Hi guys,

Our friend HeyMatt wanted to add a scallop cut to his M6946. Since he wanted to keep the pistol original, he found a spare slide and parts online. So, in this project, like many others, no pistol was modified, just a spare slide.



there were a lot of dings and scratches on the business end of the slide...


so, I did some work on it...I left it there, because I didn't want to remove too much material...


then I took some measurements....


drew some reference lines...


and clamped it in the milling machine.


started the process...


passes are shallow, 2 thousands of an inch each one...small machine...feeding speed is slow...to minimize machining marks...


progress...


details...

and then...

...machining part was over...


cleaned the marks...


did some beveling to remove the sharp edges and finished polishing the barrel bushing...

more to come...

I can hardly wait to see it complete on the lower.

Another perfectly wonderful job and a piece of art. I’m glad you mentioned the fact that the originality can be returned. In the end the original example won’t be “compromised”. No one should be offended.

Jim

Nice work as always, Guzzi!

You've done a number of these now.

Can you share any techniques you've learned and applied to the process to make it faster/easier/smoother/better?

John?

Thank you John...

some things I have learned...some of them the hard way...

1) S&W slides are hard...I mean really hard. Stainless ones seem a bit softer than carbon (blue) ones...I have used different cutters...the best so far is carbide with an Atin coating...however, these are expensive...no real bargains here...the more expensive the cutter the better it is...Like what Jeff Cooper used to say "normally you get what you pay for..."

2) Feeding speed (the rate that I crank) the handle needs to be slow but constant...I am looking for a power feeder now that can have a very low speed...need to stay focus on what I'm doing...if I stop paying attention and start listing to much to the music...kaputt...mistake happens...

3) Shallow cuts give better results...I can do cases of 3 or 4 thou, but the machine vibrates too much...since it is too light (milling machines weights only 160 lbs). So, I need to take shallow cuts and a slow speed...this takes time...

4) it was a steep leaning curve in many small things...like how to "attached" the end mill to the machine properly...how tight the vise should go...and things like that...

5) light is your friend...I invested in lighting...diffrent lights that can attach to the milling machine...the shadows are a problem and I work at night...when I get home after my other job...


BMCM has helped a LOT...a TON...he has a lot of experience and is very patient and generous.

...but, I like doing this a lot...I mean, the feeling of "shaping" or "building" something is great...I know all of this is really basic to some experienced guys, but remember I was using hand files year ago, so to me the journey has been great...

hope this helps...

The original 6946 is an early square trigger guard with laser etching on the outside of the slide.
The one that Guzzi is working on, is a later slide with the laser etching on the inside of the slide.
Not that this model is rare or hard to find. But I wanted the option to return the pistol to as built condition if needed. Hence the second slide

Thanks a lot for the details behind the pictures, Guzzi!

That's the tech stuff that I crave!

Are you ready to start looking for a used Bridgeport?

John

Very nice and wise to use a spare slide so that the pistol's originality can be retained.

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

Nice work (again) Guzzi. You could make a Glock look good.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Let's not get carried away there!

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

I don't know, Gary...

Imagine a Glock with a Guzzi PC Scallop, and rounding off those square corners.

It would do a lot for the looks!

John

Silk purse, sow's ear.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

With these modifications do you find a change in the way the gun functions? It seems that a lighter slide would require a change to the recoil spring and would slam the frame harder. Have you had any problems? It does look nice.

This made me laugh..

this too...

Never thought about it...problem is too many people working on Glocks...few people making 3rd gens look different...

...but never say never...

Thank you guys ...

Hi cmj,

good observation. This subject has been discussed in other threads were I have presented the same mods on other slides...

The weight of the striped slide before the cut was 9.7 Oz.

The weight of the stripped slide after the cuts is 9.3 Oz.

The total wight reduction is 0.4 Oz. or 4.12%.

Cuts are shallow, only 35 thousands deep. There is no impact in the way the gun functions. Cuts on the Performance Center slides are a bit deeper, hence a lighter slide, and they use the same recoil spring.

Change in total weight is too little to present an issue...

Hope this helps...

Guzzi

The photos make it look like you are taking way more material off than .035. That small of a change in the slide weight shouldn't matter much in real life. Nice modification. It really makes the gun look custom.

yes, only 35thou per side...


plan...


initial measuring...


end on left side...

forgot to take pics of the right side...but it is right there at 0.850"

more to come...

Blasted, brushed and started to put things together...


took me some time to remove a major ding here...


installed the sights...was concerned about scratching something...

She was ready...


















more to come...

Dayuum! That looks awesome��

Another work,of beauty

Hi guys...

Matt stopped by to get this M6946...we took some pics of the complete gun...(sorry there are not many pics, I was in a hurry to take the kids to the movies...)


M6946 with the original slide


original slide stop


modified "spare" slide




polished barrel bushing and guide rod


restored "spare" slide stop



hope you guys like it...

Guzzi

Love the polished scallop. What a work of art.

As always , you went beyond what one could imagine . Can't wait to see my 908S .

Time for me to line up some work on my 457S.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

"hope you guys like it...

Guzzi"


I know I do!!!

I too have a 457S , nib . I was considering sending it , but the 908S won pout . He's also working on my CS40 slide . This way I'll have a whole top end I can change out for 10mm . We are truly lucky to have guzzitaco and BMCM here on the forum to work on our children .