Misc 1911 gunsmithing photos

[CifaldiPrecision]

Chasing the impact and what’s causing timing issues on this barrel fit.



Turning down the back of the lugs to allow the barrel to downlink more.




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[bug_eyedmonster]

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like the ramping on that barrel is biased towards the right side. Is that normal? I've never noticed it until looking at your pictures here.

Jerry

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by bug_eyedmonster

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like the ramping on that barrel is biased towards the right side. Is that normal? I've never noticed it until looking at your pictures here.

Jerry

Keep in mind the hood isn’t centered on the barrel. Go off if the lower lug. Also sometimes they are biased which really doesn’t matter as only about the bottom 1/3 of the ramp is really used.

Here is a better pic though.
This one is ever so slightly favored on the right. I will still be throating and reaming this barrel and then working the ramp after it’s all fitted and timed also.


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[MosinVirus]

Is it a reflection or is there a mark on the edge between the side of bottom lug and barrel body? Is it sitting down onto the barrel seat completely?

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by MosinVirus

Is it a reflection or is there a mark on the edge between the side of bottom lug and barrel body? Is it sitting down onto the barrel seat completely?

You don’t want it to touch the barrel bed. I want the impact at the top of the lower lugs contacting the VIS. Those marks on each side are impact spots currently. But it’s not downlinking enough to unlock fully on the top lugs. If it bottoms out on the barrel bed before it’s impacting the VIS than it puts strain on the link and slide stop pin which should be completely free of tension.


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[MosinVirus]

Originally Posted by CifaldiPrecision

You don’t want it to touch the barrel bed. I want the impact at the top of the lower lugs contacting the VIS. Those marks on each side are impact spots currently. But it’s not downlinking enough to unlock fully on the top lugs. If it bottoms out on the barrel bed before it’s impacting the VIS than it puts strain on the link and slide stop pin which should be completely free of tension.


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I guess what I was asking is if the bottom edge of the barrel bed was preventing downward movement. But yes, I do understand that it has to hit the VIS before or at the same time as it touches down.

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by MosinVirus

I guess what I was asking is if the bottom edge of the barrel bed was preventing downward movement. But yes, I do understand that it has to hit the VIS before or at the same time as it touches down.

Oh. Sorry I misunderstood. The top edge of the vis is relieved so it’s not hitting that.


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[SkyHawk]

Originally Posted by MosinVirus

Oh I missed that. How do you guys know if someone mentions you in a thread? It would be nice to get notified.

Just look to the sky for the MV signal...

[MosinVirus]

Originally Posted by SkyHawk

Just look to the sky for the MV signal...

Lol.

[CifaldiPrecision]

Impacts top and centered now. Needed some input from Will on this one. Always learning from the master himself. Everything is properly timed, chambered and reamed now. Just need to throat the barrel and this barrel fit is done.


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[MosinVirus]

Brett, is it still not timing correctly? as in not dropping low enough?

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by MosinVirus

Brett, is it still not timing correctly? as in not dropping low enough?

No, it’s timed correctly now. Some are just easier than others. I updated the above so it was more clear.


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[CifaldiPrecision]

Working on trigger jobs today. I have a few lined up.


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[terry4130]

Hi Cifaldi, I recently PM’d you about a few questions. Please let me know if you got it.

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by terry4130

Hi Cifaldi, I recently PM’d you about a few questions. Please let me know if you got it.

I had missed it. I’ll check it this morning. Sorry about that. Email is really always the best way to ping me.


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[CifaldiPrecision]

Prepping this hammer for a trigger job.

https://instagram.com/p/BheRT9cHOGM/


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[terry4130]

Originally Posted by CifaldiPrecision

I had missed it. I’ll check it this morning. Sorry about that. Email is really always the best way to ping me.


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No worries. Thanks and I’ll get your email and use that in the future.

[GoodMachinist]

I noticed that this front strap checker is crooked and unfinished. Maybe you or someone put on the mill crooked.

Originally Posted by CifaldiPrecision

20 LPI checkering with high grip and blended in.


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[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by GoodMachinist

I noticed that this front strap checker is crooked and unfinished. Maybe you or someone put on the mill crooked.

If you’re referring to the bottom line versus the bottom of the magwell, you’re mistaken because the front strap isn’t square to the magwell.

The frame was indicated flat and parallel. Then the front strap trued and then checkered.

As for unfinished I’m unsure what you’re referring too.


