safearm
US Veteran
Last year, I purchased a complete Colt Government Model Series 70 9mm slide and 2 magazines with the idea of building a complete gun. I had been looking for a 1911 in a full size caliber as all I had was a Walther Colt .22. I had carried and shot 1911s for many years, exclusively in .45ACP, and I wanted something that wouldn't be so hard on my arthritic hands. A full-size 1911 in 9mm seemed like the best choice.
I located a partially complete Essex stainless steel frame for a very reasonable price. It didn't have grips or a slide stop, but everything else was there. It also came with a flat mainspring housing, which is the type I prefer. The previous owner had also bobbed the spur hammer to prevent hammer bite; it was a little crude, but worked.
Here is what I started with: (Pictures 1 and 2)
The first thing I did was place an order with Brownell's. I replaced the original collet style barrel bushing with an Ed Brown Drop-In bushing. I also bought a Wilson Combat 9mm/.38 Super slide stop and an extended ejector with pin. New Wolff springs, a set of Pachmyar combat grips, and hex head grip screws finished my first order. I assembled everything and went out for a test fire.
The gun was very accurate and easy to shoot. The all steel frame really absorbed the recoil and I didn't have any problems. I fired a variety of ammunition including Remington 115 grain FMJ, Speer 124 grain Gold Dot +P, and WWB 147 grain JHP. The gun did well with everything but the 147 grain JHP. There were a number of Failures-to-Feed, although the gun fired and the cases extracted normally. (Picture 3)
While I was pleased with the accuracy and functioning, I decided I needed a set of high visibility sights. The 1970's era sights were adequate, but my 55+ year old eyes were not up to the task. Brownell's received another order, this time for a set of Maryland Gun Works' improved ramp front sight and a Harrison Design Retro rear sight. I had my local gunsmith install the sights and then went out for another test fire. With the high front sight, I found that I had to hold the front on, instead of below, the target. However, once I figured that, it was easy to keep the bullets in the target. (Picture 4)
Now that everything worked, I had to decide what type of finish I wanted. I liked the blue of the slide, and was actually considering a two-tone, blue over polished stainless, finish. If you have ever handled an Essex frame, you know that while they are very robust, the surface finish is terrible. After a week of hand polishing the frame, I decided to go with an overall finish.
I researched the different products available and spoke with my local dealer, who suggested I use a local gunsmith who also does metal re-finishing. I met the gunsmith at one of the bi-monthly gun shows and he showed me samples of guns that he had re-finished in Duracoat. I selected a semi-gloss black for the entire gun and delivered the gun to him.
While I was waiting for the refinishing, I purchased a set of Herrett's fancy grain smooth 1911 grips. I already had a set of Tombstone's synthetic ivory grips with a carved American eagle from a previous Colt .45ACP 1911. I also had an El Paso Saddlery 1930 Austin holster, so I was ready when the gun was finished.
Here's what it looks like with the Tombstone grips. The Herrett's grips, with the palm swell, are very nice to hold, but the ivory eagle grips really look nice against the black finish. The gunsmith that did the refinishing also polished the aluminum trigger and the bobbed hammer, which allows the gun to have an original look without the hammer bite. While I don't go to that many barbeques, I now have a gun and rig that can go with me. (Picture 5)
I located a partially complete Essex stainless steel frame for a very reasonable price. It didn't have grips or a slide stop, but everything else was there. It also came with a flat mainspring housing, which is the type I prefer. The previous owner had also bobbed the spur hammer to prevent hammer bite; it was a little crude, but worked.
Here is what I started with: (Pictures 1 and 2)
The first thing I did was place an order with Brownell's. I replaced the original collet style barrel bushing with an Ed Brown Drop-In bushing. I also bought a Wilson Combat 9mm/.38 Super slide stop and an extended ejector with pin. New Wolff springs, a set of Pachmyar combat grips, and hex head grip screws finished my first order. I assembled everything and went out for a test fire.
The gun was very accurate and easy to shoot. The all steel frame really absorbed the recoil and I didn't have any problems. I fired a variety of ammunition including Remington 115 grain FMJ, Speer 124 grain Gold Dot +P, and WWB 147 grain JHP. The gun did well with everything but the 147 grain JHP. There were a number of Failures-to-Feed, although the gun fired and the cases extracted normally. (Picture 3)
While I was pleased with the accuracy and functioning, I decided I needed a set of high visibility sights. The 1970's era sights were adequate, but my 55+ year old eyes were not up to the task. Brownell's received another order, this time for a set of Maryland Gun Works' improved ramp front sight and a Harrison Design Retro rear sight. I had my local gunsmith install the sights and then went out for another test fire. With the high front sight, I found that I had to hold the front on, instead of below, the target. However, once I figured that, it was easy to keep the bullets in the target. (Picture 4)
Now that everything worked, I had to decide what type of finish I wanted. I liked the blue of the slide, and was actually considering a two-tone, blue over polished stainless, finish. If you have ever handled an Essex frame, you know that while they are very robust, the surface finish is terrible. After a week of hand polishing the frame, I decided to go with an overall finish.
I researched the different products available and spoke with my local dealer, who suggested I use a local gunsmith who also does metal re-finishing. I met the gunsmith at one of the bi-monthly gun shows and he showed me samples of guns that he had re-finished in Duracoat. I selected a semi-gloss black for the entire gun and delivered the gun to him.
While I was waiting for the refinishing, I purchased a set of Herrett's fancy grain smooth 1911 grips. I already had a set of Tombstone's synthetic ivory grips with a carved American eagle from a previous Colt .45ACP 1911. I also had an El Paso Saddlery 1930 Austin holster, so I was ready when the gun was finished.
Here's what it looks like with the Tombstone grips. The Herrett's grips, with the palm swell, are very nice to hold, but the ivory eagle grips really look nice against the black finish. The gunsmith that did the refinishing also polished the aluminum trigger and the bobbed hammer, which allows the gun to have an original look without the hammer bite. While I don't go to that many barbeques, I now have a gun and rig that can go with me. (Picture 5)
