Ahoy there Shipmates,

For quite a while now I've been looking to add a 5906 to my personal collection. But not just any 5906. There was a certain combination of features I was after that together seem to be not particularly common. Specifically, I wanted the Novak low mount backsight and a first trigger guard. But, that first trigger guard needed to have the gradual radius cut where the front joins the frame. It's much more common to see a 90° milling cut there that leaves a pretty sharp edge on each side of the frame. I much prefer the gradual radius taper from frame into trigger guard at the front as seen on the later guns with the third trigger guard.

What we wanna do here is cobble together my idea of the perfect 5906 for concealed carry or whatnot.

Anyway, I spotted a candidate for this project on GB a few days ago and bid on it. $355 later and it's here, let's have a look shall we...



According to the SCS&W the TEP prefix makes it April of 1990 production.


Aside from a bit of rust erupting through the chrome plating on the trigger & hammer, the exterior looks pretty good.

Century's import mark in the trigger window so it been re-imported from somewhere. Had Century burned this on the side of the dust cover I'd have passed but, semi hidden here is ok.
How about a peek under her pettycoats eh?

Yikes!


Just might need a new recoil spring...maybe


Fixin' to detail strip the slide...


Well, that's liable to be a problem


Everything is dripping wet with dirty oil and most of the springs are rusted as if this gun was laying in the bilge under the #2 generator next to the auxiliary fire pump


Extractor came off without difficulty...


Oh Boy!...


At this resolution it kinda looks like my cat puked on this stuff...



Ok well the top end is all tore down, I rekon we better get after the bottom half

Just lovely... Early two finger trigger play spring, drawbar plunger spring rotten & bleeding rust everywhere, and the gunk ...


Old version of the 23019 ejector. that'll go in the recycle bin along with the rotten springs...


Sideplate is kinda tweaked but it does not appear the prongs are spread so this might be fixable, at least until I can get a new one...


And gutted... Hard to tell what's actually rusted and what's not with all the crud. Looks like the rust that's bled everywhere is from a few of the small music wire springs. My guess is this gun got really wet or went for a swim at some point and instead of a detail strip & clean it was just dunked in some oil.


Stripped frame shows some rust under the grip and I suspect there'll be some degree of pitting...


A little less bad on this side...


First order of business...Everything goes into the ultrasonic crud disintegration chamber

Heated the tank up to 40°C and I'll run this for a half hour to start and see how things look...


I'll be better able to assess what needs doing after the bits are all clean. But, my overall impression despite all the crud is very little wear and lots of neglect... So, not fired much and not taken care of either. I can work with this

More to follow...

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

Okay, good description but do you have any pictures?

With that cheap humor out of the way, WOW is that some rotten sludge. I’m happy to say that I have never yet dealt with that level of filth and neglect in any guns that I’ve brought home.

Poor old pistol

predicting a happy ending for this 5906 is a no brainer

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witty signature goes here

At least you did not blame the cat.
Im sure you will turn that beast into a beauty.
Jim

I’m trying to imagine what I’d have done with that gun...considering my “abilities”.

BMCM with all that gunk/grime/rust, what did the bore look like? Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I once bought an M95 Ruger in this condition . . .

There's nothing like a picture-rich BMCM handgun project to brighten the day around here! Looking forward to binge-watching as it progresses!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

"Must watch TV", so to speak. Maybe he can set up a camera so we can live stream him at work.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Many people will scream bloody murder if you alter the frame. Don't listen to them.
I've done alterations to 3rd gens as suited me and I'm very happy with my results.
I think I'm gonna follow this one too.

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I'm with her

I love getting bargain basement pistols and making them into beauties; unfortunately, my bid amount is always $5 short. Looking forward to the restoration.

When I saw the "M"5906 in the title I first thought BMCM was treading into Melonite finishes - wouldn't that be something... OK I just read thread "Slide Finish suggestions" and BMCM does offer nitrided coating through H&M Metal Processing.

You should take some time to browse through this forum to see some of Bill's previous work. He's not at all afraid to tackle any work on 3rd Gens.

I expect that one day he'll get his hands on stripped .45 3rd Gen frame and build something that would have the Performance Center green with envy.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

No matter the conditions I know one thing... Bill can sure bring it back to life!
I wonder where she was imported from, could add a cool factor to her?
I'll go make some popcorn and pay close attention to this thread.

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This is the way....

I have a 1989 TCZ 5906. Mine has the 90 degree cut at the front of the trigger guard, though. Great guns, but heavy as all get out.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I'm sure BMCM will return this Model 5906 to better than new condition.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I, too, always thought they were heavy.

So I do most of my dry fire practice with the 1006.

When I pick up a 5906 sized gun now, it feels like a 22!

John

Afternoon Gents,

Managed to get everything cleaned up. 30 minute run and all the small parts were done. The frame & slide got a little wire brushing then went back in for another half hour. For the record, I'm using a solution of water and a Simple Green product, Extreme Aircraft & Precision Cleaner. That stuff works quite nicely.

All clean set out to dry...




