M4516-1 Project (MkI)

[guzzitaco]

Hi guys,
it has been sometime since my last project...

After I completed my M457 project (M457 Project (Mk III & IV) (Update Jan 2022)) I stopped carrying that gun. Somehow it became sort of a "demo" gun, so I show it to folks that want to see some of the work I've done.

The problem is that I really like that gun, so I decided to start looking for a possible replacement candidate...and, I always wanted a 4516-1 (I prefer the -1 because it has a shorter beaver tail than the -2)...in the middle of the search I also found a M4513, but that is another story...

So, believe it or not, on Facebook, I found a M4516-1 for sale at a gun shop...I made an offer and it was mine...

Some pics of what I got...















took it apart to check the "guts"...








ouch !!!




cleaned everything in the ultrasonic cleaner...


the hammer says "1016"...never seen another before...

After a some sanding, stoning, blasting and a trigger job... the frame was done...





next...the slide...

more to come

Guzzi

 

[Heymatt]

That was one filthy pistol!
Sooo about that 4513….. lol

 

[mytyace]

the previous owner should be arrested for child abuse

 

[S&W Fan]

It’s a true pleasure seeing the work you do on these wonderful 3rd gen Smiths. Looking forward to the completed project.

 

[squidsix]

Your work never fails to impress me my friend. Typically outstanding

 

[4T5GUY]

...in the middle of the search I also found a M4513, but that is another story...

You made that 4516 a 0 to 10 already with again doing your magic on a challenged example. But….

I’m with “Heymatt” again. Pre-rail 4513TSW, Non-railed Railed 4513TSW or Railed 4513TSW ???? Or maybe a PC 4513 MK1, MK2 or a Recon? At least with the PC’s you wouldn’t need to do the PC cuts unless you want/need to improve on.

Jim

 

[Heymatt]

Let’s not rush Guzzi’s story or his projects. Good things and artists shouldn’t be rushed!

 

[guzzitaco]

the previous owner should be arrested for child abuse

it should have been labeled bio-hazard...

It’s a true pleasure seeing the work you do on these wonderful 3rd gen Smiths. Looking forward to the completed project.

Thanks a lot...

Your work never fails to impress me my friend. Typically outstanding

Thank you brother...

You made that 4516 a 0 to 10 already with again doing your magic on a challenged example. But….

I’m with “Heymatt” again. Pre-rail 4513TSW, Non-railed Railed 4513TSW or Railed 4513TSW ???? Or maybe a PC 4513 MK1, MK2 or a Recon? At least with the PC’s you wouldn’t need to do the PC cuts unless you want/need to improve on.

Jim

Hi Jim,
it is a M4513 TSW no rail, "cut" grip (6 rounds), it was Matt's and he gave it to me for a trade (he felt sorry for me). Love that gun...

Doing some work on it right now....(purist, don't worry all original parts will be set aside so the original example can be displayed at the Smithsonian, after I pass of course!)

Let’s not rush Guzzi’s story or his projects. Good things and artists shouldn’t be rushed!

Thanks a lot...project is ready...posting will take some time...


more to come

Guzzi

 

[guzzitaco]

The slide

after the frame was ready...it was time to focus on the slide...

I wanted to run a double spring or a flat spring (thin guide rod), but this slide was designed for a the normal spring (thick guide rod). So, the first order of business was to send the slide to BMCM for some of this magic...


perfect bushing for the "thin" guide rod


bushing installed (it is polished )

BMCM work is perfect ...

The goal was to do a PC cut (AKA Guzzi Scallop) on the slide with front serrations, sort of a Recon 45 clone.

However, I was concerned about the weight/mass reduction.

There are several stories about the M4516 having ejection problems. The M4516-1 was supposed to get rid of them by adding mass to the slide, but apparently some issues persisted. Then the M4516-2 was introduced, with the "thin" guide rod and the double spring...and...all problems were cured...

So, by messing with the weight/mass ratio would I create an ejection problems?

