My take on the S&W CS45

[Sod]

Thanks Mike, comparing me to Scott is quite a compliment! I'm curious how you came to make the comparison?

I don't really know why, but that just popped into my mind when I saw it.
Maybe the fact that are both niche guns with a loyal following and both his work and yours are both radical transformations. Yours even more so than his. I did notice that you trimmed the extractor flush with the slide and my Shorty 45 extractor is full thickness the entire length. I prefer your extractor design to my SFF.

 

[inboost]

Well thanks again for the compliment and the appreciation of my handiwork. I had hoped there would be a noticeable difference in extractor 'elevation' between loaded/unloaded so it would serve as a loaded chamber indicator by touch. Due to the long pivot point it moves so very little it's hard to tell. Since the extractor is hardened it was also a chore to try and skinny it up. That's cool that you have a Shorty 45, I think it looks a bit better than my chopped up CS45.

 

[bad_man_ one]

Inboost,
That is one BEAUTIFUL job you did on that firearm!
Where did you find someone to laser mark it?
Regards,
BM1

 

[gfd_703]

I'll take it. Sorry wrong forum man. The proper place to list this item in the for sale forum. I will say it again before anyone beats me to it when you do post in the correct forum. I WILL TAKE IT.

 

[vulcan762]

That looks fantastic. Very nice job. I would also be interested to learn more about the laser etching job. Im contemplating milling the flat sides of my 1006 and one of my concerns was loosing the S&W logo and model information. Love the two tone color combo. Looks sweet.

 

[inboost]

Where did you find someone to laser mark it?

That would be myself! I'm lucky enough to have a mill, lathe, and 35W Legend Epilog laser engraving machine at work I can twiddle with after hours. To apply the laser marking to the aluminum is just a simple burn. The Stainless requires painting on a special material (Cermark) and then fusing in onto the stainless with the laser which turns it black. I hated the goofy original CS45 slide markings, looked right out of Mork & Mindy to me. The font I picked gives it an 'agency' look and S&W is kind enough to provide hi res logos on their sight for download. I toyed a lot with the idea of marking this gun with the Performance Center logo on the RHS of the frame. In the end felt like I would be misleading those who saw it even though it got far more than that crew would be willing to ever do to it. Can you believe I was turned down for frame refinishing by S&W because I did the bead blasting myself (Even when I suggested/offered to sign a 'best effort' waiver)?

I'm really glad I decided to share it on this website, as no one I show it to locally understands it's not a 'regular' CS45. Just not a lot of them floating around here I guess. The armorer where I had it inspected exclaimed to his coworker, "Look, S&W's made a new CS45" to which I replied, "No, I made a new CS45" which instantly got me access to the tool room and about 100 questions to follow. Other than the group here at the forum every other comment has been, "Oh, nice gun". So thanks again to all who have showed appreciation

 

[4864]

A true custom combat hand gun. Exceptional job Sir. Thank you very much for sharing your work with us.

 

[inboost]

I'll take it. Sorry wrong forum man. The proper place to list this item in the for sale forum. I will say it again before anyone beats me to it when you do post in the correct forum. I WILL TAKE IT.

I'll take that as quite a compliment, thank you GFD. I'm not sure I could add up the blood, sweat, and tears I lavished on this piece to a dollar amount that would make separation possible

 

[Forsmithers]

Absolutely, DROP DEAD gorgeous and a huge improvement over the funny look of the stock CS45 and the Chief's Special line of autoloaders.

If you could duplicate the work on customer's guns I would be willing to bet you'd have quite a line of people begging for the mods on their pistols.

All of the modifications have a purpose and an aesthetic value that is beyond compare to the original. And the laser engraving is more than first rate. And what is better than "First Rate" anyhow?

 

[Racer X]

is it legal to remove the serial number, even if you re-etch it? Because, honestly, how does S&W, and the BATFE know that's the right ser #?

 

[inboost]

is it legal to remove the serial number, even if you re-etch it? Because, honestly, how does S&W, and the BATFE know that's the right ser #?

It is absolutely illegal to tamper with a serial number. Lucky for me the CS45 has it's serial number in three places and three sizes (the one under grip is huge) so there was no way I could get in trouble. All of the original serial numbers were visible after bead blasting and anodize as the laser used by the manufacturer is very powerful and I was specifically careful about maintaining their integrity. The model and serial number listed below the slide stop was easy to see if you wet it with oil, but on a dry frame is was a little difficult to make out. So I went the extra mile to make it stand out again by re-marking over the top of it. It turned out to be about 17 extra miles in the end but the visual improvement and factory look made it worth it.

