ltwguns.com

I just finished a little project "on my own time" for a special client. This started out as a new Springfield PX9152LP. It was not a full-house job. All original components except the MSH were used, although I did some general dehorning, and swooping of the safeties. I used the original barrel. Springfield makes some barrels (stainless) that are as good as any aftermarket barrels; their run of the mill barrels are probably "90% adequate". This one was stainless and was somewhere in between in terms of fitting and grouping-- not bad at all but not bank-vault-tight, an OK grouper but not breathtaking. I threw in a Kart bushing I had around just because it fit the slide tigther without me having to put a bunch of time into it, and was tighter on the barrel, but did not require fitting there either.

The main goal was to take it "as was" and improve it without making a multi-week, make-everything-perfect job out of it. Trigger work and other action tuning, dehorning, tuning and checking things like extractor tension, chamber, barrel fit, throating..... the usual stuff, plus a little ergonomic improvement in the form of thin grips (VZ FRAGs) and a frontstrap/MSH treatment.

Overall view showing the FRAG'd frontstrap. The gun's original contrasting two tone scheme of black rounds and polished bare stainless flats is carried over: I have applied Brownells Baking Laquer after the FRAG job, baked it, and then polished the paint from the tops of each individual FRAG.


Same thing on the MSH:


And, showing the slightly rounded bottom of the MSH. This is an aluminum one from VZ Grips (yes, they make MSH's too!). I reduced it slightly and FRAG'd it. This replaces the steel MSH that had 20 LPI checkering and a magwell bolted to it. All well and good, but I wanted to reduce size, weight, girth, and "signature" a little. The magwell got opened up to compensate for the deletion of the bolt-on, which was OK in some ways and not so much in others.

Nothing wrong with that gun at all...nice work

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https://www.graffcustom.com/

Nice looking pistol with well thought out mods. Wish I was a client that could get little "my time" in the order of Fragging the front strap and MSH of my Combat Elite...

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And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

+1 It would be nice if Ned started a list just for a run of frag jobs.

Trying to work something out along those lines, stay tuned.

That would be great Ned, keep us informed.

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And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Please add me to the list .....

Ned, That would look nice on a custom Officers colt !

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GO-FOR-IT

That would be pure awesome!

I also changed out the FLGR (full length guide rod) for a standard GI-style one-- to get a little more weight out of the gun and to make takedown easier. The factory grip safety was decently fitted, although I modified it just a tad so that it does not require 100% depression to allow firing. It is Springfield's MIM part, which if there was a part for which MIM is not an issue, it's probably the grip safety. In fact, these are cored out inside so these grip safeties are probably in the 'hood of 1/4 to 1/3 lighter. Downside, you can't do an extreme high-grip with them because you will run into air if you go too high.

I was able to get a nice 4.5 pound trigger pull using the factory hammer and sear. The factory safety was fitted and detented perfectly but had a lot of sharp edges on it.... they came off with some swooping of the contours and a little additional traction treatment on the undersides and outsides.

One of the main reasons I enjoy my little retail operation is as some of these works pass through I can see the fine detail put in each and every gun. How much of the builder is in each gun as well as each gun tends to have a bit of "character" for lack of better words. I cannot keep them all but I sure can possess for a very short time until on to the next owner. I have three keepers as of now from these craftsmen and "hopefully" on Ned's short list in the near term for one of his works.

Thanks again for showing us this piece. The contrast is great and it is one fine piece of work.

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Be safe and keep the brass flying

Terry Peters

Do your research but you get what you pay for front end or back end
http://www.pt-partners.com
@ptpartners_tx

Breathaking work my friend, but what's to be expected. God Bless and keep up the good work. Just saying THANKS, and i do belive you know what for. Im blessed to have such kind people in my life, thanks again.

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Kandros Customs Gunworks
www.kandroscustoms.com