1911 Update - Trigger, action prep, and rear blend

[Danny]

Those of you might see me posting in the old lifestyle forum I have been building a cutom 1911 (from Springfield Armory MilSpec).

These pics show the trigger fit and prep, disconector polished up, and the rear of the gun being blended. Oh ya, it also shows the barrel throat contoured and polished, and the where the hood meets the throat contoured and polished. 1 last thing, if u look closely u can see where i dehorned the thumbsaftey. It feels sexxyy now.

Hope some of u out there like 1911s. Enjoy the 1911 porn.

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/trigger.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/trigger2.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/disconect.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/throat.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/blend.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/blend2.jpg

[81911SC]

Danny, that's looking really good man. That polishing job is nice. What are you using exactly? I've seen the dremel and abrasive liquid material online and just wondering what your are doing.

[Danny]

once the surface is smooth (above 400 grit) i move up to 1000grit. For the flat surfaces like the trigger stirrup sides, disconector, etc i put the 1000grit paper on the table and toss some gun oil on it then slide the surface back and forth. This is the easiest and fastest way to keep the surface flat but remove the fine tooling marks (that i have found). Once 1000grit is reached it has a dull luster, then i break out the dremel and hard felt wheel and go to town with some of the red dremel polishing compound.

I also have a very soft fabric wheel that goes on the dremel for polishing more delicate items.

I am happy with the work so far, cant wait to get done with it. Have to have it finished in less than a month. Eeeek... no time :(


Going to order shootersolution's parkerizing kit, have you tried that before?

[mocha latte cupcake]

so this is where you've been hiding! AH HA!

:ninja: looks awesome though, idk what most of those terms mean and what not but it sure is shiny :goodjob:

[Danny]

this is a convertible free zone!

Haha... :D ya i hide over here now. Not really into cars these days (dont have one), so i dont venture too far from the garage sale and now this forum :)

Its not that shiny, all off its getting media blasted soon the given a flat black finsih. Of course the parts i polished wont get the finsih :)

Its kinda like tinkering on a car, except u dont have to lay on ur back covered in oil at 2am. :D

[81911SC]

once the surface is smooth (above 400 grit) i move up to 1000grit. For the flat surfaces like the trigger stirrup sides, disconector, etc i put the 1000grit paper on the table and toss some gun oil on it then slide the surface back and forth. This is the easiest and fastest way to keep the surface flat but remove the fine tooling marks (that i have found). Once 1000grit is reached it has a dull luster, then i break out the dremel and hard felt wheel and go to town with some of the red dremel polishing compound.

I also have a very soft fabric wheel that goes on the dremel for polishing more delicate items.

I am happy with the work so far, cant wait to get done with it. Have to have it finished in less than a month. Eeeek... no time :(


Going to order shootersolution's parkerizing kit, have you tried that before?I've never tried that kit. I'll look into it. How are you using that polishing compound? I thought about mixing it in with water being so thick and all. I tried it as is and had no results.

[Danny]

I've never tried that kit. I'll look into it. How are you using that polishing compound? I thought about mixing it in with water being so thick and all. I tried it as is and had no results.


the dremel red compound melts. Just take ur hard felt pad and lightly touch it to the compound (while its spinning on very low setting). You will see the felt start to absorb the compound, then put it on the part your polishing. Its def for polishing small parts as its very difficult to pick up alot of compound at once.

I use the lowest speed available on my dremel. Then use moderate pressure on the part your polishing.

Also the key for easy polishing is that you have a 1000grit smooth surface to start polishing. Once you go from 1000grit to polishing wheel it only takes minutes to achieve that mirror finish.

[81911SC]

Awesome info. Thanks, I'll check it tonight.

