Gunsmithing Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

[myerfire]

I'm contemplating building a 1911 from a partially finished frame. I know it would be cheaper to simply buy one at my local gun shop, but I like building things. I'm not looking for something super accurate, just something to keep for home protection and plinking once in a while. I'm wondering if someone else has done this, would you do it again and how difficult was the project. Thanks for any info.
myerfire

 

[6.81star]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

Good luck that's a big project I looked into it your gonna some special tools and really would be nice to have indexer on a mill plus you are gonna have to build some jigs and fixtures. There is gonna be a ton of time in it. Try cncguns.com you can buy a hell of a 1911 for the amount of money it'll take to get one finished.

 

[myerfire]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

86.1star, Thanks for your reply. You mentioned an "indexer", are you refering to a dial index? The jigs are also available. I wouldn't try this without the jigs. I know that I could buy a new 1911 for about half of what it will cost to build one, but anybody can buy one. I would have much more satisfaction in saying that "I built this", even if it is not as accurate as a store bought.
myerfire

 

[tlfw]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

I don't if this fits your bag of tea...but Bill Zollo puts on a 1911 online pistol class. You get to build your own, with his online instructing. It is one of those things on my bucket list...

Contact:

Bill Zollo
Patriot Customs
2211 Pinefield Ct.
Augusta, GA 30906

www.patriotcustoms.com
706-495-8617

 

[myerfire]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

That sounds great!!! Thanks for the link.
myerfire

 

[Top Cat]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

If you are a really good machinist and have a decent mill, go for it, but it will cost a lot more than %100 of your machine time...probably 10x that... otherwise just go with a caspian frame and slide...they are a good basis for a custom 1911 and there is still a lot of work left to do.

TC

 

[myerfire]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

Well, I'm not a machinist, but I've worked with steel most of my life. I talked my dad into letting me buy a lathe at 12 years old. I feel relatively confident I could complete the project, it's just that it would be so much easier and cheaper to just go and buy a Springfield 1911. I am leaning toward the build. Thanks for your responses.
myerfire

 

[Decoy]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

Barrel fitting is an important part of the build. I have a pdf that goes with each one of our barrels for fitting, chambering etc that can be downloaded for free.

https://www.schuemann.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6VD2a8Ya4Hg=&tabid=67&mid=444

This should help once you get that far.

Mike

 

[SPRINKLE]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

Its not hard to do. You can start with a Springfield GI and do it one piece at a time and still shoot it as you go with little down time. Or you can go to Caspian and go to their sales I think its foster arms it will give you a link. from there you can get contract over runs or ones that are scratched. they will fit the slide to the receiver for like 75 bucks its a good deal let them do it and then put it together from there there are a few things you may need someone else to do but not many. PM me if you want the details on either step

 

[RADcustom]

Re: Building a 1911 From 60% Forged Casting

It is more than just finishing the cuts. There is a reason the frames didn't get finished at the factory. The ones I have worked on were out of spec in some area. I can't remember exactly what it was, seems like the frame was short or something.

Just something to consider.