What does "dress" mean?

[austex1911]

I'm just taking my first tentative steps down the road to learning more about 1911s, so I have a pretty basic question.

I'm reading Kuhnhausen Vol. 1 on the M1911, and he uses the word "dress" a lot. What is the precise meaning of this term? It's not an easy word to google for.

Thanks,
austex1911

[Hersh]

I'm certainly no smith, but I think what he means is to very lightly "adjust or tune" a surface. Say, for example, you might "dress" the hammer hooks by very lightly stoning them ... make sense?

Again I'm no smith, but I think that's the idea he's trying to get across. Some of the more learned folks please correct me if I'm wrong.

[wichaka]

Probably in the context of "dress down"?

Meaning take anything extra that has peened up, or take off the damaged area to get it back to specs if possible.

[wjkuleck]

Probably in the context of "dress down"?

Meaning take anything extra that has peened up, or take off the damaged area to get it back to specs if possible.

Exactamento, Wichaka. Also, to remove any burrs from previous metalworking operations such as filing.

Regards,

Walt