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Just wanted to show everyone the recently completed project. I had a kimber .22 top end laying around and wanted to have a nice receiver for it. This will be a target gun and possibly to be used at steel challenge matches. I decided to go with match quality parts for the build, based on my smith's recommendations. At some point I will have him build a new 5" gov't top in in .45acp caliber to go along with this piece, to be used at IDPA matches. Jeb Burnett of "The Armoury" in Little Rock, AR did a fantastic job fitting everything together. The frame/slide fit is very tight, yet still smooth. Trigger is a very crisp 3 lbs. This thing shoots like a dream!

The parts:
-Essex select frame
-Ed Brown mainspring housing
-Wilson ultralight trigger
-C&S ultramatch sear and disconnector
-C&S ultralight hammer
-Infinity Tri-Glide sear spring
-STI titanium hammer strut
-EGW titanium mainspring cap
-Wolff 17lb hammer spring
-Wilson pin set
-Ed brown beavertail
-Wilson narrow thumb safety
-Wilson bulletproof ejector and slide stop
-Wilson mag release, mag catch lock, and mag catch spring
-The grips are flame birch half & half by Hakan Pek of Norway.

The pics:

very cool, a .22 top end is on my list of must haves...your pistol looks great-cam

Nice set up, I am not a huge fan of Essex frames but this came out well. I am about to start very much the same thing, except I will be using my Marvel conversion kit and I will be getting it threaded. In Fact, I think I will call Mark Graff right now to get the ball rolling.

Thanks guys.

Dbltap, my smith actually told me he will never use another essex frame. This one had all sorts of problems he had to sort out. He said there was casting flash everywhere and most of the pin holes were off. Took him a few extra hours of work, but it's all perfect now Good luck on your build! I'd love to do a threaded barrel for this one as well, so please be sure to post some pics.

Trust me, I love posting pictures of Marks work. Threading my upcoming build I think will just be a fun. My wife loves the 1911 platform, but she has issues with anticipating the shot. So a 1911 in 22 with a suppressor should do the trick. If you are in a class III state you should do the same, they can do an internal thread with adapter. 22LR suppressed is a blast to shoot.

I am glad you smith could work out the issues with that frame, I know a few smiths that wouldnt have even tried. That normaly says something about a smith when they are willing to go that extra mile to make a customer happy. I have heard a couple smiths in the past so no, you need a different frame, I wont touch those. I have never personaly owned any Essex products. Some people cant afford Caspian though, or buy a used gun or frame and still be in there margin for the build. I am not made of money, nor is anyone else. For a 22 build, if you can get into an ok frame for it, thats normally an ok way to go. I might have a different fame built up for the 45acp slide though. I am not sure how well it will hold up to a lot of rounds of full loads, but I am not expert. Again, nice set up and I am glad it all worked out well in the end and you are happy. Thats the main thing right.

Elliott Brass