Well, finally decided to do the proposed checkering guide. I grabbed my tubing micrometer and pulled the pistol out of my range bag to measure the thickness of the front strap. Before I could even slip the anvil of the mic in the mag well. . .
OUCH!! I hadn't realized that the front strap was grooved. I briefly considered doing a 'weld-up', then came to my senses and dropped the idea of checkering. This isn't the only 1911 I own, so I will probably pick another to file on. Or not.
I don't own a Tisas, so may source one just to use as a learning platform for metal checkering. I'll just have to be careful to get one with a smooth front strap or I could find myself welding the grooves up and re-contouring the front strap with a file. I can pull that off, but it's a little more investment in time and labor than I want to expend, especially just to get ready to checker.
I haven't even handled a Tisas. However, so many people have praised these pistols that I want to get my hands on one, measure a lot of it, and find out if they really are as good as some folks think they are.
In my opinion, the Armscor guns are well made and reliable, at least the ones I own and others my friends own. That being said, I have built two BBQ guns from them and it took a ridiculous amount of hand work to get them ready to polish and blue. The sides of the slides weren't flat and neither were the sides of the frames. Once the parkerizing was removed, grinding marks and scratches were in abundance on the frames. Please don't take this as a complaint or criticism. As received, these guns are strong, well fitted, accurate, and reliable. Building 1911 pistols is not a "slap together and ship" enterprise. They usually require some degree of hand fitting. This is why I say that they are excellent values, especially for someone getting their first 1911. Just be reasonable and don't expect a Wilson, Nighthawk, or Ed Brown.
I will make a serious effort to hit the range today or tomorrow to test the 40 S&W barrel and attendant recoil spring/guide rod assembly (it is in the pistol at the moment).
Bill.
OUCH!! I hadn't realized that the front strap was grooved. I briefly considered doing a 'weld-up', then came to my senses and dropped the idea of checkering. This isn't the only 1911 I own, so I will probably pick another to file on. Or not.
I don't own a Tisas, so may source one just to use as a learning platform for metal checkering. I'll just have to be careful to get one with a smooth front strap or I could find myself welding the grooves up and re-contouring the front strap with a file. I can pull that off, but it's a little more investment in time and labor than I want to expend, especially just to get ready to checker.
I haven't even handled a Tisas. However, so many people have praised these pistols that I want to get my hands on one, measure a lot of it, and find out if they really are as good as some folks think they are.
In my opinion, the Armscor guns are well made and reliable, at least the ones I own and others my friends own. That being said, I have built two BBQ guns from them and it took a ridiculous amount of hand work to get them ready to polish and blue. The sides of the slides weren't flat and neither were the sides of the frames. Once the parkerizing was removed, grinding marks and scratches were in abundance on the frames. Please don't take this as a complaint or criticism. As received, these guns are strong, well fitted, accurate, and reliable. Building 1911 pistols is not a "slap together and ship" enterprise. They usually require some degree of hand fitting. This is why I say that they are excellent values, especially for someone getting their first 1911. Just be reasonable and don't expect a Wilson, Nighthawk, or Ed Brown.
I will make a serious effort to hit the range today or tomorrow to test the 40 S&W barrel and attendant recoil spring/guide rod assembly (it is in the pistol at the moment).
Bill.