Like the title says, are there good ways to learn how to gunsmith/build a 1911?
I keep looking for smiths willing to teach, but no luck around me.
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Like the title says, are there good ways to learn how to gunsmith/build a 1911?
I keep looking for smiths willing to teach, but no luck around me.
Good start point is to get Jerry(?) Kunhausen’s 1911 manual.
Brownell's has good info and references on their website. Also convenient their is a huge catalog of books, parts and tools for purchase.
^^True.
Or, you can trash umpteen dollars in parts/slides/frames/etc.
I was fortunate to have a grumpy, ex AMU armorer and former Bullseye competitor that tolerated me hovering as he worked.
Still- good reference material is not a waste.
The NRA sponsors summer gunsmithing classes at various community colleges and trade schools around the country. A 1911 class of some kind is always offered be it truing, accurizing, etc. I’ve taken a few and enjoyed them. Small class size, quality instruction and affordable.
The Kunhausen books are a good start for a basic understanding. Techniques in there are outdated but the principles are correct.
I took the class Larry Vickers does from time to time. After spending a few years tinkering, the class eliminated all the mystery for me. It was one week immersed in it, 5 students. Expensive and worth it.
I am not a paid gunsmith. My regular job pays me too well to make that switch. But I know how to build a 1911 right. Not at the master level of course but accurate and reliable I can do.
And I can spot and correct the common errors because of my training.
Aside from getting the manuals, I will search around for someone to teach me. Wish me luck.
Could be considered spendy, but if you are wrenching on your own guns it is probably worth it.
https://www.americangunsmith.com/app...olsmith-Course
Im not sure if Chuck Rogers/Rogers Precision is still doing his classes, I think it is (or was) 5 days in length with a scratch build, costs a few thousand dollars and has a extensive/expensive list of tools you have to bring.
I would recommend looking at Cylinder & Slide with Bill Laudridge. I took the first 1911 course with him. Involved a lot of hand fitting and polishing of parts for reliability, trigger work, extractor tuning, barrel link replacement for better lockup, bushing fitting etc.
Funny - I logged in to ask a similar question and this was on top.
I might own a file and be able to assemble an AR-15, detail strip a Glock or change my oil - but that’s the limits of my handwork, total newbie to filing and fitting and machine tools.
Who offers the best novice courses? The NRA summer programs? I’ve looked at C&S, Vickers, Garthwaite, Rodgers who all offer a five day type course, but don’t want to waste time (including my own) since I’m starting from zero.
I did not have any experience other than Glock armorer before attending the C&S course. I will say that early in my life I was an electronics technician in the Navy where I repaired electro-mechanical devices and circuit boards with small tools and Dremels. Bill suggest that you get a file and practice filing by making a piece of round steel stock into a square. This is truly dexterity type skills. You will do most all fitting by hand filing. Polishing with jigs and drill. You would get the skills with the 5 day course as a start. You will not be running milling machines. Bushing fittings are taken down with a hand drill jig. I really got better in working up a second gun after the class. If you are dedicated to 1911s it makes sense to invest in the school. I built a second gun up and it seems they are safe queens. I very much enjoyed learning how to work on them as it lends to other things like fitting dove tail sights on other guns etc. I carry and shoot 9mm Glocks in competition these days due to limited time. My wife operates Glocks as well so I can trust she can pick up anything I have on me if necessary.
Thanks - that is exactly the sort of info I needed. I can add soldering to my list of can-do...
Guys, I do not do any pistolsmithing classes.
You are thinking of my buddy Bob Rodgers @ www.RodgersPistolsmithing.com
The classes I know of are the NRA Summer Course, C&S and Bob Rodgers who's in the sticks of Idaho. I was planning on taking a course from him but his classes fill fast and my schedule is pretty locked in.
Fromwhat I understand, Bob is offerring classes 4x per year for a max of 3 students each.
Chuck I love your guns. You would have classes fill up left and right if you did offer them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck
I think 1911 gunsmithing is a dying art, just like revolver gunsmithing.Quote:
Originally Posted by SWATcop556
Check out Lassen Community College, they have summer classes for areas of gunsmithing.
This popped up from Rifle Dynamics recommendation:
http://chamberscustom.com/1911-university/
They also offer this as an introductory option plus 3 more toward the bottom of this page. I don't know anything about them but all together they're a little less than 1/4 the total cost.Quote:
Originally Posted by rathos
https://www.americangunsmith.com/app...5-Auto-Pistols
Thanks again for all the suggestions. I picked up the 1911 bible and am reading through it as a primer.
I still am holding out for Ned to teach me the ways of the dark side.