KYGunner wrote:

Hey, I started this thread SKB and I am a nongunsmith. I do feel like a fairly competent nongunsmith. I fully intend to refinish (parkerize) the whole project after I get the parts. Parkerizing is a fairly straightforwad and easy process that will greatly affect the looks.

Ok so what all can a nongunsmith do and not get into trouble. Is a re-barrel/bushing job more than a guy should get into.
Basically I have had this gun stripped down to small pieces and understand function and fit. I just want to dress it up a bit and get it to shoot better than "minute of a gymnasium".

skb2706

My advise is to stick with the dress up stuff : grips, sights, back straps, mag well,maybe a new finish, that sort of thing.


The internal parts changing should be left up to a QUALIFIED 1911 GUNSMITH.

I have two 1911's KY.
Taurus PT 1911, and a Kimber Custom Target II

I got beautiful grips for both pistols from Midway.
For the PT 1911 I purchased some Chip McCormick Checkered Rosewood grips that are just beautiful for $35.00.

The Kimber Grips were from $55.00, which was $20.00 cheaper than anybody else.

Brownell's last year came out with a catolog just for 1911's.
I have one, and it has everything that you would need in it.
Just go to their web page and order it. It is free.

Eagle Grips is a great place to order from also. Just Google Eagle Grips up and take a look what they have.

Most all grips that you will buy will fit your 1911 with no problem.

For parts, I would highly recommend Brownell's.
They are the "industry standard" as far as I'm concerned.

Eric

roklok- Where did you buy the grips for that colt?

ok chambered221 probably has a good point. I have replaced the barrel in a 1911 and am not a gunsmith. Wilson Combat has some drop in barrels and they are an easy project.

KYGunner, that is not my 1911. I will try to post a picture of my Kimber with the V grip, but have trouble resizing the pictures to fit on here. However the grips on the Colt I pictured are Crimson Trace Lasergrips.

Anyone, amateur or professional, that works on 1911s should have a copy of Jerry Kuhnhausen's book The Colt .45 Automatic - A Shop Manual. Not only is it interesting reading, it shows you step-by-step how to proceed with anything you might want to attempt. Copies can be ordered through Brownells, Midway and several other sources.

KYGunner wrote:

The grip screw pattern should be the same. I don't want to insult you...What are they worth to you? Those are nicely done by the way. Good work.

A fair offer as to what they are worth to you would be no insult.

Simply PM me an offer........

A few weeks ago I picked up what they call a Pistola Sistema Colt. It's an foreign contract Colt 1911A1 that was made in Argentina in mid 1960 under an agreement with Colt using all the Colt blueprints and specs and even Colt advisors. It had been arsenal refinished with a quick parkerizing job but had all matching numbers on all original parts. I don't know if these guns would ever have had any collector value, but that refinishing killed any it might have had. Well I stripped it down to the bare frame and following some aluminum oxide blasting, refinishing and parts gathering I put it all back together last night with all Wilson or Ed Brown parts and a Brownell's Gun Kote baked on finish in dark earth on the frame and slide. I had to do a mess of hand fitting and put it together take it apart again trials, but I really came away with a much better understanding of the internal works of a 1911. All and all a fun winter project. Now I'm tempted to do a Commander sized 1911 from the frame up in S.S.
Well here's a photo, I'm not the greatest photographer, but I did my best.
Don

My Kimber 1911

That's a sweet little pistol you got Elky. I'm a little jealous of that one. That is exactly what I would like to afford one day. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Pictures of STI 1911 Trojan 9MM pistol

This is the gun I run in IDPA

I finally got it, it wasn't that hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!