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Basic Gunsmithing tools

CubsloverCubslover Member Posts: 18,601 ✭✭
edited May 2007 in Ask the Experts
I've been pricing building my own 1911 for some time now. A friend of mine is an established professional gunsmith.

This will be project that will spread out over a year. I want to build a nice target gun. So I'll buy a frame one month, slide the next, barrel sometime later, then start adding the internals.

What would be a good starting point with some basic gunsmithing tools and literature/media to get me started?

I assume, small screwdrivers, allen wrenches, punches, and various hammers. Along with punch blocks etc...

Thanks in advance.
Half of the lives they tell about me aren't true.
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Comments

  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Get the Brownell's catalog. Drool. Then empty your wallet!
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello Brownells has many 1911 tools and fixtures. When you say a nice target gun this in itself can mean many different things and I can only speak to building CMP BAll GUNS and NRA Bulls-Eye pistols. I don't profess to be a master pistol smith but I have been tutored by one I have the use of surface grinders lathes and milling machines. and many 1911 tools and fixtures. We need to build guns That will hopefully shoot 1.5 inch 10 shot groups from a Ransom Rest at 50 yards . This can be done with hand fitting with files and stones but that is a hit and miss operation and you will be lucky to have 50% of the guns shoot small X ring groups. If I was starting from scratch I would buy a set of Caspian frame and slide that are prefit This will save many hours of trying to fit a slide to a frame . Then either a BARSTO or Kart barrel with one high and one low top locking lug "this will allow you to fit the barrel to slide and keep the firing pin hit centered on the primer" and fitted bushing. Then I would buy a lug cutter and lug centering block from brownells this will allow you to fit the hood and locking lugs to the slide and frame. All the small parts Hammer, sear, safety, disconnector, trigger, sights ETC can be fitted with hand tools. I use a surface grinder with stones profiled to the right angles to cut hood locking lugs and put a S&W model 52 type DOG-KNOT on the barrel and then hone the barrel bushing for .006 clearance then hard chrome inside of bushing and barrel dog-knot .004 each then diamond lap the bushing until .0000 -.0005 clearance. Feel free to email me as I can suggest some good writeups on 1911 work and this post is getting long winded . Cheers "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN"
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  • CubsloverCubslover Member Posts: 18,601 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You're right along with me.

    I've picked out a Caspian frame and slide.

    Along with a Barsto, Wilson, or Les Baer barrel.

    Thanks for the tips already and the offer for more advice Perry.

    As always, great info!

    I could always use the links to information!

    Thanks again.
    Half of the lives they tell about me aren't true.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry to use another post I suggest both of us just edit original post in future but here goes The best short to the point write-up I have ever seen was called "accurizing the service pistol " prepared by NGMTU Armorers The National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit Nashville Tennessee. This was a class room 40 hour course hands on to train Armorers. Another good way to get some information is There is a Short gentleman from Hawaii that is going to teach a Class at Camp Perry this year and Also a master pistol smith that does FREE repairs and work at Camp Perry for the last 4 years I don't know if he is going this year I have not talked to him in 2 or three months You could go and spend a few days watching him he has a mobil truck set up and is great guy "did I say I am a big fan of his work and who he is? " Brownells has a good tech support group but I don't know if they could help with anything other then how to best use the tools they sell . If you can't find a copy of the write-up on EBARF or other source I might find someone that could copy information about 50-60 pages. Cheers Karl member 2600 club 32 trips to Camp Perry & 10 times Presidents 100
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Pin punches from 1/4" to 1/16", small bench grinder, good quality swiss files,smooth cut flat and triangular files, flat and triangular fine hand stones, brass punches 3/16-5/8, set of small precision screwdrivers, assortment of screwdrivers including a long handled std one for removing buttstocks, dial indicating caliper, small ball pein hammers,Deadfall soft hammer, 6" heavy duty bench vise + soft jaws, Dremel with flex shaft, grinding tips and Cratex rubber bonded abrasive wheels & spindles to mount them, straight & curved medical forceps, set of number drills, set of number drill blanks. Proper screwdrivers cannot be overstated. Learn to hollow grind a tip for a particular screw. Magnetic tips are ok for cars but too wobbly for my liking to be used on guns,(Long handled screwdrivers with fixed blades and round handles give greater control than short ones with flats on handles. It's easier to preserve screw slots), Brass wire brushes, both hand and powered for the Dremel.
    Power tools are the next stage. A good drill press is the first.
    You might start with reading the NRA Gunsmithing guide and maybe Pistolsmithing by Nonte. They discuss necessary tools.
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  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    V35 Gave it to you in a nutshell.

