Author Topic: Half done gun? (Read 1000 times)

dead_eye · « **on:** June 01, 2005, 07:38:43 PM »

A friend of mine told me since I do some machinist work, I should buy a HALF DONE GUN!?! He told me you can buy 1911 that way and finish doing the machine work to them.... Is this true?

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2005, 08:58:24 PM »

Heck yes it is!! You can buy bare bone frames and any parts you want to put one together. I see the frames offered in the Bill Wilson catalogue. You may want to check out their website. Dang, I wish I'd taken some metal working classes in years past, it'd be a hoot to have a go at it.

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2005, 03:52:24 AM »

dead_eye: Yes, you can purchase frames that have not been completed. I would assume however that purchasing a frame from a known and reputable firm like Wilson's would get you a ready to assemble frame that doesn't need machining to complete it. I would look real hard at an incomplete or unfisished frame from anyone and I would have to ask why they were selling it that way - is it a 2nd? Did something not cast out right? What kind of maching will this require. Is there a schematic with the necessary and correct information available to complete this?

I once purchased an aftermarket frame and parts to complete the upper and wound up with a pos. Probably my fault for doing something wrong and I finally got the thing to shoot right but it was a struggle. After that I purchased a Gold Cup and promptly forgot about ever trying to put one together myself. HTH. Mikey.

dead_eye · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2005, 12:49:57 PM »

Thanks guys!
I went to Wilson site and to me, these look like part that are in the raw that have the machining done. All you have to do is put you favorite finish on the gun and put together. Maybe a little stoning to get everything running smooth. Or is there more that I have not found??? The way my friend talked is you would get the rough casting with no machining.
The other thing he said and you can tell me if this is correct or not is you cannot sell the gun afterward if you get tired of it. The best way I can describe it is you too a bunch of iron made a gun you can not sell it because a company did not make it. Is this correct!?!

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2005, 04:33:33 PM »

It depends on what you do with the other half. Most of the ones I've seen have been examples of bad gunsmithing. Be careful, it may be an expensive bargain.

Mikey · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2005, 02:11:03 AM »

dead_eye: regarding the sale of the gun if you ever tire of it - you have to purchase the serial numbered frame from the maker. The serial number will be registered to you. Once you have completed the pistol you may sell it the same way you would sell any other used pistol. As I understand it, firms cannot manufacture a main frame for a gun (pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun, without numbering it. HTH. Mikey.

RKBAHolsters · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2005, 04:21:58 AM »

What he is talking about is what they call a 80% frame.

80% or less of the machining/work is done, you drill most of the holes and do some other work.

There is NO serial number, and you can not sell it ever.

I don't know if it worth the hassle, but some people don't like to have guns that are "registered".

Steve

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2005, 08:40:26 AM »

My guess is that one cannot buy a frame sans sn here in the PRC. It'd be interesting to know for sure.

EdSmith · « **Reply #8 on:** June 05, 2005, 07:27:04 PM »

you can get 80% frames from at least 4 differant places,all the holes are drilled except the ejector pin hole,and some have that,all you have to do is cut the slide rails,if you dont have a mill,you can do it with a dremel tool and a dremel router table.you will need a thin file to smooth it out, the good thing about doing it your self is you can get a good fit between the slide and frame. go to www.homegunsmith.com you will get all the info. on building one there.go to the forums main site and it shows you how to do it with a mill.also go to www.footpounds.com then click how to build a 1911 gunco.the 80% frames are good frames. :toast: ed smith

EdSmith · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2005, 07:05:51 PM »

i bought two frames from arsenal line,they are very good,the only trouble i had with them,and not really trouble is the mag.catch hole on the left is about .002 undersized.they even have the hole for the ejector pin.every part dropped in except the mag.catch,a needle file took care of that.i received the frames in about 10 days,they answer e-mails in 24 hours,good customer support.also arsenal line is $192 includes shipping. I ordered and paid for a frame from kisti K.T aboue 4 months ago,he keeps saying in about 2 weeks,hes been saying that for awhile now,i dont have any idea when i will get it.i ordered it before i found out about arsenal line,they will be the only ones i order from now on.the K.T frame cost me $220,his frames are $200 with acc. rail and finger cup.it cost me an extra $20 to have the acc. rail removed,in my own pinion it is a butt ugly rail. :grin: i built them with the dreaded sarco parts build kits,the only problem i had with the sarco parts is the extractors.they needed releveing and the tension adjusted,the barrel link pin hole reamed,i used a drill bit,worked fine every thing else was drop in.i got the kits when they came with the comerical slde,now they come with a new g.i type slide

ed smith

RedRyder21 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2005, 08:47:29 AM »

Quote from: EdSmith

i got the kits when they came with the comerical slde,now they come with a new g.i type slide ed smith

Whats the diffrences between the slides?