have a taste. Thanks for looking.


Rob

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rjardy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">HA HA never thought of it like that. But unfortunately...you cannot use a weapon to stop someone from stealing your junk in CA..... But if someone comes into the house, then they can have a taste. Thanks for looking.


Rob</TD></TR></TABLE>

then claim your homeless and you live in the street, in which you shot the bastard on

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rjardy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">HA HA never thought of it like that. But unfortunately...you cannot use a weapon to stop someone from stealing your junk in CA..... But if someone comes into the house, then they can have a taste. Thanks for looking.


Rob</TD></TR></TABLE>

I bet that would cause a tax problem. Nice gun I'm thinking about picking up one, already made of course. Any other gun projects you got going or are already done with?

 

yeah I have a sig p228 project in the works.. here are some pics. Its slightly more complicated...
228 is chambered in 9mm, the 1911 is of course in .45


only machining that I have done so far is planing the top surface.

here is the bare casting..



Rob

 

Nice. So how does the slitting saw work?

 

Don't you have a mini mill ?

How come you did not use that to make the rails ? If you don't have a mini mill then disregard the question.

 

Additionaly where did you get your 80% 228? How much?

 

Yea were exactly can these kits be purchased from? crime is a problem in my area.

 

http://www.ktordnance.com/kto/
http://www.tanneryshop.com/
Are some that I have looked in to

 

http://www.homegunsmith.com

check that site out. Lotsa great information.


Rob

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90blackcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don't you have a mini mill ?

How come you did not use that to make the rails ? If you don't have a mini mill then disregard the question.</TD></TR></TABLE>


I do have a mini mill, and I did use it. In the pics, I just wanted to show how I made the mandrel using the lathe. I did infact use the mill to cut the rails using that slitting saw.


Rob

 

Damn I'm going to have to talk to my dad about starting a project like this. He loves his sig p220 and maybe I can talk him into helping me with a p228 or a 1911 even though the ammo would be more expensive. My grandfather built a few rifles while he was in the navy but I believe they were complete custom jobs using the machine shop on a carrier or something.

 

wow. i honestly thought that gunsmithing was a lost art. this is something i've always been interested in, but i'm not old enough to purchase a handgun yet.

 

forgive me for not knowing about gun smithing.

but what exactly does the 80% mean? does that mean the actual "frame" of the gun is only 80% done? and needs some machining to be complete?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dturbocivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">forgive me for not knowing about gun smithing.

but what exactly does the 80% mean? does that mean the actual "frame" of the gun is only 80% done? and needs some machining to be complete? </TD></TR></TABLE>


Yes

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DamWutaDayM3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice. So how does the slitting saw work?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Like any other saw would. Just that it is not used as a cut off tool, I used it just to cut the rails in the frame deep enough to match the slide.

Rob

 

Nice post. I didnt know sigs could be bought that way. I've always been a sig fan, but the cost has always prevented me from owning one. I think my next gun purchase will be a Glock 19 or 17, a rorhbaugh might come later. All I have now is a seecamp that i want to sale. So how bout making me a silencer for a target 22

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DreamCatcher &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice post. I didnt know sigs could be bought that way. I've always been a sig fan, but the cost has always prevented me from owning one. I think my next gun purchase will be a Glock 19 or 17, a rorhbaugh might come later. All I have now is a seecamp that i want to sale. So how bout making me a silencer for a target 22</TD></TR></TABLE>

Without proper permission from BATF, that would be illegal. Check Avatar

Rob

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DreamCatcher &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice post. I didnt know sigs could be bought that way. I've always been a sig fan, but the cost has always prevented me from owning one. I think my next gun purchase will be a Glock 19 or 17, a rorhbaugh might come later. All I have now is a seecamp that i want to sale. So how bout making me a silencer for a target 22</TD></TR></TABLE>

a silencer needs to be registered as a class 3 item, lucky for u GA is a class 3 state... in ny... forget about it! they still have the awb! a silencer is classified as a nfa weapon...

 

oh no the fuzz!!!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DreamCatcher &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">oh no the fuzz!!!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah....


sounds like bigtom knows his firearm regulations

 

I have a thread on silencer on my Ruger mk-II. The silencer is about 10" long, makes the gun very silent.... Then again silencers are over the counter items here

 

Lucky Fins

Rob