DIY 1911 Bobtail

[Lancem]

I'm thinking of doing a bobtail on my new commander and I was wondering if anyone had ever done this themselves?

 

[AllenM]

I have done several

 

[Lancem]

I have done several

Any tips or hints? I was planning on getting the Brown jig to make things simple.

 

[AllenM]

yea there a a couple tips.

Defiantly need a drill press to do this.

The jig I have does not fit in the rails as tight as I would like so I need to apply a slight amount of pressure while drilling the hole for the relocated MSH retaining pin to assure it is as far into the frame as I like. Other wise you will not be able to file the frame down enough to completely eliminate the original hole. Or so I have been told

Second if you have a stainless steel frame the file marks are easy to polish out. But if it is a painted frame be sure and allow that the frame will have to be refinished.

Other than that it is pretty straight forward.

 

[Lancem]

Thanks! I didn't think it would be too bad looking at the little bit I was able to find on the net. I have a friend that is a machinist that has what it takes to get the hole drilled right, the rest looks to be handwork that I feel confidant that I can handle with no problem.

 

[AllenM]

Yea, its really not that hard

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

Id love to see pics of this whole process. You got balls my friend, I dont think I could do it lol.

 

[AllenM]

BobTail Project pictures by VelvetHammer1960 - Photobucket

See if that link works.

Pics are a little out of order. there are two guns there that I did. 1 Painted and one stainless.
Kimber and a colt

 

[Lancem]

I was thinking I could do the pic thing as I found little on the internet showing it... As my friends would tell you there isn't much I own that is "stock" whether it's guns or cars, or anything else... All any of it takes is careful preparation, a good understanding of what a task will take, and in this case a friend with a milling machine that will give me the ultra high confidence that the one hole will be drilled in the right place After that it's just a matter of slow and careful work with the right tools to remove the metal that is in the way! Of course nothing like doing this to a week old pistol that I've gotten to shoot once AllenM has confirmed my thoughts that there really isn't much to this job so off to Brownell's I go!! Now for the hard choice, smooth, checkered, or snakeskin?

 

[Lancem]

Great pics, how do you like the gunkote?

 

[AllenM]

I like Gunkote. It holds up well. But all I have to compare it to is Duracoat.
I prefer the GunKote over Dura.

 

[jon159753]

Yea, its really not that hard

Says the man with a body shop..... I want to do this also but all I have is a couple screwdrivers and a socket set. Good luck to the OP and let us know how it turns out.

 

[toyotaslave]

Fusion has a great deal on bobtail MSHs. I assume this is what you are talking about? I know a lot depends on taste and the gun's finish, but I like the checkered one. Classic look and not too bold.

 

[AllenM]

Says the man with a body shop..... I want to do this also but all I have is a couple screwdrivers and a socket set. Good luck to the OP and let us know how it turns out.

It's true I am pretty spoiled. But those tools don't run themselves

 

[Lancem]

Didn't know about the Fusion ones, I was looking at the Ed Brown ones at Brownell's.