1911 longslide 7inch

[James Felix]

So any resources on making one of these, with no experience? With a lower kit and stuff?

Poor so I would have to work on it, one peace at a time.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

First you must understand that 1911s are not plug and play like ARs. Nearly every part needs to be filed, sanded, machined, or massaged in some way in order to fit and function correctly. There is a common saying in the 1911 community, "There's no such thing as a drop-in part".

Without experience your chances of successfully building a 1911 from the ground up are slim to none. However, If you enlist the aid of a real 1911 'smith to do the slide-to-frame and the barrel fitting, you should be able to fit all the remaining small parts using hand tools and end up with a safe, accurate pistol.

To get a taste for what's involved take a look at this link on fitting an internal extractor.

 

[James Felix]

Sorta was expecting to do a lot of work, so you can get a smith to work on fitting a slide and barrel to the frame, even if was homemade? Was wondering about those, I did not mind the idea of worrying myself through a few lowers, I sorta like the idea of getting the best fit I could.
Always like working with my hand, have some shop experience and used to love making model cars. Be fun to try at the very least.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

. . . so you can get a smith to work on fitting a slide and barrel to the frame, even if was homemade?

Not exactly sure what you mean by "home made". Surely you didn't forge the frame and slide yourself.

 

[James Felix]

I mean tin regards to the gun, well the frame of the gun, cents that all that is a firearm aperintly.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

Who manufactured the frame?

 

[CapnMac]

There are some "parts kits" for 1911.
Most reasonably decent.

But, they will all require at least some fitting. Which will require some careful filing of working parts, which can be complicated, like the swinging link--it must remain concentric--some minor, like the side-to-side fit of the grip safety.

Now, just from my memory, I've never seen a parts kit in a long slide version. Not entirely sure I've ever seen a 7 inch. (IIRC, AMT's stainless Longslide was 6").

To get a 7 inch barrel, you either need to graft on about 2" of slide, or just let 2" of the barrel poke out the barrel bushing. That latter is probably the one with the least needs for both welding and machining. However, I'm not sure that there are 7 inch barrels to "drop in" (e.g. buy, then file until fit). Cor-Bon might have some, though.

I built a Caspian once, but only the once. Sold it for what I had in it, too. Would I do it again? Probably not, even if the Sarco and Patriot kits look ok, I can buy ready-to shoot for a lot less effort. And, unlike an 80% Glock, a n 80% 1911 is a ton of work.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Fusion makes and sells a 7" long slide gun and kit.
Building a 1911 requires some specialized tooling, IMO not a beginners type project, its a far cry from building model cars.

 

[herrwalther]

Building a 1911 is a labor of love. Mix in a little hate and frustration. I am mostly through an 80% 1911 build. Just have the frame coating left to finish. Most of the parts were "semi-fit" at the company. Semi fit, drop in part etc is the biggest lie when shopping for 1911 parts. Get yourself a really good set of needle files and plenty of sandpaper between 220 and 1200 grit.

 

[Riomouse911]

A 7” longdlide? That’s approaching Terminator Country!

If you do embark on that quest keep us updated with lots of pics and descriptions of what went well and what didn’t, the idea of building a 1911 intrigues me, too.

Stay safe.