[JET55]

This is my first attempt at building a 1911 from parts. During black Friday I picked up a PSA frame to practice on, and a Nighthawk frame if I didn't mess up the PSA frame to bad . Actually, I really wanted to start a RMR 1911 build on a Nighthawk frame. But I thought better of that idea once I saw the $99 PSA frames, and I had sobered up a little, and read alot, and lurked the forums...you guys are a wealth of information!

I actually bought everything for the RMR build. Mostly Ed Brown parts,, RMR slide, barrel, etc., and of course the Nighthawk frame. But, everything except for the RMR slide/barrel and NH frame are going on this PSA build instead.

I'll try to update as I have time, but below is where I'm at so far....

Update: Here is my build list

PSA frame
Remsport slide, barrel/bushing and all slide parts
Ed Brown perfection sear, disconnect, 3 hole Alum. trigger, SS Hammer
Ed Brown slide stop, mag release
Ed Brown Match ambi safety
NH SS trigger spur, sear spring
Railscales Ascend grips
Ed Brown SS .250 beavertail
Ed Brown all SS pin set (repair kit)
Maxi-Well magwell with Crosslink III

Still need a set of sights, I'm thinking the Kensight DAS 1911 Defense Adjustable set. Need to see where it shoots first so I may fit a blank up front and pick up the rear first.

 

[TimR]

I'm starting my first build as well... Bought a JEM frame and slide, and beginning to think I may need to save that for my 2nd effort!

 

[JET55]

I was kind of hesitant about taking a file to my Nighthawk frame, but I didn't feel bad at all with the PSA frame. I gathered all the tools I had that could whittle a hunk of steel down to a nub. Back in the day I worked on CNC style equipment for a Swiss company. Spent 8 months working in their shop over there. They had loads of beautiful equipment to work with, new guys got files...

In my garage I found some of my old stuff, including a pretty new, 30 year old, Nicholoson file. I hear you guys think highly of them, so I figured it was apt to use. I started with something easy to see if I could do something creative without wrecking what could otherwise be a nice steak dinner and a couple of drinks.

So here I started by blending the Maxi-Well back strap to the frame.

 

[JET55]

I thought that was pretty easy! And halfway decent looking. I want to blend in the magwell, but I'm not sure if I want to tackle that yet. So I decided that I needed to go ahead and install the beavertail since that was definitely something that needed to happen...

 

[JET55]

I filed it down using the EB jig, and then different pin gauges until I got up to the .153 I needed for my thumb safety pin.

 

[JET55]

It took me all day yesterday to get it in to where the thumb safety fit.

 

[JET55]

Then today I busted out the file again and started blending...

 

[JET55]

This is where I ended up, I think it looks pretty good for a first attempt. I'm not seeing the huge gaps people were talking about with the PSA frame and a .250 beavertail GS.

 

[JET55]

Side view

 

[JET55]

Another angle

 

[JET55]

The hardest part is getting the micro scratches out!

 

[A45GUNNER]

Looks good! Just keep a slow pace-it is coming together fine

 

[SparkyAZ]

It took me all day yesterday to get it in to where the thumb safety fit.

Grip Safety?

 

[JET55]

Grip Safety?

No, thumb safety. The pin on the TS wouldn't go through the hole in the frame with the GS installed. I had to file down the frame tangs to get the GS seated until it would line up with the holes in the frame.

 

[TheCollector]

The best part is you are now loading full size pics!!!! :grin::grin::grin::grin:

 

[JET55]

The best part is you are now loading full size pics!!!! :grin::grin::grin::grin:

LOL, yeah, I just figured that out recently.... like in the middle of this thread :grin:

 

[seagiant]

Hi,
Nice job!
Your going to need something to push out the GS when you blend the top.
Here is a jig, I made out of micarta.

 

[JET55]

That's a nice jig you made! Unfortunately I'm lacking in some needed tools. Like even a tool to hold the frame in the vise. So for the top blend I installed the sear spring, a piece of plastic and the backstrap. Then i used my soft grips to hold the frame in a vise. It seemed to work well...

 

[JET55]

Knocked out the trigger and the clearance for the GS engagement. Trigger was kinda tricky, it was hanging up and at first I didn't catch it, but it was the track the bow was riding in, not the trigger shoe like I initially thought.

Next up is installing the sear, hammer and getting the thumb safety to clear the sear.

 

[BobRock]

Do you have the barrel fit yet? Don't get too far down the road without that important first step squared away.