Recommend a good book for hand fitting 1911?

[Sylvan-Forge]

Greetings,

Could you recommend a good book for building a 1911 with only hand tools?
No access to machine tools, save maybe a dremel tool.

Here's what I think I'm going to do:
Caspian gubmint basic 45 receiver with pre-fitted caspian slide.
Kart EZ fit barrel and EZ fit tool/instruction kit.
C&S parts, Wolff springs.

 

[3jaw]

The 2 books by Jerry Kuhnhausen immediately come to mind.

Dremel................ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:banghead: Smash it to bits with a large hammer. More 1911's (and other guns) have been ruined by over zealous tinkerers wielding a Dremel or similar rotary tool.

Good files,a good set of gunsmithing screwdrivers, and some precision measuring tools (dial calipers and micrometers) are in order for starters.

Have fun! It is addictive.

 

[Ditto_95]

I completely agree with 3jaw! best 2 books I ever purchased. I also bought Wilsons DVD gunsmithing video's and learned some things I would not have thought of. For 100 bucks, it really beats some potentially costly mistakes.
I have a Index mill and Clausing lathe and very rarely use them when working on 1911's. I find hand work to be much more accurate and much, much more satisfying. I don't think you can ever learn enough about any subject so gather all of the infomation you can.
P.S. Stones are more forgiving than files. I have both but use the files when I want to hurry up and remove alot of material.

 

[Jim K]

I am not opposed to a Dremel tool IF (and that is a big IF) the user practices and learns how to use one. They can be very useful for many tasks where a file or stone would take a long time to do the work. They can also "get away" and ruin expensive parts or destroy work already done. Like many other shortcuts, the trick is to know when, and when not, to use one.

The main drawback to Kuhnhausen's books is that he presumes the reader has a high level of expertise and owns many tools and gauges that even the average gunsmith does not have. Still, they are to me also the first books that come to mind. One advantage to his detailed approach is that it tends to give pause to folks who think building a gun involves nothing more than a file and a screwdriver.

Jim

 

[Sylvan-Forge]

Thanks guys!

OK,
Jerry Kuhnhausen books, check.
Beware the Dremel, check.
Files and stones, check.
Dial calipers and micrometer, check.

I'll give a look at the Wilson DVD. Hey, I see there is a Ed Brown cd-rom at midway .. any good?

 

[cleantarget10x]

The recommended books are a must. But the main requirement is an inate mechanical ability and understanding. For example, even with the best possible instruction, there are those folks out there that still couldn't change a spare tire. About the Dremel I repectfully completely disagree. You'll need the Dremel to fit a high ride beavertail, lower/flare ejection port, throat a barrel, polish anything, etc, etc,etc. With a Dremel and appropriate Dremel bits, a few files, a bunch of wet/dry sandpaper, a bench top drill press, and some careful work you can build a 1911. The only thing you'll need to out source would be the final bead/sand blasting and bluing.
Good Luck.