OP
thanks a lot bigmoose... (cool avatar)...
a M457 project
- Thread starter guzzitaco
- Start date
thanks a lot bigmoose... (cool avatar)...
OP
Stoned and sanded the carry cuts removing all machining marks. The cutter I used left very little marks, so this wasn't a big issue (a big depart from the hand filing days).
Also, addressed some rubbing in the front...
Some touches on the slide stop
Gave a light "brushing" to the barrel hood (just for looks)
The safety/decocker was a bit stiff since the beginning. Upon inspection, I realized the head was mangled, replaced it with a new one...voila...perfect "feeling"
Decided to put it together one last time before the bluing. I wanted to check everything to make sure there were no issues to address afterwards.
I change the trigger for a "hard chrome" one, also change the trigger pin for a SS one. I like the frame of a silver color lower to have silver color components.
I like the way it looks...
Made a deal with Cherrypointmarine...the finished gun will be going to him...
I wanted to buy a presentation box for this build, but prices are way to high...so I decided to build one...
Bought an inexpensive bought at Hobby Lobby...removed the "lunch box" handle and filed the hole.
Had some leftover "foam" from another project...
checked different ways of presenting the pistol, I wanted something like this. Later on realized that the material was hard to drill and abandoned the idea of the rounds...
Dyed the box...
made the cuts on the foam...
Box is ready...
more to come...
Also, addressed some rubbing in the front...
Some touches on the slide stop
Gave a light "brushing" to the barrel hood (just for looks)
The safety/decocker was a bit stiff since the beginning. Upon inspection, I realized the head was mangled, replaced it with a new one...voila...perfect "feeling"
Decided to put it together one last time before the bluing. I wanted to check everything to make sure there were no issues to address afterwards.
I change the trigger for a "hard chrome" one, also change the trigger pin for a SS one. I like the frame of a silver color lower to have silver color components.
I like the way it looks...
Made a deal with Cherrypointmarine...the finished gun will be going to him...
I wanted to buy a presentation box for this build, but prices are way to high...so I decided to build one...
Bought an inexpensive bought at Hobby Lobby...removed the "lunch box" handle and filed the hole.
Had some leftover "foam" from another project...
checked different ways of presenting the pistol, I wanted something like this. Later on realized that the material was hard to drill and abandoned the idea of the rounds...
Dyed the box...
made the cuts on the foam...
Box is ready...
more to come...
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kobsw
Member
Love it!!!
Your passion shines in the fine work you do and the lengths you're willing to goto for perfection.
This was very enjoyable, so thank you,
Kobsw
Your passion shines in the fine work you do and the lengths you're willing to goto for perfection.
This was very enjoyable, so thank you,
Kobsw
Zarr
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I second what 18DAI wrote. Since you started this thread, I have taken my stainless 457 (My winter/heavy clothing carry) back out of the safe, and have been carrying it. You do great work and are a true craftsman. I can't wait to see what your next project will be.
OP
Magnificent work! You have me carrying my 457 this week.
Congrats cherrypointmarine! You have a beautiful custom 457 there! Looking forward to the range report. Regards 18DAI
Thank you 18DAI...also thank you for all your help each time I ask one of my pesky questions...
Thank you Kobsw...you are most kind...still a couple of post to go...
Thank you Zarr....I almost buy a M457 SS slide for a project...I think they are look very nice nice in stainless...
for the future...I have two projects in the pipeline...
one...an old and beaten M6906 early slide...
two...another M457 project...cut in a different way...
Thank you Matt...I think you are right...I love two tones...
more to come...
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Great work, this is an inside look at building custom guns.
cherrypointmarine
Member
As always , Guzzitaco did beautiful work . Except this time it was me on the receiving end . A while back he said he was looking for a 5903 , which I happened to have , an Atlanta PD one . I told him if he cleaned up my beat up Zanders 457 , it was his .
He started with hand tools , and then got his mill . I've got to wonder what he could do with a Bridgeport ? Then the creative juices started flowing and also the ideas .
What I ended up with and what you see is a work of art and love . I also find myself wondering what he'll be doing for us in a couple of years . If he can do this now , being self taught and help from BMCM , he's going to be the guy we look to for work like this here on the forum .
I'm not taking anything from BMCM , he's worked on more than a few of my pistols . I never knew he did custom stuff until not long ago when another member told me what he did to his Smith . I think between the two of them , us forum members are extremely lucky to have such talent available to us . And I'm looking forward to the next segment of the story .
He started with hand tools , and then got his mill . I've got to wonder what he could do with a Bridgeport ? Then the creative juices started flowing and also the ideas .
What I ended up with and what you see is a work of art and love . I also find myself wondering what he'll be doing for us in a couple of years . If he can do this now , being self taught and help from BMCM , he's going to be the guy we look to for work like this here on the forum .
