Help Please: Gunsmith Wanted!!!!!!!!

[Ithabrown]

I noticed there are a good number of my countrymen here in this venerable board, so here goes my plea:


"Please refer a good Metro Manila-based gunsmith to help me finish rebuilding my 1911 frame kit. I have already completed purchasing the necessary parts and a smith's expertise is what I need at this stage. I plan to use the new piece at the last week of this month for my next IDPA match."


For those who could give a good referral, you may email me in private as well. Thanks in advance!


Itha

[valor1]

Here are the gunsmiths we at band of glockers can recommend to build your gun.

Jun Tuason - 637-5006
Mang Dolpho - Northstar Range (Makati Cinema Square) 811-1264
Metrillo - 824-5637
Col. Bayang, 840-1362/575-8480
Mang Delfin - 415-4430

Better stay away from the following names:
- Art Lantin
- Tony Pascual

Good luck with your project.

[Ithabrown]

Here are the gunsmiths we at band of glockers can recommend to build your gun.

Jun Tuason - 637-5006
Mang Dolpho - Northstar Range (Makati Cinema Square) 811-1264
Metrillo - 824-5637
Col. Bayang, 840-1362/575-8480
Mang Delfin - 415-4430

Better stay away from the following names:
- Art Lantin
- Tony Pascual

Good luck with your project.


THANK YOU! what about this guy who used to be Jethro Dionisio's personal gunsmith? He now works for Starfire. Going by the name Efren Nunal, he told me that he will use no "machine equipment" to "fit the barrel and slide", let alone rebuild the receiver.

I am still weighing between a smith who gets the job done through his employees vs. a lone guy who himself is both the smith and employee...the answer here would be the ice-breaker as i am set to bring the project this weekend.

I appreciate any comment about him before I go to any of your recommended smiths above. Thanks again, I appreciate it a lot!

[valor1]

Ithabrown,
I don't understand what he meant by not using "machine equipment." Does it mean that he is not using a lathe, milling and drill press machine? He is going to do it only manually. Gunsmiths always have the machines to do the job (doing measurements, cutting, slicing and dicing). The ones I gave you are recommended by my group and have seen their works. I would suggest paying them a visit. Don't rush the gun. Customizing/building takes a lot of time and effort. As for your gunsmith, I don't know him. Why was he Jethro's former gunsmith?

[John]

THANK YOU! what about this guy who used to be Jethro Dionisio's personal gunsmith? He now works for Starfire. Going by the name Efren Nunal, he told me that he will use no "machine equipment" to "fit the barrel and slide", let alone rebuild the receiver.
I can't offer much advise here, so maybe I should shut up, but if the barrel needs to be fitted in the bushing, how will he do it, if not without a machine?

Oh well, as I said, I'd better shut up. Not enough caffeine in my system yet.

Rgds

[kotonk]

if the barrel needs to be fitted in the bushing, how will he do it, if not without a machine?

with one of these:

bushing reamer (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=4976&title=1911+AUTO+BARREL+BUSHING+REAMER)

[John]

I am undeniably outdated Sir.

LoL, say "elbow grease" again?

[Kerwin]

So... its not going to be a D.I.Y.? I think you should check out the gunsmith list that Valor1 gave you, or visit the Band of Glockers forum at Glock Talk. I dont know the guys there personally but i kinda like them. Nice Guys who just happened to fall in love with a Glock. :( Actually i would love to have a glock myself, if only its not too dear.

[Ithabrown]

Ithabrown,
I don't understand what he meant by not using "machine equipment." Does it mean that he is not using a lathe, milling and drill press machine? He is going to do it only manually.

...yes, that's what he said.

Gunsmiths always have the machines to do the job (doing measurements, cutting, slicing and dicing).

...the guy comes highly recommended but the problem with him is that he is employed in a gunstore as an in-house gunsmith. While at work, he can use the facilities but outside, he has to rely on other tools. This weekend I will pay his own mini-shop a visit to compare that of col bayang's.

The ones I gave you are recommended by my group and have seen their works. I would suggest paying them a visit. Don't rush the gun. Customizing/building takes a lot of time and effort. As for your gunsmith, I don't know him. Why was he Jethro's former gunsmith?

