Posted: 9/12/2005 6:12:46 AM EDT
Well, here she is. Freshly Parkerized, and awaiting a coat of Moly-Resin, but almost done: With a Milt Sparks OWB Holster  Here's a shot at the beavertail. It's not too bad a fit for my first try...  Caspian frame and slide Springfield barrel and trigger Wilson mainspring housing STI sights, firing pin and beavertail Brown bushing and spring guide Nowlin hammer and sear McCormick bushings Wolff springs I'm getting 2" groups @ 20 yards with UMC hardball.  Good shooter, though not very pretty right now. I plan to 2 tone Stainless and Black with the moly-Resin, then add some McCormick slimline rosewoods to finish it off. I'll post pics when she's all done.BTW, I got everything you see here. |
| Mmmmm, purdy. I like it a lot, even in it's parkerized state. Stainless and black will be a good combo. I'm thinking about redoing my springfield frame in OD. Let us know how that stainless moly resin works out for you. I love the others but I've never used stainless. MJD |
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The park job really came out well, much better than I expected for my first gun. I seriously considered leaving it, but I'm going to carry out the original plan. It may be a few weeks, but I'll put up new pics as soon as I get the Moly-Resin done and have the new grips. Thanks for the kind words. |
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Thanks guys for all the comments. It was a home park job, I used LCW manganese park solution. (don't forget the steel wool if you use it, directions on the jug. I forgot it the first run on some magazines and it worked, but was not nearly as dark as the pistol) The total cost will be right at $800.00 once the Moly-Resin is done. I sure didn't save any money building, but I am pretty proud of the finished product. Thanks again, Leatherneck BTW, I got everything you see there, and the stuff for parkerizing at MidwayUSA. Competitive prices and super fast shipping. |
Don't I know it, brother. I am pretty proud of her though, and the knowledge you gain is worth something, to me at least... |
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Not really, once I worked up the nerve. Check out this website: Roderus Custom Gunworks And this one too: BlindHogg Both have some really good photo walk thrus on building a 1911. I used Wheeler Enginering lapping compound 600 grit to lapp the frame to the slide. Make sure you de-grease after it's lapped in place so the compound does not continue to cut after the final lapping. NOTHING, and I mean nothing is "drop-in" on a 1911. Not that I bought drop-in parts, but even those parts that I thought should be easy and pretty standard as far as specs required hours of hand fitting. It's a labor of love. |
How can you compare the price of a GI to a custom pistol? You must compare the price of a equally equipped custom pistol to this. I have yet to see any GI's with adjustable sights, extended safety, commander hammer, beavertail, extended trigger, etc. I dunno, I think that is a VERY unfair comparison. You have a awesome looking pistol there, Leatherneck. Kudos to you! ETA: Anybody know who makes the dual paddle in the pic on the Roderus site from above? I think I may have just fallen in love. |
Looks good! Did the $800 include all the tools you needed? Did you look at any other frames to build on before you settled on a caspian? I keep thinking about picking up an Essex frame and slide and having a go at building one myself. I don't know if I have the patience. I'm more of a framing carpenter than a finish carpenter if you know what I mean. 
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I'm all thumbs myself, and I struggled through it. The only experience I have with Essex frames is a buddies, and it has a pretty good sized imperfection on the dust cover. Nothing a coat of Moly-Resin wouldn't cover, but it makes me wonder about overall intergity, especially if you had one in a more crucial spot. This is my first 1911, so I'm by no means an expert, but I'd go with a Caspian frame and slide. Mine was perfect, not imprefections at all, and with going on 900 rounds through it it has preformed flawlessly. The $800.00 does not include tools, luckily I have friends with lots of tools. You'll need a bench vise, some needle files and a big mil-bastard, a plunger staking tool, some lapping compound, a beavertail fitting jig, sandpaper, I think that's about it. Lots of filing and sanding... |
OMG something i know.. i mean why yes, yes i do know... i remember seeing these holsters when i was looking at a local dealer's website.. their spendy but nice... http://www.grahamholsters.com/belt_holsters.htm Jess |
Heated the link for you: link Nice looking stuff, and very reasonable prices. Haven't had any personal experience with this company. |
Actually you do get what you pay for. If you put $1000 worth of parts into your build you should have something a hell of a lot nicer than a Mimfield Armory Mim-spec. |
Ummm, thanks for the unsolicited ad. If you've got pics of a pistol you built, or questions/comments about the one I built, please join in the conversation. If you are just spamming this site for a buddy down there in KY, keep it to yourself.  Thanks, Leatherneck |