I started to do some research...comparing weights of different slide models:

M457: Assembled (no guide rod, no barrel, plastic sights, one side safety) = 13.5 Oz

M4513: Assembled (no guide rod, no barrel, night sights, ambi safety) = 13.85 Oz

M4516-1: Assembled (no guide rod, no barrel, stock sights, ambi safety) = 13.85 Oz

Note: by using a single side safety on the M4516-1 the weight decreases to 13.6 Oz

M1013: Assembled (no guide rod, no barrel, stock sights, SINLGE side safety) = 12.8 Oz (runs like a charm)

Recon 45: Assembled (no guide rod, no barrel, stock sights, ambi safety) = 12.25 Oz



So, I decided to go ahead with the project, besides I had already "found" another M4516-1 slide



So, go the slide on the milling machine and started to work...













it was time to clean the milling marks and do some serrations...












more to come

Guzzi

 

[stansdds]

Did I, somewhere before, say something about turning a sow's ear into a silk purse? This 4516 did start out looking rough and very neglected, now it's becoming a masterpiece.

 

[JohnHL]

Hi, Guzzi!

Great work, as always.

I love my 4516-1.

It's the little gun that pulls your pants down just like a full size gun!

You showed a picture of two slides. I think you said you had picked up one as a spare.

From your other pictures, it looks like the 4516-1 that you are improving has the wide barrel hood so should be the "two line" slide (lower in picture)?

It seems to have been modified for the "springer" decocker.

Was that your work?

The upper slide in your picture is a "five line" slide that has the slimmed safety lever(s) and the large, single spring recoil spring guide.

Is that your spare?

Does it also have the earlier narrow hood barrel?

Thanks!

John

 

[GaryS]

Funniest line ever on this forum!

Hi, Guzzi!

Great work, as always.

I love my 4516-1.

It's the little gun that pulls your pants down just like a full size gun!

You showed a picture of two slides. I think you said you had picked up one as a spare.

From your other pictures, it looks like the 4516-1 that you are improving has the wide barrel hood so should be the "two line" slide (lower in picture)?

It seems to have been modified for the "springer" decocker.

Was that your work?

The upper slide in your picture is a "five line" slide that has the slimmed safety lever(s) and the large, single spring recoil spring guide.

Is that your spare?

Does it also have the earlier narrow hood barrel?

Thanks!

John

 

[guzzitaco]

Did I, somewhere before, say something about turning a sow's ear into a silk purse? This 4516 did start out looking rough and very neglected, now it's becoming a masterpiece.

Thanks a lot Stan...

Hi, Guzzi!

Great work, as always.

I love my 4516-1.

It's the little gun that pulls your pants down just like a full size gun!

You showed a picture of two slides. I think you said you had picked up one as a spare.

From your other pictures, it looks like the 4516-1 that you are improving has the wide barrel hood so should be the "two line" slide (lower in picture)?

It seems to have been modified for the "springer" decocker.

Was that your work?

The upper slide in your picture is a "five line" slide that has the slimmed safety lever(s) and the large, single spring recoil spring guide.

Is that your spare?

Does it also have the earlier narrow hood barrel?

Thanks!

John

Hi John,
you have a fine eye for details...yes, that is a spring decocker mod. BMCM did it for me !!! I don't have a spring decocker, but maybe in the future...

Both of the slides have narrow barrel hood, but in one of the pics it looks like a wide barrel (just went to the safe to double check )

Also, both slides came with the same "slimmed" safety...

M4516-1 slides (top is the spare)


M4516-1 slide vs. M4513TSW top (wide hood)


thanks a lot for the nice comments...!!!

Funniest line ever on this forum!

 

[JohnHL]

Thanks, Guzzi!

John

 

[guzzitaco]

After the serrations were done, I did a lot of blasting and some steel "brushing". Painted the red dot on the "right" side of the frame. Need to buy some new grips...

Took some pics...

















Took it to the range. Ran 100 rounds...no issues...none


shooting at 15yds

For some reason I started shooting a bit low, but after a bit, issue was corrected...gun is accurate.

Hope you guys like it...

Guzzi

 

[GaryS]

Looks great. Did you make that stand?

After the serrations were done, I did a lot of blasting and some steel "brushing". Painted the red dot on the "right" side of the frame. Need to buy some new grips...

Took some pics...

















Took it to the range. Ran 100 rounds...no issues...none


shooting at 15yds

For some reason I started shooting a bit low, but after a bit, issue was corrected...gun is accurate.

Hope you guys like it...

Guzzi

 

[Heymatt]

Night and day difference from start to finished product!
Simply amazing!

 

[guzzitaco]

Looks great. Did you make that stand?

thanks !!!
no got the stand on eBay...

Night and day difference from start to finished product!
Simply amazing!

Thanks a lot Matt !!!

 

[stansdds]

A masterpiece!

 

[guzzitaco]

A masterpiece!

thanks a lot !!!