My new build. It is a Government frame with the longer dustcover cut to Commander slide dimensions. Slide is a Commander flat top with Novak Lo-Mount sight cuts. I still have some small parts to pick up and don't plan on finishing this anytime too soon but I figured I would start the thread to give myself a bit of motivation to get a move on.

 

Frame is a Foster. Slide is a Caspian. Everything is stainless.

 

Small parts are a mish-mosh of whatever I can find cheap on various forums. Biggest remaining part will be the barrel. Most likely I'll grab a Kart with the fitting kit. It's a special order directly from Kart and they only run them every 6 weeks or something like that. So, that'll be next. In addition to grabbing the small parts, I've also been grabbing any tool that will make it easier to do this work by hand that I can find and afford.

 

The basic plan is to get the major assembly done and then go back and make the small cosmetic/performance improvements afterward. Those will include:

Beveling the slide.

Cutting a High-Power cut on the front of the slide.

"Bobbing" the rear of the frame

Possibly checkering the front strap.

 

Like I said, this is gonna take a while.

 

Wish me luck.

 

Christopher

Finally got my other projects mostly cleared. Broke this out and started on the frame. About an hour of careful filing and another hour with lapping compound and it all fits. Nowhere near done with the slide/frame fit but it is a good start.
I'm super happy with my choice of longer dustcover on the frame and slabbed slide.
Thoughts and opinions are always welcome.

 

I'm now onto the grip safety.  Always tough from all my reading because it's the first visual indicator of a "quality" job.  If it's not tight and right, it's not worth a darn.  I'm also going to "bob" the frame.  I may try and use a buddy's mill if I can't figure someting else out.  I do have the jig, thankfully.  We'll see.  

 

I'm planning on doing as much on this myself as I can.  I will probably try and farm out the engraving on the slide and the checkering.  But all the fitting and functional stuff I really want to do.  

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damn it! I thought there was some shooting or something crazy....

You have too much time on your hands... 

 

How did you get the foster frame? Every time I look they are always out of stock

Dang thats gonna be nice.

damn it! I thought there was some shooting or something crazy....

Thank God no. And, this is the gunsmithing forum

 

 

You have too much time on your hands... 

 

How did you get the foster frame? Every time I look they are always out of stock

You need to call Foster/Caspian directly or email Gary. They were running a sale on them. The frame is really nice. It was 170 to the door for this one. Their website is pretty useless.

 

 

Dang thats gonna be nice.

Thanks and I hope you're right.

Back at it...

How much fitting does it need?  I'm taking Bob Rodgers 1911 smithing class in person next spring (booked it 6 months ago and it was the first available time).

 

Part of the tuition is the completed gun based on a Caspian 1911 frame.  

Hey Rob.

It's all a gunsmith fit.  So, it all needs fitting.  

 

The Rodgers class is amazing from everything I read and hear.  Unfortunately it's a bit out of my budget right now.  Good luck with it and definitely let me/us know how it goes.

 

C