M457 Project (Mk III & IV) (Update Jan 2022)

guzzitaco

guzzitaco

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Hi guys,

I have been working on this project for sometime, but haven't had a chance to post.

I started with a M457 that was in pretty good condition...The owner wanted some customization done to the slide...




small scratch in the frame...


made it look better with a touch of alum black (works ok on tiny scratches)


Since I was doing a M457, I decided to tackle an extra M457 slide that I had in the "parts box". Disassembled both of them and cleaned them well.


made a "plan"


applied some layout fluid


drew some marks for reference...




on the milling machine...




a few pases...


the other side too...


out of the machine...


some tooling marks :confused:


the two were ready for the next step...


Cleaned the machining marks...


Inspired by BMCM's "recipe"...The Recipe - 3rd gen slide serrations

I decided to give it a try...(I had practiced a ton on scrap metal before...)


on the machine again...






one side done...


other side...







Both sides done...
Guzzi's scallop + BMCM's serrations

I guess this is what the youngsters call a "colab"

More to come...:D
 
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Really nice work again. You are there.

So you've given up on hand files to do the serrations? :D

Once I find an extra slide for my 457S I'm in. We got so much "grief" here when you did that duplicate CS40 slide for me. (Thanks again.) I'm thinking there will be less "howling" as you do more. Heck, the CS's and 457's were just Value Line offerings needing cosmetic improvement anyway right?

Great post and excellent pictures.

Jim
 
Makman90 said:
Guzz absolutely knocked it out of the park on this 457 of mine!!
Click to expand...

Wow. Yes for sure. That is REALLY absolutely perfectly nice. Just my biased opinion of course.

Edit to add… Cool little micro. I've never thought to picture an example with a "back drop." Sorry for the temporary drift.

Jim
 

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M457 Project (Mk III & IV)

That makes the plain Jane all business 457 look great. Well done and makes me want one too. [emoji23]
 
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Heymatt said:
As always, looking good! The front serrations are the next step in the evolution of the Guzzi scallop��
Click to expand...

Hey Matt...thanks for the comments...yes, this certainly is an evolution...

18DAI said:
Masterful work! Beautiful pistol! I gotta get me one of those. ;) Regards 18DAI
Click to expand...

Thanks you DAI...

Heymatt said:
That one "parts" slide looks awfully familiar��
Click to expand...

Yes...it does...:D

03Fatboy said:
That makes the plain Jane all business 457 look great. Well done and makes me want one too. [emoji23]
Click to expand...
Thank you Fatboy...

4T5GUY said:
Really nice work again. You are there.

So you've given up on hand files to do the serrations? :D

Once I find an extra slide for my 457S I'm in. We got so much "grief" here when you did that duplicate CS40 slide for me. (Thanks again.) I'm thinking there will be less "howling" as you do more. Heck, the CS's and 457's were just Value Line offerings needing cosmetic improvement anyway right?

Great post and excellent pictures.

Jim
Click to expand...

Thank you Jim...I agree, this gun is a great subject for a cosmetic "improvement"...fantastic pistol...my EDC...

on the serrations: no I haven't given up on hand serrations...some are coming latter on this thread...:cool:
 
Makman90 said:
Guzz absolutely knocked it out of the park on this 457s7 of mine!!

I love it!!! The attention to detail and clean machine work is outstanding.
I knew to expect it to be great from all the pics I've seen.. but this is top tier work down to the beautiful blue job.
Click to expand...

Thank you Makmman...this was a fun project...took some time to go over some "speed bumps"...but I like the result...

More to come...:)
 
I bet it went a lot faster than when you did my 457 . As always , your work is better than some custom shops . We're lucky to have you and BMCM here . You need to save your pennies for a new larger mill , that would open up a whole new world for you .
 
cherrypointmarine said:
I bet it went a lot faster than when you did my 457 . As always , your work is better than some custom shops . We're lucky to have you and BMCM here . You need to save your pennies for a new larger mill , that would open up a whole new world for you .
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot cherrypointmarine...you have always been very supportive...really, thank you...

Heymatt said:
I have another 457 slide floating around if someone needs one "Guzzied up":)
Click to expand...

well, well, well....when are you going to stop by? :D

kobsw said:
OUTSTANDING!!!

Best Regards,

Kobsw
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot Kobsw...
 
After all the machining was done, I decided to spend sometime "erasing" some of the machining marks that came from the factory...especially those on the top of the slide...




To do this I used a marble block and some wet sandpaper...and a lot of elbow grease...




also, polished the barrel bushing...


fitted steel rear sights...


opened a U notch on the rear sight, to .140, for faster sight acquisition...BMCM's idea...


did some beveling on the front, to remove the sharp edges left after the scallop cut...








I decided to do some rear serrations in one of the slides...


still, using hand files...:)

At this point, we were ready for some hot bluing...


I have a very basic setup, but it is very practical to do small frames, slides and small parts (triggers and hammers)


things were looking good...


after the bluing bath, submerged in a boiling water bath to eliminate all traces of the bluing solution...


let it sleep overnight, submerged in Mobil 1...


In the meantime, focused on retouching the safety and the extractor...


done...

After around 6 hours of wait, I couldn't resist the temptation and took the slide out of the old to check it out...









things were looking good...

More to come...:)
 
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Guzzi, Austin has gotten me following your work. Love seeing all the progress pics. I think I am going to have you work some magic on one or two of my 3rd gens in the near future!
 
I am happy we have craftsman like guzzitaco and BMCM here. Generous, talented gentlemen who not only keep our 3rd Gen pistols up and running, but now customize and make pistols we WANT to own.

It is sad that the current company calling itself s&w won't make a 457, like what guzzitaco has created. Instead, they come out with a CSX. An answer to a question nobody asked.

Oh well, off to the auction boards to find another used 457. This one to send to guzzitaco to turn into a MK4-457. :) Regards 18DAI
 
18DAI said:
It is sad that the current company calling itself s&w won't make a 457, like what guzzitaco has created.
Click to expand...

My question is could they? Reading reviews of the current 41 (and Victory,) offerings INCLUDING the "PC's" :rolleyes: I'm not sure I'd want a 457 made by S&W nowadays.

Years ago someone posted that for S&W to make a 645 it'd be over $1,200.00, IF they even still could.

Jim
 
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