Here's how I did it:

• Scan high resolution picture of frame using flatbed scanner
• Import picture into drawing program
• Spend a day looking through font catalogs only to find none match
• Trace over original text with 'pencil' tool at 1600% magnification
• Create line-up marks based on frame pin holes
• Lathe turn delrin line up pins to insert in frame pin holes
• Laser cut a piece of plastic flat stock with holes made to fit delrin pegs
• Load frame on to work jig which is now aligned with the drawing
• Place paper over serial / model number area and rub with fingernail to emboss
• Run job with laser at min power / max speed to burn paper only
• Lift paper and evaluate line-up between embossed characters and hand drawn characters using backlight
• Adjust location of text block and try again
• and again
• and again
• and again
• and again
• and again (getting the idea this might be a slow T&E process )
• Remove paper and run job at proper marking speed

 

[SoCalDep]

Wow! I can't tell you how much I love what you did with that!

I have a CS45 and I really like it. You solved all my complaints about it and made it look gorgeous!

So...Would you be willing to modify one of my mags to the flush fit? If so how much do you think it would cost? I'd LOVE to have a flush-fit mag and I can provide a P220 floor plate as well.

 

[vulcan762]

Lots of work but definitely worth it in the end. Best looking CS45 Ive ever seen. If S&W had any sense at all they would flat rip off your look and do a limited production run of CS45's and 40's through the Performance Center. There is still plenty of market for small frame autos with big bullets. Alloy & steel handles the load better than plastic, in my opinion. Plus..thats just sexy as hell!

Ever since I saw this I have been envisioning my 1006 in two tone.

 

[Two Guns]

Hands down best CS45 I have ever seen.Great job and thanks for posting the pics.

 

[inboost]

Would you be willing to modify one of my mags to the flush fit?

SoCalDep, I'll be the first to admit it's not an easy transformation. The machine work is easy with my jig, but the bending is the b*tch. My first mag required welding both tabs back on, my second mag required one welded back on. I'm hoping my technique is now good and the third will be a winner. The basic problem is bending the tough stainless mag wall material to a sharp 90. It wants to crack and snap off right after you get your first 30 degrees or so into the bend. Heat and finesse are definitely the heart of the technique. If #3 comes out good I'll send you a PM. We'll have to make sure the baseplate and lock you have are in fit and function to the Mec-Gar units I scavenged my parts from.

If S&W had any sense at all they would flat rip off your look and do a limited production run of CS45's and 40's through the Performance Center.

Vulcan, considering I really stole the idea from their Shorty 45 I would be honored if they wanted to run copies of my project. I would even be happy to send it to them (as long as I got it back!) for the cloning along with the notes I made on my work. You know what they say, Imitation is the highest form of flattery!

Hands down best CS45 I have ever seen.Great job and thanks for posting the pics.

My pleasure Two Guns, thanks for the compliment!

 

[Racer X]

thanks for the write up on the engraving.

 

[cmtaylor25550]

More practice...

I dunno... It looks to me like you could use a little more practice to perfect your efforts... And lucky for you I would be willing to trade you my completely bone stock CS-45 even-up for your "first attempt at perfection" CS-45... I live on the WV/OH border and might even be talked into meetin' you halfway for the exchange...

OK enough with my bull c**p... What a truly incredible job... All of it... The rounded edges, the refinishing, the grip mod, the mag mod, the laser work every aspect of your effort is truly top notch perfection!!! I would love to have the skill, resources, confidence, and most of all the courage to undertake such a project.

Thanks very, very much for sharing!

 

[ENGINE18]

Fantastic! That's what I call a concealable .45acp!!!

 

[inboost]

I dunno... It looks to me like you could use a little more practice to perfect your efforts... And lucky for you I would be willing to trade you my completely bone stock CS-45 even-up for your "first attempt at perfection" CS-45... I live on the WV/OH border and might even be talked into meetin' you halfway for the exchange...

OK enough with my bull c**p... What a truly incredible job... All of it... The rounded edges, the refinishing, the grip mod, the mag mod, the laser work every aspect of your effort is truly top notch perfection!!! I would love to have the skill, resources, confidence, and most of all the courage to undertake such a project.

Thanks very, very much for sharing!

CMTaylor,

Thanks for the compliments, you had me grinning as I had a coworker try and work the same line on me (although he had no other gun to offer). It's been a great gun and has withstood the test of time so far. Looks like it did the day it came off the bench.

Fantastic! That's what I call a concealable .45acp!!!

Engine18,

I wear some big pocket pants (Eotach) so it does drop in well. The only really gripe I have is that the rear XS sight has a pretty sharp corner on it which wants to poke through the pocket material. I would chop it up and smooth it out but I'm guessing the tritium insert would have to be sacrificed. I'm sure XS would relamp it for me but I must admit I've just been enjoying it as it is.

 

[ArmyCop]

Nice work. I CC a CS45 when able. When not able I pocket carry the 642.

Last evening I was able to get to the range with my CS45 - haven't shot it in a long long time. It's a great shooter for such a compact.