Classes for fitting parts

[straid]

I want to learn how to fit parts/build gun from bottom up. Does anyone know where in the Ft. Wayne area one can acquire the necessary skills for this? This would be for 1911 only (for now).

 

[sloughfoot]

Nowhere in the Fort that I know of. Unless Jerry will let you work on one in his shop under his supervision. He is a lot closer to Churubusco though. And I certainly don't speak for him.

I am self taught with a Kuhnhausen book and trial and error. Not too much error, thank goodness. It really isn't difficult.

Get the book.

 

[UNCLE HARLEY]

You need to talk to someone who is a machinist. Not someone who loads parts into a CNC, but someone who understands how to make mating parts fits precisely with a flat file or reamer sometimes. It typically takes years & making lots of scrap before you get to the level that I think you're talking about.

 

[Hookeye]

Not all machinists are created equal, some top notch folks are too specialized (from job or environment).

Know some bad arse tool and die guys, who I wouldn't let touch my guns.

They (from my limited exp) tend to jump to a conclusion and want to remove metal right off the bat, without fully experimenting and identifying the problem. Scary.

 

[UNCLE HARLEY]

But they a lot better equipped to do this type work than someone who loads & unloads parts from a CNC.

Not all machinists are created equal, some top notch folks are too specialized (from job or environment).

Know some bad arse tool and die guys, who I wouldn't let touch my guns.

They (from my limited exp) tend to jump to a conclusion and want to remove metal right off the bat, without fully experimenting and identifying the problem. Scary.

 

[straid]

1911 armorer class

OK, so what about 1911 armorer classes in or around the Ft Wayne area?

 

[straid]

OK, so what about 1911 armorer classes in or around the Ft Wayne area?

Bump. Is there no one in the area that teaches 1911 armorer's classes?

 

[sloughfoot]

Bump. Is there no one in the area that teaches 1911 armorer's classes?

Nope.

I was really serious about buying the Jerry Kuhnhausen Shop Manual. It will take you step-by-step through the process of creating a 1911.

 

[Kick]

I attended a 1911 armorer class and was hugely disappointed. You can learn the same amount of info from watching videos of assembly and dis-assembly on you tube.

But, when you watch the videos, pause them. Go slow. Look at all the parts diagrams and take the time to figure out how all of the parts interact with one another.

Aside from the armorers class, which I took very little away from, I am self taught. I am not going to say that I am "highly skilled" by any means but, I can do just about anything you would want done to a 1911 and could easily "build" one.

It is not a complicated weapon. It just takes a huge AMOUNT OF PATIENCE. One swipe of the file can literally make or break the fit. The very first thing you need to know is that you must have the patience to:

Check fit.
Modify.
Check fit.
Modify.
Check fit.
Modify.

That process can take several hours for just one piece. If you do not have that kind of patience, building a 1911 is not for you.

 

[Mosinowner]

Well are there any gunsmiths near you? If so ask to observe as they work

 

[straid]

I attended a 1911 armorer class and was hugely disappointed. You can learn the same amount of info from watching videos of assembly and dis-assembly on you tube.

I've disassembling and assembling 1911s for a very long time (well over a decade). I'm looking to go to the next level, which is building them from scratch, and that's a whole other thing. It sounds like an armorer's class is not going to be worthwhile.

 

[Kick]

I've disassembling and assembling 1911s for a very long time (well over a decade). I'm looking to go to the next level, which is building them from scratch, and that's a whole other thing. It sounds like an armorer's class is not going to be worthwhile.

It's really not.


If you have that much experience with 1911's, I'm sure you now how to parts work together. As long as you have an understanding of that, it should be a fairly easy transition. Talk to some people, use the internet but, take everything with a grain of salt. Decide what parts you want to use, buy a frame and slide, fit them, and decide what internals you want. As long as you know what needs to be done, and have faith in yourself, it should turn out decent. I would definitely recommend not spending a whole lot of money and building your dream 1911 first. Use some cheaper parts and do a practice one or two. Worst case scenario, you may be able to sell them and recoup some of your money.

**Jigs are also very worthwhile. Installing a beaver tail grip safety can be a giant pain the in butt. It's not that much more difficult than the other parts but, it's one that's on the outside of the pistol. If you make a mistake, it's out in the open for all to see. It's like added pressure. I broke down and bought a jig and WOW. It took less than half the time it took without one. I still had to take the jig off, mark the frame, and spend a good deal of time getting it "just right" but, it helped a lot!**

 

[archy]

It's not in the Ft Wayne area, but Long Mountain offers numerous top-shelf armourers courses, including a couple for handguns [P7 and Glock] I was kind of surprised they didn't have anything for the M1911, but by all means, drop them an e-mail and ask: they have several offerings, particularly for things that go BOOM as much as bangf, that aren't listed.


BTW, you'll have some interesting fellow students, including *DOD "civiliams" and Department of Energy nuclear power plant and weapons facility guards, in your classes. One guy in one of the courses I attended was a longhair hippie trucker...from a former Army stockade facility in North Carolina.

Machine Gun Operator's Classes - Long Mountain Outfitters

AK & PKM Operator/Armorer Class
Browning Machine Gun Class
Foreign Weapon Operator/Armorer Class
M134 "Minigun" Operator/Armorer Class
M16/M4/AR15 Armorer Class
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M240/M249 Combined Operator/Armorer Class
M2HB/M3 Operator/Armorer Class
M60 Machine Gun Armorer Class
Maxim-Vickers-Lewis Class
Silencer History, Technology, and Testing
MK19 40mm Operator/Armorer Class
US M3 MAAWS 84mm Recoilless Armorer Class
US Weapons Operator Class
MK46/MK48 Armorer/Operator Class
Remington M700/870 Operator/Armorer Class
HK P7 Pistol Series Operator/Armorer Class
Glock Series Armorer Class