I'm not taking anything from BMCM , he's worked on more than a few of my pistols . I never knew he did custom stuff until not long ago when another member told me what he did to his Smith . I think between the two of them , us forum members are extremely lucky to have such talent available to us . And I'm looking forward to the next segment of the story .
Miami_JBT
US Veteran
5his thread makes me want to have my Model 909 get all dolled up.
OP
Thank you Old-Cop...it is fun building things...!!!
Thank you Cherrypointmarine...you have always been very supportive of my efforts and have always helped me ... I really appreciate your friendship...
The reality is that none of this would be possible without BMCM's (Bill) continuous guidance, help, coaching and inspiration. He really is a true craftsman and great builder...but more important: he is my friend and even though I haven't shaken his hand (yet), he has helped me more than people that I have known for 20 years or more...
I am not at the same level of BMCM...not even close...to put it in Star Wars terms: Bill is Master Yoda and I am not even a padawan ...
I don't think my next step will be to work on people's guns ...I am simply not ready yet, I worry too much about damaging things and sometimes that takes the fun away from it...
I am trying to build custom parts to begin with. Working on slides that I have accumulated over the past two years that I plan to customize and re-finish. Maybe later buy a gun, do a project and then sell it. Then 2, 3...and so on...
thank you Miami_JBT...
by the way...I always enjoy your threads tremendously...
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Miami_JBT
US Veteran
Dude, thank you!
I've always wanted a slicked up single stack but I didn't want to spend a bucket load of cash on the base pistol for the project. Luckily, I was able to get a mint conditioned Model 909 from a member here for a good price and I really enjoy that pistol. But I'd love to slick it up into the perfect carry piece.
OP
OP
The final step was the hot bluing of the slide. I dissasembled the whole pistol to clean everything.
Blasted the slide one last time...
re-touched all the bevels to eliminate shape corners and ensure simetry...
degrease all the parts...
got them into the bluing bath...
boiled them in hot water to eliminate any leftovers of the salts...
I like it...
had some issues bluing the MIM hammer. Had to re-do it...will explain some of the learnings in the Gunsmithing sub-forum...but at the end it worked fine...beautiful hammer...
next step was to install the front sight...
worked fine...didn't scratch the slide...
like the look of the top serrations...
installed the rear sight...yes, I re-blued it to match the slide color...also eliminated all the tooling marks...
(sorry no pics of the rear sight install...)
re-finish the safety/de-cocker using gunkote...black matte...cooked it in the oven for 2 hours...
assembled the frame...
almost ready...
more to come...
Blasted the slide one last time...
re-touched all the bevels to eliminate shape corners and ensure simetry...
degrease all the parts...
got them into the bluing bath...
boiled them in hot water to eliminate any leftovers of the salts...
I like it...
had some issues bluing the MIM hammer. Had to re-do it...will explain some of the learnings in the Gunsmithing sub-forum...but at the end it worked fine...beautiful hammer...
next step was to install the front sight...
worked fine...didn't scratch the slide...
like the look of the top serrations...
installed the rear sight...yes, I re-blued it to match the slide color...also eliminated all the tooling marks...
(sorry no pics of the rear sight install...)
re-finish the safety/de-cocker using gunkote...black matte...cooked it in the oven for 2 hours...
assembled the frame...
almost ready...
more to come...
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OP
Did the final assembly and took some pictures with different light settings...
serrations on the slide stop...
serrations on the safety/decocker
Steel mag catch nut...
Compared to an untouched M457. Here you can appreciated the different color of the slide after bluing.
ready to go home...
more to come...
serrations on the slide stop...
serrations on the safety/decocker
Steel mag catch nut...
Compared to an untouched M457. Here you can appreciated the different color of the slide after bluing.
ready to go home...
more to come...
DMcBB
Member
Wow that's awesome! Great work!
OP
Thank you 18DAI...Outstanding! Beautiful work. Thanks for taking us along!
Thank you DMcBB...
Thanks Matt...maybe the next one...
Like when Han tells Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon, your work is superb and your skill is extra ordinary. This is my first time viewing this project posting, I have to say I'm impressed by your craftsmanship and modesty.
In the initial postings when you were just working by hand, that was just top notch but once you got the mini milling machine that just took everything to another level.
One other thing is really fine photography. You took great pictures to lead us on this path. Thanks for sharing and reaffirming American Craftsmanship to all of us.
In the initial postings when you were just working by hand, that was just top notch but once you got the mini milling machine that just took everything to another level.
One other thing is really fine photography. You took great pictures to lead us on this path. Thanks for sharing and reaffirming American Craftsmanship to all of us.