...I am happy with Col Bayang during my visit in his shop and home two days ago, though Efren seems to come highly recommended as well. Efren was a former employee of Jethro and was trained to be a gunsmith by an American smith. He worked for 8 years with the Dionisio's.

...One more thing, how about Pepe Oliveros from Manila? Ever heard of him?

[Ithabrown]

So... its not going to be a D.I.Y.? I think you should check out the gunsmith list that Valor1 gave you, or visit the Band of Glockers forum at Glock Talk. I dont know the guys there personally but i kinda like them. Nice Guys who just happened to fall in love with a Glock. :( Actually i would love to have a glock myself, if only its not too dear.


kerwin, if i feel confident i could do it, then it would be 100 percent DIY. Seems I am going in the direction of semi-DIY. I'll check out the glockers as well.

[Ithabrown]

I am undeniably outdated Sir.

LoL, say "elbow grease" again?




relax, john! i'm using a bushingless barrel (bull barrel). maybe you could suggest what recoil spring should be used. thanks!

[valor1]

Wolff springs are great. But I am going for the ISMI now. Very good springs.

[Ithabrown]

Wolff springs are great. But I am going for the ISMI now. Very good springs.




where are ISMI springs available in the manila local market?

[valor1]

You can always try my favorite gunstores in manila:
- True Weight
- Twin Pines

They are my favorites because they stock more of the parts I need. Prices are quite reasonable.

[Ithabrown]

You can always try my favorite gunstores in manila:
- True Weight
- Twin Pines

They are my favorites because they stock more of the parts I need. Prices are quite reasonable.


Thanks, I will give them a call. I actually visit these two stores because I know their owners, and their personnel in the store attend to their customers very well.

Well, if they don;t have the stock right now, I will try during the upcoming gunshow. Thanks again!

[Ithabrown]

valor, have you done a DIY before? if all other jobs (e.g., slide-frame fitting, barrel setting, etc.) would be taken cared of by the smith, would you personally assemble the smaller components of the receiver yourself, including trigger job?

[John]

Speaking of trigger job, check out the "Technical Issues" section of this forum. Our own 1911Tuner has come up with a technical article on the "Poor Man's Trigger Job". Interesting, to say the least.

Rgds

[valor1]

I've done some 1911 projects but not really the DIY completely. My smith did most of the fitting. The small parts I can do it myself but the slide/barrel/fitting, I'd rather have my gunsmith do it. This is where I respect the powers of true craftsmen.

[Ithabrown]

thanks, again! your comment puts the icing on the cake finally...

...tomorrow or monday, i'm off to col bayang for jobs he can do, except for the assembly of small parts which i will take care of 9saving me 1,000 PhP

[valor1]

no problem ithabrown. how much did you bought Kuhnhausen's books by the way? one more thing, look for Rene at Col. Bayang and he really did marvelous on my last two pistols. even at the breaking-in, my gun feeds realibly and moved like clockwork. good luck.

[Ithabrown]

no problem ithabrown. how much did you bought Kuhnhausen's books by the way? one more thing, look for Rene at Col. Bayang and he really did marvelous on my last two pistols. even at the breaking-in, my gun feeds realibly and moved like clockwork. good luck.

valor, the kuhnhausen manual was a personal gift to me by my British gundealer-owner, sort of an inhertitance, when he returned to the UK a few years ago. He also gave me an M37 Ithaca 12 Ga shotgun used by the US special forces in Vietnam during the infamous war there. many gunsmiths are offering him a fortune for this book, but he never was interested with the dough. i missed the guy, he still is in England.

I will look for Rene, as you suggest -- thanks! pls email me in private what work he did and how much he charged youn accordingly. thanks, again!

[3kings]

Better stay away from the following names:
- Art Lantin
- Tony Pascual

Good luck with your project.


sir just wondering what do you mean by staying away from the list above?

coz sometime '96 had my para ord P14.45 customize by art lantin still being used and displayed every year till 2004 in gunshows (i sold it 2005)

and sometime '97 had my colt 1911a1 customize by tony pascual still being used in shooting competitions to this date

planning to have my new guns customized by these people soon.
so kindly advise. though im eyeing metrillo since he is near my place.