Gunsmithing Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

[coelk]

For fun I thought I would post some pics of a Springfield getting the 25 lines per inch treatment. It's a pain in the ass to checker by hand, but the final results are beautiful if you take your time. You CNC guys might get a chuckle at some of us folks still checkering by hand!
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[ackleyfan]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

Impressive!

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

Looks great.

Thats not easy to do!

 

[jonaddis84]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

Thats awesome, what does the tool actually look like?

 

[WhiteDingo]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jonaddis84</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thats awesome, what does the tool actually look like? </div></div>

That's a fine looking checkering job! How long have you been checkering for?

 

[coelk]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

Thanks! I first learned to checker about 6 or so years ago. I think it was a Colt Officers.

 

[RMPSTRAT]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

nice looking job, there are still some dinosours that still checker by hand including yours truly. I thought about going to machine checkering but then the mystique of all that hand work goes away. I say that and I have 8 frames to checker sitting in the safe at the shop. ugh

 

[gunnergirl81]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

My husband still does it. Hates doing pistol frames, but its a nice addition to small details on rifles. Great work.

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parga</div><div class="ubbcode-body">nice looking job, there are still some dinosours that still checker by hand including yours truly. I thought about going to machine checkering but then the mystique of all that hand work goes away. I say that and I have 8 frames to checker sitting in the safe at the shop. ugh </div></div>

You do one heck of a job, sir.

Josh

 

[former naval person]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

A lot prettier than Clark's single divot method. A lot more time involved and a LOT more skill. JMHO

 

[Hellbender]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

I've done a few personal guns, my first was a Stainless Steel Gold Cup about 20 years ago. I was scared to death.

I spent over 40 hours on it and wore out 2 checkering files!! But it turned out real good.

My hands felt like hamburger when I got done.

I still have the gun today, it's one I'll never get rid of.

Beautiful work you are doing, it's rare these days. I've seen a lot of poor checkering done by "big name" gunsmiths.

 

[Sniperhandle]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

Wow!! Nice job. Is there some type of fixture you use to hold the file straight?

 

[nashlaw]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sniperhandle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow!! Nice job. Is there some type of fixture you use to hold the file straight? </div></div>

I have done several. The earlier ones were functional and looked decent. Later, I got better and did some competent work. I bought a checkering guide from Brownells and used it once. It was not what I thought it would be.

Eventually, I started using a vise to set up my lines. If you remove the grip bushings, the frame will sit nicely in the jaws and they will give you a good solid guide. One caveat, when you set the frame in the vise to do the horizontal lines, be sure the jaws are square or you will have a mess.

For another pointer, be careful with the Colt frames. They have a bevel at the bottom of the mag well and if you are not careful, you will cut through it. Springfield and Kimbers do not have this.

 

[coelk]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

For the vertical lines I am using a shop built fixture to keep the first few lines lines straight. My boss built it years ago.
For the horizontal lines, I made an aluminum fixture that fits over the frame to keep the lines nice and straight. Thanks for all the complements!

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

very nice work, clean and straight

 

[buggsb]

Re: Hand checkering a 1911 front strap

That is really nice checkering. I too have seen more than a fair share of buggered up jobs. It's not that diffucult, but it takes lots of patience and a steady hand to get results anywhere near that.

Great work!!