Magnumite
Ultimate Member
Long story short. Bought a new Baer frame and slide accompanied by a Kart EZ Fit barrel on Gunbroker. Frame and barrel obviously misfitted. Slide was okay. Negative feedback left. My opportunity to build a good leg ball gun would have to wait. Anyway, I have this frame and barrel...how do I salvage it for a decently accurate pistol without it becoming a money trap?
After lots of measurements, parts matching, invading the parts boxes, and considering a theme...the stars aligned. All my centerfire 1911’s have beavertails save an inherited 1918 warhorse. And my 22...but not much recoil so it doesn’t count.
I had a new R1 Bicentennial slide and an early blued wide short hammer someone had filed on previous to me obtaining it. Upon discovering I could get a decent slide to frame fit I then checked the barrel fit. There was enough metal left to get a good fit, though in the full gunsmith fit barrel manner. Game on!
My new project would be a hobbyist’s rendition of both old and new configurations. Hey, the slide indicates “1911-2011”. Plain, fundamental, only what is needed and utilitarian...but can kickin’ zee butt. The grip safety is a Springer A2 type modified similar to the original spur design to give a high hold. Replacement GI type thumb safety because it works with thumb over safety hold. The short hammer so the web of my hand doesn’t get mauled. New old stock armorer’s GI sear and disconnector. R1 takeoff trigger short for good finger pad placement. A checkered Springer ILS mainspring housing, Baer slide stop, R1 mag catch and Caspian ejector.
The slide came with a fitted to slide R1 match bushing. An R1 extractor was tuned and fitted with a Caspian slide stop. GI firing pin has ignition duty. I decided to keep the R1 sights to keep with the minimal theme. Both sights needed to be shimmed for a really snug fit regardless of the fact there is a set screw in each sight. The front has space under front and rear of the blade per Remington manufacture.
So there you have it. A couple weeks ago I function fired it and made small adjustments in form and fit. Touched up lower barrel lugs, radiused the rear of the grip safety and frame extensions, slightly shortened the and radiused the hammer spur, blended the bottom rear of the pistol’s butt.
This was the first firing after the function check. Pictured is a two inch group shot hand held at 25 yards at an indoor range. Ammo used was Federal bulk 890 fps ball. The pistol shot like this through over 100 rounds.
In the pics you will see areas which need some attention. The thumb safety scallop, magwell and bottom of housing, grip safety need finish blending. I need to straighten out the lower rear of the trigger guard, blend the rear of slide and frame.
After lots of measurements, parts matching, invading the parts boxes, and considering a theme...the stars aligned. All my centerfire 1911’s have beavertails save an inherited 1918 warhorse. And my 22...but not much recoil so it doesn’t count.
I had a new R1 Bicentennial slide and an early blued wide short hammer someone had filed on previous to me obtaining it. Upon discovering I could get a decent slide to frame fit I then checked the barrel fit. There was enough metal left to get a good fit, though in the full gunsmith fit barrel manner. Game on!
My new project would be a hobbyist’s rendition of both old and new configurations. Hey, the slide indicates “1911-2011”. Plain, fundamental, only what is needed and utilitarian...but can kickin’ zee butt. The grip safety is a Springer A2 type modified similar to the original spur design to give a high hold. Replacement GI type thumb safety because it works with thumb over safety hold. The short hammer so the web of my hand doesn’t get mauled. New old stock armorer’s GI sear and disconnector. R1 takeoff trigger short for good finger pad placement. A checkered Springer ILS mainspring housing, Baer slide stop, R1 mag catch and Caspian ejector.
The slide came with a fitted to slide R1 match bushing. An R1 extractor was tuned and fitted with a Caspian slide stop. GI firing pin has ignition duty. I decided to keep the R1 sights to keep with the minimal theme. Both sights needed to be shimmed for a really snug fit regardless of the fact there is a set screw in each sight. The front has space under front and rear of the blade per Remington manufacture.
So there you have it. A couple weeks ago I function fired it and made small adjustments in form and fit. Touched up lower barrel lugs, radiused the rear of the grip safety and frame extensions, slightly shortened the and radiused the hammer spur, blended the bottom rear of the pistol’s butt.
This was the first firing after the function check. Pictured is a two inch group shot hand held at 25 yards at an indoor range. Ammo used was Federal bulk 890 fps ball. The pistol shot like this through over 100 rounds.
In the pics you will see areas which need some attention. The thumb safety scallop, magwell and bottom of housing, grip safety need finish blending. I need to straighten out the lower rear of the trigger guard, blend the rear of slide and frame.
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