A few springs didn't make the cut though. The mag catch plunger spring is toast. Drawbar plunger spring did not survive pulling it off the plunger. I did get that plunger out of the safety body but the spring crumbled and is still stuck in the plunger...


Next order of business is a bit of media blasting to freshen up the finish on the slide & frame and clean out the pitting on the grip area. Turned a cork of sorts out of some delrin to plug the barrel bushing and protect it from the blasting media. Ahh, but first we need to make a quick stop over at the mill on the way out to the shed...

Router out a little slot right here...


Then plug a 1.55mm carbide drill in the collet and poke a little hole...


Right clean through here...


Got twenty pounds of fresh #4 econo-blend in the cabinet...Now were ready to blast

Fresh from the cabinet, looks pretty good...


Slide looks darned near factory fresh...


Frame had some pitting in the area normally covered by the grip but otherwise looks fine. And, the grip I have in mind for this will cover even more real estate than the OEM xenoy so I'm not concerned over that minor pitting.

Now that everything is thoroughly clean I have a better feel for what kinda mileage in on this gun.

Examining the frame closely I don't see any significant wear here on the working surface of the camming lugs. Merely a faint blemish there from the barrel lugs so It has been fired some but not a great deal in my judgement.


And here where the chamber section lands upon unlock, nary a blemish...


Not much going on back here either. I note some marks on the rail top surface from wearing in and we're starting to see the dent below the hammer where the hammer rebounds off the frame upon firing. I'm thinking somewhere south of 5000 rounds...


A couple other clues....
Engagement surface where the sear was stoned in has virtually no wear on it. Striations from the stoning still quite clear...


Same here on the sear release lever, just the barest hint of burnishing there on the working surface of the 'foot'


Drawbar looks virtually brand new...


Rifling looks good...


Going to do a little adjusting on the frame next

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

Ahhhh, you are gonna give ‘er the spring-loaded decocker that was the finest design of them all.

I’m actually quite curious of what grip you plan to use.

Lands look pretty tall to me. I see what looks like some minor pitting in a couple spots in the chamber area. I think I'll give the bore a copper solvent soak and maybe soak in some evaporust and see if those lift any more junk out of the bore.

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

Yep...Wouldn't that be somethin' One never knows

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

One idly wonders if that sort of work could be done on his pre rail 3913TSW.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

One can...

If one can mill a slot and drill a hole.

John

I know at least one person who can, and at least one person who definitely would NOT even attempt it.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I kin drill dah hole an' grind tha slot wid mah Dremel right?

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

And that "dds" stands for what again?

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Actually, if your hands are steady enough, then yes.

Personally, I use an 1/8" end mill, a 1/16" drill bit, a HF drill press, and HF drill press vise.

Under $10.00 for the end mill and bit, less than $65.00 for the drill press and vise. (Cheap... uh, I mean inexpensive. )

John

If BMCM has a backlog, perhaps contact JohnHL for the work!

No, thank you, thank you very much!

I no longer do "professional" work.

However...

If a friend has a motorcycle, car, gun, or whatever that is broken, and said friend is willing to learn, then I will do what I have done for the past several years, and that is to let them come to my garage and shop, use my tools and equipment, and I teach and supervise, and let them do the work, themselves.

It has something to do with an axiom about eating and fishing.

John

Afternoon Gents,

Been doing some work on the frame re-contouring and cleaning up in preparation for a grip improving surface treatment.

So, lot of careful hand filing ahead.

Wiping these vertical cuts off the front...


Slow & careful is the rule of the day...Can't put any of that metal back...


Starting to shape up. I want to soften the contours up at the top in the area right below the trigger guard root/magazine catch...


This is about what I'm after...


I'm thinking of wiping this checkering too. I believe I'd like the surface texture to match all around. We shall see


That's all for now.

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

And I though that Bosun's Mate only worked with small stuff and line's!

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

We're talking about a Coast Guard Bosun's Mate here, obviously much more talented in many areas.

Semper Paratus

Wow, that was one filthy girl, but she's cleaned up nicely!

I like what you are doing with the sharp corners under the trigger guard, did the same to a 3906 that I modded for carry and it makes a huge difference IMO. Are you going to checker the front strap or leave it smooth?

Outstanding work so far Bill, and thanks for giving us something to follow here as we shelter in!

Dam*ed Dumb Sh**

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Ahoy there Shipmates,

Still fiddling with the frame today...

This thingamabob here is a hammer handpiece. It's made in Switzerland by Badeco. It's essentially a little tiny jackhammer.


You cannot run a hammer handpiece on a normal flexshaft motor because of the speed limitation. Anything over 5k rpm will wreck the tool. The common Foredom SR motor runs up to 18k rpm and low torque. What we want is high torque and low speed so...

We plug this too into a LX motor. High torque & top speed of 5k. Using a speed control, I run the hammer at 1/3 to 1/2 of the motor speed.

On the business end is a HSS (high speed steel) tool bit I ground to a blunted 100+° angle...