    Been there, Done that!
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  • iceracerxiceracerx Member Posts: 8,860 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Cubs, Cylinder and Slide offer a 1911 Pistolsmithing class. They offer a class this August 6th - 10th, 2007 in Fremont Nebraska. It's not cheap, but you will walk out of the class with a working 1911.


    http://www.cylinder-slide.com/1911class_new.shtml
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  • BlckhrnBlckhrn Member Posts: 5,136
    edited November -1
    There are no "basic gunsmithing tools."

    Basic Gunsmithing tools include knowledge. Assume that you can assemble your .45 to the point where you can run a mag through it and come home with your dominant hand. A gunsmith may or may not be able to assemble these parts in such a way as to actually group in MOA.

    Gunsmiths know welding and machining processes, to a degree that you cannot understand. A gunsmith knows where to dull a $10 file in order to make it work, and when. A gunsmith knows that a file works in one direction and is dulled when it is used in the opposite direction. Most of all, a gunsmith knows when to be patient, maybe sleeping on a problem before destroying his parts inventory in a failed attempt at Afro-engineering a turd from a collection of silk purses.

    If you want to be a gunsmith, find a good school.

    You may or may not be capable of being an armorer. Time and the finished product will tell.

    Maybe, after you have qualified to sweep the floor for a gunsmith and in a year or so, you could be on your way. Until then you aspire to be an armorer. This is a claim (armorer) that was once made by a mooderator here but was simce rescinded.

    EDIT: I'll add that I am aspiring to be an armorer of AKs and FALs. I have spent more than you will spend on your 1911 parts on tools to accomplish this, and haven't built a rifle yet. I'll also add that I have been a machinist since you were in diapers.
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  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    may i suggest you buy a clunker 1911a1 to use as your sacrifice? add a beater 1911a1 to you list of basic tools for when the 'oops' gods visit you![;)]
    Retired Naval Aviation
    Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
    Former NSSA All American
    Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
    MO, CT, VA.
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  • CubsloverCubslover Member Posts: 18,601 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Blckhrn
    There are no "basic gunsmithing tools."

    Basic Gunsmithing tools include knowledge. Assume that you can assemble your .45 to the point where you can run a mag through it and come home with your dominant hand. A gunsmith may or may not be able to assemble these parts in such a way as to actually group in MOA.

    Gunsmiths know welding and machining processes, to a degree that you cannot understand. A gunsmith knows where to dull a $10 file in order to make it work, and when. A gunsmith knows that a file works in one direction and is dulled when it is used in the opposite direction. Most of all, a gunsmith knows when to be patient, maybe sleeping on a problem before destroying his parts inventory in a failed attempt at Afro-engineering a turd from a collection of silk purses.

    If you want to be a gunsmith, find a good school.

    You may or may not be capable of being an armorer. Time and the finished product will tell.

    Maybe, after you have qualified to sweep the floor for a gunsmith and in a year or so, you could be on your way. Until then you aspire to be an armorer. This is a claim (armorer) that was once made by a mooderator here but was simce rescinded.

    EDIT: I'll add that I am aspiring to be an armorer of AKs and FALs. I have spent more than you will spend on your 1911 parts on tools to accomplish this, and haven't built a rifle yet. I'll also add that I have been a machinist since you were in diapers.


    Boy, you're such an impressive individual.

    Whatcha drinking? Another one of those drunken rampages?

    You're nothing but a wannabe. Guys like Perry shooter/Nononsense/Heavy Iron are the guys that know their stuff. They, and a few others, are who I go to for advice.

    Thanks for wasting a post. Might as well close it out now. I've recived a ton of info via email from a few members on here.

    BTW, I'm not a gunsmith and I know files are to be used in one direction. My college major was CAD/CAM, so, I too have some Machining experience.
    Half of the lives they tell about me aren't true.
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