Greetings and Salutations!
Well that went well.
I got the 1911 done last night, and spent the day getting it all finished up and reassembled. The coating (OD Duracoat) came out pretty well:
Once it dried completely I unmasked it and checked the slide to make sure there wasn’t any overspray or build up issues.
As a heads up for anyone using this or Cerakote or even the Alumahyde coatings: Too heavy a layer on the moving parts literally locks up the parts. As in sticking/no movement or bad fitment. On weapons sometimes the tolerances are measured in micrometers, so layering a thicc coat of -something- is enough to jack up the functionality of a weapon.
I unfortunately don’t have the pictures anymore, but when I was working part-time at a local gun store, I learned how to Cerakote. I did a custom job that I learned about the whole ‘too much is too much’ on this project. It was a Spike’s Tactical “The Jack” lower with what can only be described as a “Halloween AR”
Yes, it is a skull lower.
What I find interesting is that the skull’s profile is much lower than on the one I did. The one I worked on was back in 2007? as I recall? I read somewhere that the original ones had structural issues… maybe, maybe not. I did find a picture of a custom one that the profile matches for the one I worked on:
The one I did was Flat Black with the “Zombie Green” blening into it. It came out really well and I’ve got ‘sad panda face’ that the pictures didn’t survive. Thing of it was that I needed to do it a couple of times b/c I was so heavy-handed with the ‘Kote.
In the end it all worked out, so as with this project, live and learn. Who said you can’t teach an Old Grunt New Tricks?
Now for the unveiling:
The black really makes it ‘pop’ IMO.
Oversized Mag Release.
Oversized Slide Lock/Release
Oversized Safety
Custom Competition Trigger
Wilson Combat Hammer and new springs all around.
MagPul Panels.
So at least that project in the end turned out pretty well. NOT what I had originally planned on, but hey, if it works, it works.
So your thoughts?
More Later
Big Country
I think it looks better in the green myself. I notice the sights are green too… any visibility issues with that, BC?
Any other upgrades planned?
I have one of those Jack receivers. Built it into a “special” rifle and had a custom Cerakote job done on it. I’ll dig thru my pics and send you some. The receiver was no longer on Spikes Tactical website at the time but the owner was good enough to sell me one of his. That’s the kind of people I like doing business with.
Looks good. Would not mind having one of mine look like that. Got a Remington R1 that could benefit from some thing like that. Might have to try it and see what happens.
Looks good, I like it.
Long as it’s able to function as JMBPBUH intended, there’s really no WRONG way to 1911.
Seems like you could make some good dinero selling these rescues.
How do you like the Magpul panels?
They look good for the money and a less $$$ than my default VZ, Altimonts, or 10-8s
Bravo on the 1911! Personally, I like this color scheme better than the previous camoflage one.
You should have hydrodipped it camo…
(Runs like hell)
I was just KIDDING!!! Put down the Flammenwerfer !!
Very tastefully done. A few, useful mods, this is the way!
If you can see those sights, congrats! I need giant, adjustable, Novak type, big sights.
Today, I found out my Tisas, Carry, is a clone of Ed Browns, 2000, intro of the, Commander size, bobtail, Kobra Carry (a review in the Shooting Times). The aggregate total average was 2.64″ for 3, 5 shot strings for each of the 7 loads, from sand bags, that’s OUTSTANDING! What did my Tisas do? 3-5″, free style, at 25 yards. That’s as good as can I get. I’ll try sand bagging it, one of these days.
The (currently) $3295 Ed Brown, shot all 7, tested loads, 3 inches low left at 25 yds. My $500 to possibly, 700 dollar Tisas Carry, shot 5+ loads perfectly centered on the sight picture.
Would I trade? Sure, then sell the Ed Brown and buy another Tisas 1911 and a Tisas Regent BR-9, (P-35 Hi Power) And a thousand rounds of practice ammo and a thousand rounds of social loads for each. I fondled a like new, used one at the pawn shop the other day, it was perfect, they’re asking $450 for it. YES I should jump on it, but I can’t without selling something, because I got the poors.
you need to make a “stash” fund. it what I started a few years ago. YES. I also have a case of the poors.
anyway, about 2 years ago trying to score some 22lr on a turkey day sale > I came across the Springfield
SA-35 in the store. the only one they had too. broke out my “stash” funds and a little bit on the damn credit card got it. SSI only goes so far these days. my “stash” fund is kind of built up again, so.
I like to get a bobtail commander myself, as ED Brown or any of the others is just beyond my price range. Tisas is worth looking at ? have a old Colt gold cup I got from a good friend for less than half of what they going for years ago and a couple of Rock Islands that are very good
haven’t seen or handled a Tisas yet. I need to start looking for one to check out.
Dave, you are correct, Sir ( in my best Ed McMahon)! BUT, I live with an invalid mother in law and semi invalid (but wicked smart) wife. We live on combined SS. My stash fund rarely makes it passed $200 before Murphy steps in with a dog , vehicle or appliance demand.
