[snap1]

I second the good on you! That is impressive in more ways than one. In for the transformation.

 

[Para53]

Your life philosophy is impressive in that you believe in paying it forward, especially to influence the life of a young man. That's what's missing in the lives of many young people and they often navigate life like a boat with a broken rudder. The generosity of teaching him land nav will always be remembered and appreciated by young Garrison along with the pistol you are building for him. Men like you make a profound difference in the lives of others.

 

[Squidsix]

You guys are too kind. Lets hold any praise till I finish the gun. What happens if I bugger it all up?

 

[Squidsix]

French border done on the slide.

Super fancy tool:

 

[Squidsix]

Starting the high cut and flattening the front strap

 

[Hollowhandle]

Nice. Thanks for keeping us updated. Anyone know why it is called a French Norder?

 

[Squidsix]

Nice. Thanks for keeping us updated. Anyone know why it is called a French Norder?

No idea. I have looked it up a few times and got nothin. The stories are so varied to be impossible
One was that an engraver (supposedly the guy who Alvin White apprenticed with) who called that line a “french border”.
But he made an actual border. All around the flat area of the slide

 

[Augee]

My assumption has always been that it is simply an adaptation of more broad “French” decorative design styles, which often include ornate and embellished interior borders on everything from things like furniture and interior design to page design / book covers / stationary:

French design, in addition to being considered “luxurious” is usually a little elaborate and somewhat unnecessary but elegant / an opportunity for the craftsman to showcase their virtuosity, and “traditional” French design is anything but minimalistic (think Versailles and the general “reputation” that “French” as an adjective has for being decadent and and refined, French wine, French food, the whole old “French vs. British” cultural binary—“French” tends to refer to anything excessively ornamental).

Adding a line or border on the inner edge of a 1911 slide flat would fit within that “style” especially if it evolved out of full engraving practices as an “extra” ornamental line that doesn’t really do anything of practical function, but it’s just a little embellishment added to give a touch of elegance and artistry to even a simply styled gun, and I could see something along the lines of an engraver being asked not to or not wanting to do a fully embellished “French style” engraving job on a gun, but being asked “maybe just leave the ‘French’ border” on the slide, and it evolving from there as a “style” slide embellishment as its own “thing” for 1911s / pistols / gunsmithing.

~Augee

 

[odddball]

View attachment 1773536
View attachment 1773538
I finished a Colt “LE” build:

https://www.1911addicts.com/threads/custom-colt-le-build-a-1911-project-1911addicts-com.260464/#replies

And have a special 1911 on my bench for a young man in my neighborhood.
He is about to join the Army, eventually to attend Ranger school with follow on duty at Benning.
His last name is Garrison. It became basically impossible for me not to build him a pistol.
Took a used 9mm SA Garrison, 5”, blue as the base gun. It was $549 at my LGS. Slide to frame fit was very good, as is barrel lug fit.
The rest means basically nothing, as I will replace all the small parts, and refinish.
Started out tonight with the slide, hand-cutting a French border.
Baby steps, but at least now there is no going back, and I will have this done before the kid graduates Ranger.
View attachment 1773535
View attachment 1773537

New guy here. What exactly is a french border? What is its function? Thanks

 

[Squidsix]

New guy here. What exactly is a french border? What is its function? Thanks

Purely for looks.
It is just a line cut into the slide to mark where the flat part stops and the rounded part begins.

 

[FNISHR]

Squidsix, that will be a magnificent gift.

 

[Squidsix]

Squidsix, that will be a magnificent gift.

I certainly hope so. Time will tell

 

[Squidsix]

I am out of town for a bit. Will keep at it when I get home.

 

[Squidsix]

 

[TomD]

View attachment 1775491

So ... the Summit is at the Alcatraz Island International Resort & Spa??

 

[Squidsix]

Would be pretty believable honestly.
I was driving thru SF, and this was outside the car window.
It seems the stories are true

 

[heph]

View attachment 1775491

With you being in SF, I honestly thought that sign was photoshopped until I googled it.

 

[Squidsix]

I promise it is legit. I took that photo today out the window of my rental car.
This is a strange place

 

[Greenleader]

freaking fruitcakes

 

[TPC]

View attachment 1775491

I'd like to say that surprises me, but it doesn't. San Fran is a whole different level of weirdness.