ltwguns.com

Here is a link to a page that I did about this.
http://home.earthlink.net/~jessmx5/GICh ... d%20GI.htm

I also have a couple of pics. There is still some detail cleanup that I want to do. I just cold blued the area for the pics, excuse the discoloration. Just thought I would show what an amatuer can do with a bit of inspiration from the masters. Still also needs a bead blast and re-park.
Basics on the pistol are
One piece SA stainless barrel hand fit
EGW angle bore bushing, over size hand fit
STI sear, EMC GI hammer
S&A looped magwell
SA three hole trigger, to be replaced with a blue solid long trigger
Ed Brown firing pin and stop
Wolff 18.5# recoil spring and 18# hammer spring
Yo-Bo rear retro sight, Kings #104 front hardball sight
GI slide stop
Wilson strut and MSH internals
Breechface, feedramp, disconnector rail, disconnector, 3 leaf spring, strut, MSH bore, MSH parts, trigger rails and cuts all polished and fluffed.
Chamber throat and edges "broken"
Has about a 4 # trigger pull, crisp and clean.

Still thinking about adding a full length or Gunsite thumb safety. I shoot thumbs high and the small safety does not lend itself to that. Anyway, here it is for what it is worth.

i saw your post on another site and checked out the link. you say that its your second checkering job. it looks great. im ready to send you a frame.

Very nice checkering job Deezul!!

good job...

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Seventhsword

Deez, have seen some of your other stuff on the 1911forum. Admire your determination, and appreicate your willingness to photograph, document and share.

Hats off to you, amigo, and best New Year's wishes!

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NRA Endowment Member

It looks really good to me. Of course I know zero about checkering, but from what I can see, good job. What I like even more is the fact that you are willing to try, and then you are willing to post your work for all to see and make comments on. That will only help you become even better. Heck, one of my guns needs checkering and from the look of it, I'd let you do it (of course it is about the most ugly, beat up Kimber Custom you have ever seen).

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Hard work pays off

Thanks! A chance to turn and ugly duckling unto something prettier to look at? What more could a guy ask for.

Deez.

Good job, Deez. Keep them files workin'!!!

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damian@adcofirearms.com
http://www.adcofirearms.com

Looks good to me man, and hats off to ya for having the guts to try it!

Deezul, Checkering is about the least favorite thing I've ever done, and the first one I ever did seemed to take about 3 months, tho' it was probably several days. Good job.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

A LONG time ago I tried checkering the frame on a Series 1 Kimber. I totally ruined it. The only way I could come up with to salvage it was to send it down to Clark's for their 'Meltdown' treatment. Now, I firmly believe that the 'ol meltdown totally destroys the lines of the 1911 and ruins an otherwise fine weapon. Unfortunately, I didn't have any other options (that were financially possible).

When it came back, I promptly sold it and recovered all of my investment. WHEW! Never again. I leave that kind of thing to the professionals gathered here.

I congratulate you! A fine job on what was for me was an insurmountable task!

I am truly humbled. Thank you very much for the kind words. Here is another pic of a SA Mil-Spec that I built for my son.





Checkering close up was before fitting the ambi safety and satin media blast.

Deez.

I have a chance to trade checkering for some work that I would like to have done on this pistol. Since I am temporaily (hopefully) unable to work full time right now, I have some extra time to fill and have had some inquiries about doing some checkering for some people. Not that it matters, but this is just trading some parts and perhaps some checkering for refinishing this pistol. The question I have is FFL issues. I had checked with my FFL at one time and the ATF locally and they indicated that as long as the frames were sent to an FFL, worked on by me, then shipped back to the owner via FFL that there would not be an issue. Someone else that is a smith doing business on a regular basis has indicated that this may not be the case. I know that you all should know, and I will be checking again with the ATF today, but was wondering what you may know about this. I am working on getting an FFL sometime in the near future along with a C&R, but it may be sometime given the current circumstances. What is your take on this? I think that I know the answer, and that is to err on the side of safety, but just curious.

Deez.

Never mind on my last post. I am in the process of getting my FFL as of today.

Deez.

Well, appears that I am diving into the fray. I applied for my FFL and bought (friend bought it for me) a small mill. I am also looking at getting a small lathe. If anyone has recommendations about what stuff to get to start with to get going, I would appreciate any and all tips. Especially end mills, cutters, collets, edge cutters, bevel bits, rotary tables and so on. The story is that I have hurt my knees and back and may be out of the corporate arena for now or forever. I am going to use this opportunity to persue my love of the 1911 and learn some mechanics and gunsmithing. I really have to do this on a budget as I am on short term and what could be permanent disability right now. With my knees, I am in a wheel chair right now so I need to have something to fill my time. Chris (Blindhogg) as been great and I have also been spending time on Chris Roderus' website as well as here. I am going to start working on some 3/4 round steel bar to "learn" scaling and golfballing and so on. I used to be a mold maker and lost wax bronze casting artisan, so I guess that I am still in touch with my artistic side after being polluted in the corporate arena. I have sold one or two firearms (wah!) to fund this project, so I need to do it as inexpensively as possible. I did get a "mini" mill and the lathe may be next month. Also looking at getting a better checkering setup as well.
I have the beavertail, carry bevel, trigger work, barrel fitting, rail peening and tightening, and other stuff pretty down. Mostly all of the stuff that could be done by hand without the power tools.
Also have a blast cabinet for media blasting and a stainless heating tank for parkerizing and blueing to start with. Guess I may have to think about getting a air gun for spray and bake finishes.
Wish me luck all, and if you have any "left overs", suggestions, tips or whatever to help me get inspired and rolling, I would appreciate it. Also your prayers if you are so inclined.

Jess

Thats awesome that you are going forward with your gunsmithing. You should post your progress and let us know how things go.

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Hard work pays off

Sorry guys, I had to take the web site down. Bandwidth problems. I do have all of the information saved to a word doc if you would like me to email it to you. Also, John Caradimas has put the information over on m1911.org under the tech section. Not all of the pics are showing there, but I am sure that he will get that fixed soon. Thanks for all of the kind words and I will be posting more as I go. I just recieved a buch of my mill bits, I have the parkerizing chemicals and tank and heater all setup. Got the air brush and compressor yesterday. I have worked over the frame of the GI to remove all of the tool marks from the checkering and have de-horned it and blended the extractor. I may post some pics of it in the white after blasting if you are interested. Or I may hold off until I get some of the other work done. So far I am planning on lowering and flaring the ejector port, slide borders, and flat topping and serrations. I will also be doing a Novak front site cut and then figuring out what sight to use.

Deez.