New build...sort of

[andrewb70]

As some of you know, and many don't, in the last 3 years I have been working towards my Ph.D. in marketing. With this undertaking I have had to cut down on most of my car related activities due to a lack of funds, space, etc...However, the desire to tinker is always there and frankly, working with my hands keeps me sane. With my lack of space, I had to choose a hobby that was both practical and satisfying. This lead me to tinkering with firearms. This hobby can certainly become very expensive, I prefer to keep things simple, while still being able to keep my hands busy.

I've become quite a fan of the 3rd generation Smith and Wesson pistols. Of course, like any other hobby/activity/brand there is a loyal community of enthusiasts to whom a newbie can turn for assistance and inspiration. I was browsing the S&W forum and ran across the following thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/255361-were-way-beyond-dremel-now-melted-melonited-4516-1-a.html

Bill is a great craftsman and he inspired me to follow in his footsteps, albeit in a more limited fashion. My EDC is a trusty 457. The 457 is part of the S&W "economy" line of pistols. If a 4516/4513 and a 457 were ever compared side by side, it is easy to see where the cost savings came from. Compared to the 4513, the 457 slide is very block and angular. No doubt S&W cut costs by reducing machine time along with using plastic components. For instance, the sights and the disconnector are plastic, as is the mag release.

My goal for this project is relatively simple. I want to improve the appearance of the 457 slide and add durability by replacing the disconnector and sights.

Here is what a stock 457 looks like. This one is not mine, but obviously they are all the same. Notice the hard angles and a lack of any contours in the machine work. Also note the slide stop and decocker lever.

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_16.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_17.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_18.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_19.jpg


Here are the slide, decocker and slide stop so far:

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_01.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_02.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_03.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_04.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_05.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_06.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_07.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_08.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_09.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_10.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_11.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_12.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_13.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_14.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_15.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Andrew

[jlcustomz]

Doesn't matter if it,s a car, gun, or house part, the craftsmanship of a true hot rodder always shines through.
Doesn't matter how it was made, only how we can make it.

[Trans]

Mods,please move this thread to Misc section

[andrewb70]

Mods,please move this thread to Misc section

YES SIR! Immediately...

Andrew

[Zanie]

Um yeah, your fingernails are way too clean these days!!
That's pretty cool, will you get everything black oxided?

I'm glad you are able to keep your sanity....
Think you might make it back to the Motor State Challenge in 2013?

[MrQuick]

Hand filed or dremel? Nice work.

Do you plan on a full polish or park?

[andrewb70]

Hand filed or dremel? Nice work.

Do you plan on a full polish or park?

Little of both actually, and I am not quite done yet. I have some supplies on order from McMaster.

I am not quite set on the finish but am leaning towards melonite. This gun lives in a holster with leather on one side and kydex on the other. I want something that is very tough and abrasion resistant. Although, it has crossed my mind to give the slide a mirror shine and have it hot blued. I think that would give it a very unique look when combined with the hard anodized frame.

Andrew

[andrewb70]

I love America. You can get anything you want and need delivered to your door. I ordered some files, emery cloth, and most importantly a 9x12 granite plate.

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_24.jpg

The plate allowed me make the side and top perfectly flat and smooth. It also made it easier to evenly bevel the transition from the side as it goes up to the top of the slide.

I plan on doing more work on the nose and also to have the left side of the slide laser engraved with Tu Ne Cede Malis.

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_20.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_21.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_22.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_23.jpg

Andrew

[sixgunsblazing]

Are you doing anything to the slide serrations and stippling, or is this more of a BBQ gun, style over function?

[Dan S.]

Andrew,

Your appreciation for Austrian Economics and for firearms is noted.

Nice to see another advocate of human liberty on a pro-touring board.

[Rick D]

Very cool Andrew, glad you are able to getting your hands dirty. And hey a project is a project right?? And besides I think you have earned the space as you have had some of the cool builds on here over the years!!

[andrewb70]

Thank you everyone for the kind words.

Sixguns...I am not planning on doing anything with the serrations or to do anything to the frame. This is my EDC, but I don't want to mess around with the frame because it is aluminum.

Dan S. :cheers:

RadRS...You are right, a project is a project. I'd like to think that people will tolerate my nonsense...LOL

More pictures later this evening.

Andrew

[andrewb70]

Well, I think I am done with everything that I am going to do with the slide.

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_28.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_25.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_26.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_27.jpg

Andrew

[dug]

damn, nice job.

[andrewb70]

damn, nice job.

Thank you!

I think I am done with the slide and the other parts.

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_29.jpg

Andrew

[Chadman27]

Nice slide!

[andrewb70]

Here is a picture of the slide after laser engraving:

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_30.jpg

Andrew

[andrewb70]

Well folks, here is the finish product. Praise and criticisms are equally welcome.

Cheers!

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_32.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_33.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_34.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_35.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_36.jpg

https://www.pro-touring.com/~andrewb/guns/457_37.jpg

Andrew

[nicks67camaro]

looks nice i may have missed it but what coating did you use?

[andrewb70]

looks nice i may have missed it but what coating did you use?

Melonite

[nicks67camaro]

looks great thanks! did it change the tolerances at all?

[andrewb70]

looks great thanks! did it change the tolerances at all?

The melonite process is a hot salt bath dip that actually penetrates into the metal and only effects the external dimensions by .004", which is negligible. It can be done on both carbon steel and stainless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QjbOZAx2mw

I didn't alter anything on the frame, but it is hard anodized.

Andrew

[nicks67camaro]

Thats pretty cool. Thanks for the link.