[Danny]

no problem. The key is not TOO many RPM or too much pressure when sticking the dremel down into the compound. Worst case scenario u sling chunks of compound everywhere lol. and i do that anyways. ha

whatcha polishin tonight, anything good? U can come over and help me polish the feed ramp on my 1911 :D

[81911SC]

no problem. The key is not TOO many RPM or too much pressure when sticking the dremel down into the compound. Worst case scenario u sling chunks of compound everywhere lol. and i do that anyways. ha

whatcha polishin tonight, anything good? U can come over and help me polish the feed ramp on my 1911 :DLol, I'm doing my buddies XD. I did my P250 barrel and it worked fine but his is taking forever. And I'd be learning from you. :doh:

[Danny]

i very little about 1911s and even less about XDs. But besure not to change the geometry of the feed ramp and throat. 1911s are very sensative to every 100th and 1000th of an inch on EVERY single part. I dont think XDs are that sensative, but just a heads up.

Oh, and never polish a fitted part after its been fitted :D

[81911SC]

I know a little more on XD's and less on 1911s. Lol. He's wanting it done for looks primarily so we may avoid the ramp just being cautious.

[Danny]

What all does he want polished?

Hit the ramp with some 1000grit with ur finger for a minute, this should remove the majority of the tooling marks. The idea is not to remove all the tooling marks, if they are really deep that is, but to smooth and polish them out so the nose of the bullet doesnt snag. Once u hit it with 1000grit hit it with the polishing wheel. The idea is to not change the geometry. In other words dont put pressure on the corners and edges with sandpaper, apply pressure to the flats only.

POST PICS:D

[Danny]

Hammer came in from Dave Erikson yesterday (nationally reconized 1911 smith, did the work for free for me).

Tongiht I:
- cut the primary angle on the sear
- cut the secondary angle on the sear
- polished both cuts
- polished hammer hooks
- radiused ever so slightly the end of the hammer hooks

I have yet to buy a trigger pull guage, need to get one tomorrow so i can tune the sear spring but it feels right at 5lbs or so trigger pull, RIGHT where i want it.

I snapped some pics if anyone is interested :D

Im stoked, the trigger job is looking to be a success... so far at least.

[81911SC]

You know we want pics. Lol

[green91]

Nice work. I LOVE my 1911, its one of my best shooting pistols. To bad .45acp is so expensive lol.

[Danny]

very expensive.. dammit. I am going to a course next month, requires 1000 rounds.. OUCH on the pocket book..


ok.. u twisted my arm. photos coming soon :D stay tuned lol

[81911SC]

Jesus, 1000 rounds :eek:

[green91]

Danny,
Where are you finding 1000 rounds at? Decent deal in bulk?

[Danny]

Danny,
Where are you finding 1000 rounds at? Decent deal in bulk?


havent found it yet. plan was to head to ga arms in the morning but they are closed tomorrow. So me and a buddy will probably play hooky from work one morning and run out there.

last i checked .45acp was 330$ for a 1000 rounds... up from 280$ a year ago.

yup... 1000 rounds in 2 days. cant wait.

[Danny]

Shown below:

- polished feed ramp
- sear/hammer engagment before being cut (no after being cut photo, YET :D)
- sear in the jig, being cut
- a few photos of the gun together (kinda). no beavertail is on it, that why it look weird and u can see into the back of the gun. great thing about 1911s is u can aseemble them just like that and they are fully functional and u can see the action, for problem solving and saftey checks.

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/ramp.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action1.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action2.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action3.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action4.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action5.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action6.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action7.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action8.jpg

[81911SC]

Man, that is going to and already look sweet.

[Danny]

its gettin there. gotta finsih it asap. this is the gun im doing that course with next month. so time is limited lol.

Its allready a completly different gun. All the dehorning makes it feel soooo much better in the hands, nice and smooth. The trigger, so far is great, little more tweaking and it should be a fantastic trigger, especially for my first time. i hope.lol

i may post up some grips i am considering, get some opinions maybe :D

[81911SC]

~Crossing fingers~

[Danny]

whats everyone like?