It's kinda tedious work, noisy as well. Little tiny jackhammer you hold like a pencil. It wants to bounce all over the place so you have to keep very strict control over the tool to keep it from beating up an area you hadn't intended. Imagine holding a pencil in the same manner you'd write something but you're gripping it with near your maximum hand strength. Then drawing little tiny overlapping circlesoooooooooooooooooo. Hand and forearm starts to cramp up after about 10 minute of that so we take a break and go do something else for an hour or so. Anyhow, it's coming along nicely, no boo boos thus far (knock knock knock)


I'll apply this treatment clear on up the underside of the trigger guard and on up to the bottom of the dust cover. Basically anywhere my hand or hands interface with the weapon there will be some texture to enhance the grip.

Cheers
Bill

__________________
Because they don't make a .46

Allright, this is gaining in momentum and awesomeness!

Thinking of the next project to send to BMCM custom with this thread.. fine work sir

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This is the way....

I don't know about you, but I have more ideas than money. After all, what's the market for a $3,000.00 3913?

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Thinking of the next project to send to BMCM custom with this thread.. fine work sir

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This is the way....

Very cool, I like the stippling so far. Reminds my of a Novak full house 915. Sounds like you'll have Popeye forearms by the time this thing is finished!

Stippling is not something that is seen very often these days. It does provide a secure gripping surface without the skin irritation that can occur with checkering. The process of stippling is a good recipe for carpal tunnel problems.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

And all this time, I've been thinking that stippling was done with a hammer and a center punch and more patience than I could muster in a year!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

I see it a fair amount but it's usually someone sloppily taking a dremel to a Glock frame which generally results in some trypophobia inducing abomination.

One can do it that way. It would take a long time to finish a large area such as the front strap of a pistol, but it can be done... with the patience of Job.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Yes, a new BMCM project thread! Since 5906s are near and dear to me, I can't wait to see how this turns out.

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5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

Clark Custom, way back in their heyday when Mr. Clark Senior was putting together his famous “Hardball” guns would use a grip stippling that honestly looked, at least to me, as if he was using a hardened nail and a solid (but always exactly the same) whack with a hammer. The resulting look was odd to my eye but the feel in my hands is VERY good.

I’m sure that someone must know better than I do exactly how Clark executed this stippling, but I sure do like it.

No, I don’t own a Clark pistol. One of them is on my list.

I have a Clark Colt 1911 whose serial number indicates manufacture in 1969, although I don't know when Mr. Clark did his magic on it.

Your description of the stippling is accurate! It is sharp, even after all these years. I think I've heard it referred to as Shark's Tooth stippling.

Maybe that should be Clark’s tooth stippling?!

I’ll be here all week. Try the veal!

Good Afternoon Gents,

I hope everyone is well on this fine Easter Sunday, and indeed 'tis my hope ya'll stay that way

Spent this afternoon playing with the mini jackhammer. I have nearly all the coverage done except for out on the dust cover where it's not quite done. Anyway I've had about enough of messing with that noisy gizmo for today so I'm putting my toys away and gonna go do soething utterly unproductive for the rest of the day

So, here's where we're at...


Just about done with the coverage on the frame, A wee bit more to do out here on the dust cover...


Once I get it all covered I'll examine the surface under magnification checking for any areas that need to be hit again. I want the surface texture to be as uniform as possible.

Then there are a few spots that need a little more contouring like this here at the trigger guard root...


And, I think I'm going to blunt this "chin" a little more...


There is also ahead going to be a little woodworking happening.

These are the stocks I'm going to use...


Those have several minor issues with fitment that will require a little bit of modification for this project.

Note the raise boss on each scale that keys into the window on the sides of the mag well...


On our project 5906 the windows are about 3/8" longer that the boss on the scales at the bottom end. I do not want the fixing screws to be the sole means of keeping the grips in position plus that is not how the grips were designed. I already have a proven method of addressing this developed in fitting Nills 4506 stocks to a 1006 which had the exact same issue and I will share that when we get there...



Were we to not take care of that gap, the scales are free to slip downward about 1/8" without the screws in place...



But first I'll need to transfer the holes on the scales to the frame then fixture the frame on the mill table for drilling & tapping. Then there are a few more things to tend to.


Back here the steel is slightly proud of the wood so a touch more metal work is needed here...



Then, along the front of the mag well, the wood is proud of the steel a bit. So a little trim is in order here too...



And lastly on the starboard side scale... Since were installing a spring loaded decocker body on this gun we must have an ambi lever on the decocker body to keep it aligned laterally in the slide and not potentially interfere with the firing pin. So, we'll need to fixture the starboard scale in some fashion and mill this area to match the port side scale to permit free movement of the ambi lever...


That's all for now. Got some work coming in so my personal fun projects get put on the 'back burner' for a spell.

A couple other things I'm contemplating;

I recall seeing some custom job where the shoulders on the slide were stippled too. I don't remember exactly, might have been a Novak or a Nighthawk but anyway I'm thinking of doing that too.

And once all the metal work is done on the frame & slide I'm considering sending those up to H&M for a dunk in the molten salt bath

Stay well

Cheers
Bill

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Because they don't make a .46

Bill, your work looks great and I like the stocks you'll be using. What will a "dunk in the molten salt bath" accomplish?

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Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524