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"Truing" the Front Strap?
4/4/2012 10:14:42 PM
Fellas, what does it mean when a gunsmith uses the term "truing" when referring to the front strap? I'm thinking of having the front strap on my SA checkered and I keep seeing this term. I'll probably go with skateboard tape, since a hand-checkering can be a little pricey. Know of any good 'smiths who stipple?
TIA
TIA
4/4/2012 10:31:01 PM
This means cutting the frontstrap to a consistent depth where you intend to checker. Some frontstraps have dips and swells, and aren't as straight as they appear. Quite a few of them actually start rising up long before the actual radius between the frontstrap and trigger guard. All of this is a nightmare when you're trying for consistent looking checkering. I think it's more important for machine checkering than hand checkering, because some of it can be corrected on the fly if you're hand checkering... but the mill cutter doesn't lie.
4/5/2012 8:54:32 PM
Don't be afraid to try hand checkering. You'll finish it with a jewelers file anyways to even up the sides. I got the Brownell's 20 lpi file and had fun with it. About four hours work to do it.
Pic:
Then I refinished the frame in moly resin.
Pic:
Then I refinished the frame in moly resin.
4/5/2012 11:09:49 PM
My SA Champion Operator is at a smith right now having it done. He charged $200.00 which was worth it not to try myself.
4/5/2012 11:52:28 PM
Originally Posted By ken_mays:
This means cutting the frontstrap to a consistent depth where you intend to checker. Some frontstraps have dips and swells, and aren't as straight as they appear. Quite a few of them actually start rising up long before the actual radius between the frontstrap and trigger guard. All of this is a nightmare when you're trying for consistent looking checkering. I think it's more important for machine checkering than hand checkering, because some of it can be corrected on the fly if you're hand checkering... but the mill cutter doesn't lie.
This means cutting the frontstrap to a consistent depth where you intend to checker. Some frontstraps have dips and swells, and aren't as straight as they appear. Quite a few of them actually start rising up long before the actual radius between the frontstrap and trigger guard. All of this is a nightmare when you're trying for consistent looking checkering. I think it's more important for machine checkering than hand checkering, because some of it can be corrected on the fly if you're hand checkering... but the mill cutter doesn't lie.
I know that to be fact, because you can be told by a shop they cant cut your Colt frontstrap because its going to look like a diagonalized "V". They could handchecker it, but the gap would tighten up at the bottom to make it less noticeable. Or they could true it up for an extra 100 bucks that would help. Or weld and remachine for more than the frame was worth.
Late 90's Colt.
Still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.