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[dummykid]

I can't wait to see the finished work.

[heidad01]

Originally Posted by GoodMachinist

I noticed that this front strap checker is crooked and unfinished. Maybe you or someone put on the mill crooked.

Not sure why it looks off to you or is that sarcasm??

That ckeckering sure looks straight to me. And absolutely beautiful, I might add.

That is seriously high grade work.

[LovingTheYear1911]

Maybe hes really not a good machinist. Checkering looks beautiful to me..

[CifaldiPrecision]

Improving on Colts Beavertail. Taking a factory gun with a Beavertail and going for the seamless tight gunsmith fit Beavertail.




New Beavertail fitted. Now for blending.



Hand blending is done. The last thing to do is ensue the width matches the frame and clean up any residual machining marks.


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[dummykid]

man, I need to stop reading these posts, or I will add more jobs to my order list.

[BBShot]

Those lines! Awesome.

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by dummykid

man, I need to stop reading these posts, or I will add more jobs to my order list.

Lol that’s a common occurrence lately.


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[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by BBShot

Those lines! Awesome.

Thanks


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[CifaldiPrecision]

Had to shortly step away from the colt yesterday to fit a 5” Caspian slide to what was once a complete 4” STI.

The customer had taken the original STI slide to another shop to have work done and there was a fairly big whoops.


Start by measuring the slide rails and then the frame rails. Then start machining.


The slide is bottom running so here I am cutting a relief on the bottom rails ahead of where the slides locked up. This is for once the slide is unlocked and cycling.


After the dimensions are machined and I have hand lapped the slide to the frame.

Sorry not more pics, I was busy.




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[mtenenhaus]

Thank you again for sharing. I really enjoy seeing your work and learning more about the 1911.

May i ask, on the 1911, I was under the impression (likely wrong) that a bowtie shaped recess is often advocated on the lower lug....at the juncture of the lower lugs and barrel bed to prevent impact and shearing force at that site.

Have i buggered up that concept?

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by mtenenhaus

Thank you again for sharing. I really enjoy seeing your work and learning more about the 1911.

May i ask, on the 1911, I was under the impression (likely wrong) that a bowtie shaped recess is often advocated on the lower lug....at the juncture of the lower lugs and barrel bed to prevent impact and shearing force at that site.

Have i buggered up that concept?

You want the barrel lugs to impact high on the VIS (vertical impact surface). So companies and many Smith’s will cut a recess into the VIS (causing the bow tie) to move the impact point up since that’s where it is most proud now. However there are many ways to accomplish this if the gun is not already cut with a bow tie recess. You can relieve the legs of the lower lugs so the impact is high. The vis can already be cut slightly angled from the factory and the impact is already high when doing the barrel fitting so again not an issue.

When I’m fitting a barrel and there isn’t a bow tie cut but the impact is high on the lugs and VIS then it’s fine, if it’s low I’ll opt to relieve the lugs or recess the bow tie cut depending on a few factors of how the factory setup the frame VIS.

So with all that said, moral of the story we want a high impact so the lugs don’t shear off the barrel.


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[mtenenhaus]

thank you. that helps a lot

[CifaldiPrecision]

Something I was working on today. A deluxe magwell fit and blend.

First to pull the magwell up right to the frame to allow as little seam as possible. That’s accompanied lusher by bending the tangs on the magwell and moving the cross pin hole in the MSH.


Once that’s done then into the mill we go.


Finished machining product


Time to clean it all up and blend it together by hand.


Only thing left after this is the detail work cleaning up any machining marks before the gun gets blued.



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[CifaldiPrecision]

Correcting a short ramp, the longer ramp corrects nose dive feeding issues.

The before ramp is .340” while the finished ramp is .400” long.




Then the barrel was throated and reamed and both the ramp and throat were polished. This throated barrel will now feed hollow points, semi wad cutter and ball ammo reliably.



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[JTROKS]

Beautiful! Nicely polished ramp and throat.

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by JTROKS

Beautiful! Nicely polished ramp and throat.

Thank you.


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[CifaldiPrecision]

Blending the front sight in.


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[saudadeii]

Nice work! Keep them coming!,

[heidad01]

Originally Posted by CifaldiPrecision

Blending the front sight in.


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That is a nice touch and good detail work.

[CifaldiPrecision]

Originally Posted by heidad01

That is a nice touch and good detail work.

Thank you.


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[JTROKS]

Do you machine the front sight out of bar stock?