A http://www.vzgrips.com/Images/nop01.jpg

B http://www.vzgrips.com/Images/op02.jpg

C http://www.vzgrips.com/Images/ddb53.jpg

D http://www.vzgrips.com/Images/ddb52.jpg

E http://www.vzgrips.com/Images/opn03.jpg

[Danny]

~Crossing fingers~


for what lol

[81911SC]

I meant for the grips post. lol
What will be the final color of the finish and slide?

[Danny]

going to be parkerized black. all around. natural finsihes on trigger, hammer and barrel hood. so basically very similar to whats in the pics.

No crazy color schemes yet. I still what to checker the front strap, so when i get around to doing that ill have to re finsih again and may do a 2 tone: titanium gray frame and flat black slide. :D

[81911SC]

:cheers:
I really can't say on the grips, I like them all. :goodjob:
B. looks great but I love the wood too.

[Danny]

:cheers:
I really can't say on the grips, I like them all. :goodjob:
B. looks great but I love the wood too.


i like them all too. They are not wood. All of them are different composites and synthetics that are very abrasive and sweat/blood resistant. I like B alot, but i also like A and E too. Something about E i am really liking tonight... hmmmm

gotta fit the thumb safety now, but will try that next week... getting tired, dont wanna botch a 50$ thumb safety because i am a little tired lol. Going to call it quits tonight, leaving at 9am to head to the gun show. I need a trigger pull gage and ammo...

thanks for the input man, much appreciated.

[green91]

I like the style of the C grips.

[Frög]

I like wood grips on black 1911's, but all those look good..

Man, great work! Nothing like building your own handgun..

Keep us updated! :goodjob:

[Truegiant]

I recently got a shipment of ga arms 230gr ball for $290 plus shipping. I have a friend who owns a shop in cumming and he has been getting me the hook up and shipping it down. i have ordered almost 2000 rounds of 45 and 3000 rounds of .223 - I am still waiting for some parts to come in for this damn ar. its the worst problem i have ever had putting one together. anywho.. Keep us posted. i still havent even pulled my 1911 out since my last outing. haha

[Truegiant]

oh and i just saw the post about the grips. you will love the micarta grips. Dont buy anything to blingy though, ahah. I have two of the grips posted and i love em.

[Danny]

i am liking all of the grips. today i am leaning towards A and B.

wanna see something sexy? The first complete assembly, ready for safety and function checking (minus new slide stop).

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/pre-fin-func.jpg

[81911SC]

O man

[Danny]

O man


good or bad "o man" lol

[81911SC]

Good Golly miss Molly good.

[Danny]

good.

sitting here running through safety checks. she passed all the safety checks. :D

[81911SC]

Nice man. When you trying her out?

[Danny]

looking like this upcoming week somtime possibly. allthough its a busy school and work week so maybe early next week.

[81911SC]

Range reported needed for sure.

[Danny]

of course!

I finished fitting the sear tonight, along with the thumb safety. here is a shot into the back of the gun with all the hand fitted goodies that goes into a 1911.

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/action9.jpg

[SL65AMG]

very expensive.. dammit. I am going to a course next month, requires 1000 rounds.. OUCH on the pocket book..


ok.. u twisted my arm. photos coming soon :D stay tuned lol


front sight??

[Danny]

front sight??

Nope. They are in Arizona i believe. I am going to Ken Forbus' course, even though i hate the phrase "advance" course, i cant think of a better description. Its his two day "fighting handgun" course. Should be fun. I have heard front site being described as "selling snake oil"..lol.. how true, im not sure.

[VTECking]

Dude, slap some EO Tech night sights on it and it will be sex!!!

[Danny]

did some flushing up and contouring the magwell and main spring housing tonight. along with doing a mild high cut on the front strap. shes lookin a little better. Also tuned the sear spring for a 4.25lb trigger pull.

[Truegiant]

thats almost exactley what i have mine set to. Like i said you need to come down and we need to do some shooting.

[Danny]

Here are some pics.

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/well.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/front1.jpg

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/front2.jpg

[Danny]

New grips. Ready for round 2 of test shooting on friday night.

http://dannykay.net/photography/misc/1911/milspec-project/pre-fin-func2.jpg