Changing the guts on the Dominator, and my general tendency towards the 1911, means building my own is on the list.

I need to do the DOE SBR first, but I'll definitely be building a 1911. Now that I have the wood furniture AR underway, as in the upper is paid and will arrive in the next 8 weeks.

These days, there is a healthy supply of high quality parts, the fitting necessary could be really accessible.

I imagine I'll start with a matched Caspian frame and slide, as such the real hard stuff is mostly done.

Like many of my projects, I'll stew on it for quite a while, and get to it eventually.

I'll probably be boring and go .45. Maybe. Not 10mm, someone who knows what they're doing is entrusted with that. .38 Super? Not really sure I want to add a caliber. 9mm? Hmmmmmm. Probably .45.

The Cylinder & Slide guts that I put in the Dominator produced a very nice trigger, would buy again.

Sounds like a really cool project. Please show pictures of your progress. It'll be cool to follow. Some day I'd like to give it a try, but I'm not that well versed on the 1911. I heard Larry Vickers has a course on building 1911's. It's a multiple day course, and at the end you keep the gun you built. I think that's more my speed, than going at it on my own. Anyway good luck with your new project.

It'll be a bit, like I said I should really do the DOE SBR next.

The nice thing about such a project, is that you can buy the bits and bobs a little at a time.

I know a thing or two about metalworking, and I also know my limitations in such. When I do get to it, you'll surely see pics.

I have been down the same road. Be prepared to sacrifice some parts. TIP NUMBER ONE - Always file/grind on the cheaper part in case you go too far! It is fun as hell! The feeling you get when you put something together and it shoots really well (as most 1911s do) is fantastic. Hand fitting a barrel with just a file and getting it perfect is a great learning process. I agree on the C&S internals ... top notch! Have fun with it ... I have a 40 cal I need to finish when the weather turns ... maybe ...

I would go for the Harrison ignition set.
Absolutely superb machining and fit.

https://shop.harrisoncustom.com/ignition-sets-parts

I too have toyed with the idea of doing this...but it has always seemed just a bit overwhelming. I'll be interested to follow your project once you get started on it.

Pick up the Kuenhausen? shop manual and read up on it first.

You may save yourself a bunch of headaches.

Good luck,
Bob

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
It'll be a bit, like I said I should really do the DOE SBR next.

Sorry for getting slightly off topic.

Is it possible to post more on this project? I've always thought that the DOE 9mm SMG's were cool.
What did you use for parts and where did you get them?

quote:

The nice thing about such a project, is that you can buy the bits and bobs a little at a time.

Got to be careful about that, especially in the lockwork. Everything interacts; hammer, sear, disconnector, thumb safety, trigger, grip safety. Even the mainspring housing has a fit effect.

quote:

Originally posted by rbert0005:
Pick up the Kuenhausen? shop manual and read up on it first.

You may save yourself a bunch of headaches.

Good luck,
Bob

I was going to post this last evening but Arc may have the book allready. One thing about the manual, his extreme surface polishing only applies to old school stock parts. Really not done on todays high quality internals. Jerry just shows how God would polish parts...

quote:

Originally posted by xl_target:

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
It'll be a bit, like I said I should really do the DOE SBR next.

Sorry for getting slightly off topic.

Is it possible to post more on this project? I've always thought that the DOE 9mm SMG's were cool.
What did you use for parts and where did you get them?

Actually, I have a line on an original DOE upper. The lower is nothing special, as I won't be doing select fire. The lowers of the original guns were unremarkable, some Colt pinned, and some were Hahn conversions.

DOE clone uppers can be found, or you can get repros of the handguard and front sight, but I managed to find the real deal. I can't take possession until I have SBR'ed lower in hand.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:

quote:

The nice thing about such a project, is that you can buy the bits and bobs a little at a time.

Got to be careful about that, especially in the lockwork. Everything interacts; hammer, sear, disconnector, thumb safety, trigger, grip safety. Even the mainspring housing has a fit effect.

Yes, certain things will be bought en masse, like Cylinder & Slide guts, and I have some preview from my Dominator overhaul.

Hand fitting is part and parcel, but with the right parts, it can be minimized.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:

quote:

Originally posted by rbert0005:
Pick up the Kuenhausen? shop manual and read up on it first.

You may save yourself a bunch of headaches.

Good luck,
Bob

I was going to post this last evening but Arc may have the book allready. One thing about the manual, his extreme surface polishing only applies to old school stock parts. Really not done on todays high quality internals. Jerry just shows how God would polish parts...

I have the shop manuals for a variety of things, but not the 1911, yet. Kuenhausens in particular on the M14 and Garand.

It's going to be a treat when I get to it.

I'm tempted to go Les Baer Monolith frame and slide.

you might also consider the JEM frames and slides. They're terrific and very nice people to work with.

I've read great things about the KC Crawford Roll triggers,

may or may not work in your application

quote:

Originally posted by m.tenenhaus:
you might also consider the JEM frames and slides. They're terrific and very nice people to work with.

I'll check it out, so far with my limited internet skilles, Caspian and Les Baer were it for matched frame and slide. I'm ruling out doublestack guns, because MA, and I don't need that.

The more I think about the Monolith, I may have to go there. I love the look, and it's kinda P210ish in spirit.

I have the ability to fit parts and make a gun work. What I lack are the skills to properly finish or polish the gun. That’s black magic to me. I don’t mean spray finishes.

I really need to jump on the Caspian build I've been kicking around for years now. I built on a frame last year I think it was and heres what I came out with from that.

Kuhnhausens manual is a very good building aid and an interesting read if you like the technical stuff.

You might want to try building on a cheaper scale if you arent sure if your skills are up to building on your dream kit. I built on a ARMSCOR frame I traded an old sight for and got a Sarco kit for about $250 or so. I used a Remington R1 threaded barrel I picked up for about $49 on sale. Alot of the parts fit right away without any fitting. The grip safety and slide stop needed fitting which was easily accomplished with some files. The magazine catch needed some more aggressive fitting as either the catch was too big or the hole for it was too small. I didnt check the part in a different gun, just sanded until it fit. After about a day or two of off and on fiddling with it, it was built and it shot great when I took it to the range. I was very proud and it actually encouraged me to move on to a more expensive build when I get the cash and final push to do it.

Lastly finishing wise it all depends on what you want to do. I've done rust bluing with some Brownells bluing solution and had good results after some test runs. I've also done some duracoat and though its not the finish I'd want on something like a 1911, it went on relatively easy and is quite durable even in sliding areas. As above, I'd recommend doing a test piece for either and then seeing how you feel about it. The prep is the big deal for all finishing I've found.

I've been strongly considering a NP3 finish on my Caspian build when I eventually do it so I guess that would void all of the finishing advice from above.

At one time or another I've swapped out everything save a gunsmith fit barrel. With the advent of You Tube it's easier than you think. It's just not that hard as long as you take it slow.