I share Airdale Marines sentiments exactly......Plenty of artists in the world...few Artisans. You skill and commitment is amazing. Zebulon

Nice job, awesome workmanship, I AM a few months from retirement and now you've got me looking for a candidate to modify similar to your project. I have a shorty forty and a 1006 that I bought NIB I dont want to change those but would have no qualms about starting with a third gen that I had no history with. Again good work Bill

I just want to say thanks Bill! I took the time to read the entire thread and couldn't wait to hear what was coming next. Great job documenting and providing commentary through the progressions of work. I learned much and you provided some great ideas that I think I can do with the proper tools and some practice. I have a candidate or two I'm thinking on.

I can say that I'm inspired by your thread, love to tinker, learn and be rewarded by my efforts, therefore checkering is in my distant future. From your PM and this thread, I'm pulling together my parts list, research and finding some pipe scraps to scratch on. Thanks again, and hope you don't mind an occasional PM as I'm sure I will have some questions.

Thanks for all the compliments fellas. I'm glad you enjoyed the thread and am truly gratified that some of you are seeking acquire some new skills and try out some of this stuff. I will gladly help out anytime.

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

Chief,

OUT-FREAKIN'-STANDING JOB THERE SAILOR.

S/F,

RAS

"Like!" ^^^^^^

Forgive this bit of thread necromancing, but had to bump this to say WOW!

How is the Melonite is holding up? I'm thinking of getting my 4516-2 and model 64 snub Melonited as I prefer the blued look over stainless and the 64 could use a face lift.

This is such a good and informative thread that I am going to give it a bump, too. An update from the OP would be great.

No worries

It's holding up perfectly from my perspective... You be the judge:


Mind you, melonite is a form of case hardening steel and not an applied coating or paint. The process changes the surface properties of the steel leaving an extraordinarily tough surface layer with about .0004 growth. The coloration is a side effect of the process. Even if you manage to rub some of the color off, the tough surface layer is still there. Oh and... bonus, you can git it in any color you like as long as its Black

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

BMCM, I APPLAUD YOUR INITIATIVE AND YOUR SKILL. ITS YOUR GUN TO DO WITH AS YOU PLEASE. I AM EAGERLY LOOKING FOWARD TO PICS OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT…...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Hopefully you plan on keeping it . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Come on its not the Holy Grail its just a machine, a handgun. Do with it what pleases you. Improvements only come experimentation. Look at the 1905 vs 1911. I can appreciate the reverence for early precision and hand fitting done by real craftsman , but if its not 1 of "pick a number" then have at it. I have cut up more than my share of firearms and am pleased as punch, with the quality varying as I went. Make of it what pleases YOU! My 2 cents. Nice job by the way.

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"I'm feeling MUCH better now"

No one is saying it's the Holy Grail...what most people in this thread are doing is showing their appreciation for some excellent craftsmanship. Why don't you post one of your many projects from beginning to end so that we can see you're level of expertise?

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

You misunderstand Im all in one his job. I encourage anyone do what ever to Their firearms. I think so far his quality is great, and its not done yet. Cut it , chop it, bend it ,weld it, paint or plate it as long as you like its the bomb!!!

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"I'm feeling MUCH better now"

BMCM,

I may have asked you this before, but how is the surface of the slide as far as grasping for slide manipulations?

I know you did some polishing on the flats and my question relates to my shorty 45acp….well a COACP.

This gun was a gift to me when I graduated the police academy in 88. It was the base for my first attempts with beavertail, dehorn…etc etc. I did over cut a lot of areas and the barrel was always a loose fit.

I had it redone (needing some welding) and decided to hold off on 2 tone or all black as I wanted to research additional surface treatments.

One of my issues, I am assuming as we get older….everything seems slippery to me. Even the newer or well worn Glock slides seem to slip on press checks.

With my Colt Officers, with the short 2 spring recoil assembly, I can feel it slip with manipulations.

I am looking for a more rougher surface to help with grasping for slide manipulations. Does melonite offer that?

I am seriously thinking about getting the rear grasping grooves sharpened up and even considering grasping grooves up front (but that is a last resort)

thanks in advance

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Whatever the surface profile of the steel was pre-treatment will be mirrored in the final finish. So, if your parts are satiny smooth before, they'll be satiny smooth after.

Likewise if you have a rough finish like would be left after blasting with some coarse mesh aluminum oxide, the final finish would have a lot more grip. There's a down side though. That grippier (is that really a word?) finish is also gonna be grippier on your leather gear. Sticky in the holster likely negatively impacting the smoothness and speed of your draw.

One benefit the Smith has in this regard... Those slide mounted levers tend to keep your finger from slipping off the back so I went with satiny smooth.

Regarding press checks... Why not simply machine your barrel hood with a witness hole just like the current crop of 1911s from S&W. All it takes is a small cut with a 1/8" or 3/32" end mill like so:


And no more press checks. A simple glance is all it takes and it's readily apparent if she's ready for business or not:


Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

hmmm, never thought about the witness notch on this older gun. All my newer ones have it….just never crossed my mind.

I am able to do a press check with the 10-8 rear sight hook and my thumb on the back of the grip safety…..was just thinking of having options when it came to manipulations.

after looking at various images on the net and with the short slide, it would kill the looks with front serrations….so that is out….I think those rear serrations need some sharpening though.

thanks for the info.

I still want a all black or two tone….so when that happens, I will see if the smith can give me some more bite on my rear serrations.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Another thought... Either instead of, or along with sharpening up the rear serrations... What about adding a few more grooves?

Add a few more serrations, 2, 3, half dozen or whatever. making the serrated patch a little larger might make a big difference in handling with minimal impact on the clean appearance. Easy enough for a good smith to do. With the slide already fixtured up on the mill to sharpen the stock serrations your smith would just take a few more cuts working forward from the existing patch. Just thinkin' out loud

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

Awesome work! Simply oustanding.