Another Semi-Compact build diary

[Underwhere]

Here we go again.

Hopefully this doesn't take 2 years but who knows.

I happened upon a semi-compact in nickel. Very worn with all sorts of nicks. Dents in the crown etc.

At this point I think I'll have the entire thing polished and hard chromed at Fords in FL.

3 of my past builds:

Semi-Compact rust blued https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=106102.0

CZ75 Pre-b rust blued https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=95374.390

Compact hard chromed (matte and polished) https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=97795.0

The Plans:
*Round the trigger guard (I hate the square front)
*Relieve the trigger guard
*Flush the slide stop lever
*Flush the guide rod
*Round the nose of the frame (press checks don't cut up your fingers anymore)
*Contour the back of the gun so all surfaces mate up nicely
*flush and crown the barrel into the bushing
*Weld and upsweep the beavertail and contour it
*Bevel the magwell
*Polish frame rails, contact points to prep for aftermarket parts
*Throat the barrel DONE
*Weld over the import mark on the frame (if legal to do so)
*Weld over the front strap redundant serial number (if legal to do so)

I always use Cajun parts. I believe they are the best.
CGW Pro Package (Race Hammer DA/SA)
CGW Recoil spring
CGW 10X Bushing
CGW EZ/D sights (I love them but maybe I should try something different)


Here it is in original form.

[Underwhere]

Disassembled and organized into a "keep" pile (bottom) and a "discard" pile (top).

[Underwhere]

I debated using a chemical to remove the nickel finish, attempt to reverse nickel it, or mechanically sandblast. As luck would have it, my neighbor just bought a sandblasting setup so I went that route.

I wasn't thinking straight and sandblasted the inside of the slide where the barrel locks up. I don't think it should do much but next time I think I will steer clear.

I think nickel is a thin coating easily removed so I believe I'm all set from here.

Next step will be some metal work.

I hate the import mark and the front strap serial. I will try and add some metal blend those away. I need to double check that it's legal for me to remove the import mark and redundant serial. Hopefully that goes well.

[Earl Keese]

I de-plated one a few years ago. Didn't quite get it all removed. Couldn't tell until I blued the frame. Will be interesting to see if sandblasting completely removed the nickel from yours. None of the chemical products I researched were effective, at least based on my reading.

[M1A4ME]

Wow, what a worn out looking recoil spring that pistol had in it. 

[Underwhere]

Wow, what a worn out looking recoil spring that pistol had in it.

Yea it's all sorts of worn out. This gun was definitely heavily used.

The finish was polished smooth all over then and also in odd places like near the hammer and muzzle.

[double-d]

Can't see how sandblasting the slide lock up lugs could cause a problem. It might even enable better holding of grease.

I also assume you only need a single serial number on the frame, interested to hear what you find out.


Yet another one of your builds I'm going to follow !