frame radius help

[Whiskers50]

OK,I have most of the parts I need to do the changes i want on my 70 series Colt. I will need to radius the frame for the grip saftey I want to install. Is there any home made jigs, or ideas on making such for this job. I already lowered my ejection port and did some extractor work to stop wild ejection and dented case mouths. This is my first 1911 and I found this site a wealth of info. :) --JMJ--

[ITinker]

Please give more info about the type of safety you plan on installing. Is it a .220 radius or .250?

Thanks

[Bud White]

who made the grip safety will give us a ideal to tell you what jig

[Whiskers50]

Its' the Mccormick .250 radius with the memory bump.--JMJ--

[Bud White]

then use the ed brown jig it allows you to file down to the .250 radius

[Hawkmoon]

Ditto Bud.

Ed Brown, or one of a couple of alternatives. Brownells sells two or three different brands of jig for the .250" radius and they are all in the same price range. I don't know of any home-made jig for it, although if you have access to a machine shop you could no dobt look at the pics on Brownells web site and figure out how to make your own.

The key point, though, is that the "store bought'n" jigs are heat treated and hardened so your file won't eat into them while you're working. If not for that, you'd have to get a new jig for every grip safety installation.

[Bud White]

also forgot to add make sure it is the grip safety you want for sure

once you cut the frame for the .250 you can not put a wilson grip safety on later it is a different pattern

[Whiskers50]

Yes,i've seen a few different jig available, but I have more time than money.My thoughts were more on maybe taking 1/2" rod stock drilling thru the ctr and making a home made jig. Is the .250 radius from ctr hole on the frame saftey pin hole? Has anyone done this? I'm on a fixed imcome due to health problems and my gun projects keep me content.and sane :) --JMJ--http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1319&title=1911+AUTO+BEAVERTAIL+INSTALLATION+JIG#specs

[gbw]

I've made the jig you describe. If you can drill the hole thru the CENTER of the round stock it will work perfectly. Make 3 pieces, so you can put one in the center. If you have an acetylene or mapp gas torch you can harden them easily yourself, if you use hardenable steel.

But if you're careful, you won't file into them. Begin checking fit when you get close.


You may also find that the EB safety doesn't have as much steel as you would wish when you're contouring it into the frame - the outside edges (where the web of your hand will be) are somewhat recessed. I just live with it - after refinishing it's not really visible. If you countour the frame enough to blend the safety perfectly you will have taken too much off of the frame, the backstrap line will not be straight and it's very hard to get the thumb safety right.

Good luck.


Good luck.

[Whiskers50]

I don't have the EB saftey I have the McCormick version. I saw those jigs and it sure looke like it could be made as you described for little money or time THX-JMJ--

[RickB]

I made a jig for installing an Ed Brown safety, using a stack of 1/2" washers, a bolt, and nut. It required a bit of finessing, to get the bolt through the frame, and maybe a bit more hand cleanup of the cut than would be necessary with "store-bought jigs", but I think I had a total of $.63 invested in it, and it worked great. If the washers get dinged up, just loosen the nut, rotate the washers a bit, and keep going. Even if you have to change the washers, it'll cost you only another $.20.