The first objective of the research I did into selecting parts for this build was to find a solid base for the pistol: the slide, frame,
I knew I wanted a forged carbon steel slide and frame from a reputable maker. Without the equipment to do machine work, the frame and slide I picked would have to be close to fitting together but leav enough material to get the tight “custom” fit of a first-class 1911.
Folowing some solid advice from Steve Owens, of Integrity Arms, I picked Caspian Arms for the slide and JEM Guns for the frame. I ordered the slide with Novak dovetail cuts, a ball cut at the front, and no logos. The frame is pretty standard with 25LPI front strap checkering and no rail.
At first, I was pretty sure I wanted a Wilson Combat barrel. But I found that many custom gunsmiths used Kart, so I looked at them more closely. The Kart X-ACT fit barrel seemed like a good place to start for a first build and I had settled on it until I watched a Mosin Virus video about barrel fitting. It convinced me that I could fit the bottom lugs (the X-ACT fit barrel comes with bottom lugs, link, and pin already machined) so I ordered a Kart gunsmith fit barrel.
I will match the barrel up with an EGW Angle-Bore Thick-Flange Barrel Bushing, but I won’t be able to order that until I have the slide. EGW will bore their bushing to fit the barrel outside diameter (0.580″, in my case) that you provide and offer a number of different outside diameters to match the inside diameter of the slide.
A significant expense in building
To fit the barrel, I have the Brownells’ Barrel Lug Fitting Kit, Locking Lug File, and Barrel Alignment Block. Finishing the chamber requires a Chamber Reamer by Clymers.
There may not be much more for me to say about this build for a little while because my frame and slide are about four weeks from delivery. I thought the frame might have been in stock, but it is not. If there’s something I discover or need to point out about the other parts I already have, I’ll write about it.
For those considering building
If you’ve started partway into this series, you can find the beginning here. And you can continue with Part 3.