Posted: 7/1/2010 2:45:15 PM EDT
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One of my 1911's has the old Wilson's 66 style beavertail safety. I would like to install the newer Wilson high grip beavertail.
The jig is available from Brownells but I need to order a suitable file to do the job. Any suggestions? |
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Type of file doesn't really matter too too much, anything around 4-6" mill bastard (I use both) or 0-2 in swiss pattern file. Large enough to still cut efficiently, but small enough to be able to control.
The jig should be harder than file steel so the file can slide right over it when you hit depth. Be sure to test fit often as you get close to finished. I recommend an India stone to finish off, I don't see any reason to need a finer surface finish. Attach the jig, scribe a line around the border, and use a grinder to hog most material away. You want a very small clearance between parts, but even with no real gaps. Be sure it moves smoothly through the entire range. For extra finishing touches, radius the sides of the safety pad down so it more closely matches the edges of the frame opening without a huge step. http://img404.imageshack.us/i/gripsafety.jpg/ |
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Quoted:
Could you post pics of both.... i am new to this and not sure what the difference is between them. http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn216/cxl17/IMG_5411.jpg http://www.theshootersbox.com/store/images/wilson_combat/Wilson%20Combat%20WC429SG%20Beavertail%20Safety.jpg Notice the top safety has a complete radius so you just round the back of the frame and it slides on. The second one is cut higher than the radius, so you will have to flatten off the rounding of the frame to clear your hand. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Could you post pics of both.... i am new to this and not sure what the difference is between them. http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn216/cxl17/IMG_5411.jpg http://www.theshootersbox.com/store/images/wilson_combat/Wilson%20Combat%20WC429SG%20Beavertail%20Safety.jpg Notice the top safety has a complete radius so you just round the back of the frame and it slides on. The second one is cut higher than the radius, so you will have to flatten off the rounding of the frame to clear your hand. That second pic is a drop in. |
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Quoted:
That second pic is a drop in. Yep, looking back at that site it is, I didn't make the connection for why the beavertail started so far back. http://www.galatiinternational.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/WS298.jpg This one isn't though. It definitely looks much closer to the 66 in the cutout, but you can see on the corners that they're open. The frame where radiused will stick out from here and need to be filed or ground smooth. |