I don’t know that much about Rock Island 1911’s, except that the “loaded” full size one I got used, was an awesome performer (after replacing the front sight because of hitting 8″ high at 25 yds). I traded it for a “loaded” 10/22 Charger. I use the Charger MUCH more than any center fire weapons on my little wanna be farm. Value wise, it was a sideways trade.
The Tisas, after 2022, are forged frame, slide and barrel. All the other parts, except the spring plug (the only MIM part), are machined steel. My trigger is the best I’ve ever had (I’ve had at least a dozen 1911’s over the last 50 years). This one is non trade, sell status.
my gold cup 45 I got from a friend years ago has the best trigger I used so far. didn’t start out that way though. mine is the trophy model. about 10 years ago I wanted to do something about the finish on it. it was stainless steel and lived in my glove box in my truck. and it showed it !
knew a good smith and asked if he could put a new or better finish on it. he said sure.
anyway, about 2 days after dropping it off, he calls me up and asks “just what are you shooting thru this gun ?” to which I said, everything and anything. wrong. as it was setup for wad cutters
what ? so, I had him replace all the cracked springs with new upgraded ones , not sure if they ED Brown or what. but it does shoot a lot better after he was done with it. off a rest it will group under 2 inches all day long. but the finish is looking a bit worn again and my guy retired a few years back to FLA or somewhere south. and local guys want 300 and up to refinish it these days.
so, I just going to live with it.
BTW. Murphy is a stone cold bitch and it been a while since he was here. I might just keep building the stash fund up as the bastard is due to show up again here soon.
last time he showed up it cost north of 700 for a new water line. God only knows what he set me back the next time he shows up!
If you can get it to me Dave, I’ll do a refinish on yours gratis, just for the pics and work effort. DM me
Mr. Dave- if my memory desserts me correctly, those came w/2 recoil springs. One for 185 gr. target and the other for rowdy stuff. Been shooting 1911 since knee high to a tumbleweed. Love all except internal extractor situation. That day i think John Moses breathed too many fumes.
Just speaking from personal EDC carry experience from 2000 to 2015 with a Springfield Loaded 1911A1, that you will need to keep an eye on your mag while carrying. Sometimes you can move wrong and cause that oversized mag release to let the mag go without you even noticing it. If you are looking to EDC that, you should probably go with a standard sized button, but you do what makes you happy.
Thanky for that tip, Bruh!
Me and my EDC 1911–none better!
It looks great!
I bought a Rock Island Armory 1911 in 2021 and had it Cerakoted thru the shop I bought it at. The retired Army dude that reassembled the gun told me to rack the slide 2,000 times before firing it to wear the coating off the rails. Harder than it sounds. Its my Safe Queen mostly but the 300 rounds I out thru it for break in all cycled perfectly. I told the guy Coyote Brown and it looks cool as hell with the tan and black G10 grips. All the other parts stayed black. Looks nice as the model from Sportsmans Warehouse that was out of stock for most of a year.
I like it but I would undoubtedly either paint the sights flat black or replace them with a little more high vis versions.
Photos to follow when I’m not so occupied, but the rear sight blade as a strip of white paint, and the front bright red on the ramp. It’s got a great sight picture now.
I think it came out nice! You seem to have updated everything that the 1911-a1 had not. I too own a Tisas 1911-a1, only thing I would add are Novak type night sights. JMHO!
Why mask off that area under the grips? Just curious, I know nexr to nothing about Duracoat.
I actually did it to prevent the coat building up inside the mag well as it can cause issue. Less = Better when it comes to coating on moving parts
She’s a beaut.
Damn, where’s mine?
Well Done on the 1911.
Ok, Mr. Country… now do a glock 19. No fingernail polish allowed!😁
I curious, what brand of magazine is in your masterpiece? I do not recognize the floor plate especially for a 1911 accessory. Perhaps the angle doesn’t photograph well and I am mistaken. Anyway it looks different than usual.
https://gunmagwarehouse.com/mec-gar-1911-45-acp-8-round-magazine.html
8 Round Mec=Gar and have had ZERO issues with them, even after being stored while loaded. ZERO loss of spring tension. $22 a throw but worth it (got 4 of them)
yeah. I am a fan of Mec gar magazines as well. I have had zero problems with them over the years.
I have at least a dozen of them for 1911, I own 3 of them and have a 4th one to build when I get around to it. and their Ruger magazines are great as well. MK2 n stainless I bought back in the 1990’s. switched from Magpuls to Duramags for my rifles. steel is always better than plastic.
scored a bunch of cop trade in mags for my Sig 226 a few years ago. a little work with steel wool and new springs from wolff and they work like new again.
remember , magazines are something you need to have plenty of. so, it just makes sense to me to have as many as I can get.