Accurizing the 1911Pistol (Class is limited to 6 student)

Accurizing the 1911Pistol
(Class is limited to 6 student)
The goal of this course is to teach you the methods and techniques to accurize the 1911
pistol.
Bill Laughridge began as a gunsmith doing general repair at a small sporting goods
store in Fremont, Nebraska in 1974. He purchased the gun smith business that he had
helped build up in November 1978 and incorporated Cylinder & Slide Inc. at that
time. He continued to do general repair for several more years until he built up the
pistolsmithing business. Bill’s break came when a one-page article on his shop was
published by the American Handgunner. IPSC shooting was just starting to gain
popularity and good pistolsmiths were not plentiful at that time. His backlog for building
pistols quickly passed 1 year. He has continued to build Cylinder & Slide through the
years and they now customize mostly concealed carry pistols and revolvers and sell their
own line of custom 1911 pistols and their premium fire control parts for the 1911 and
Browning Hi Power. Cylinder & Slide Inc. now employees 6 pistolsmiths and 7
administrative people. One of Bill’s greatest honors was to be elected Pistolsmith of the
Year in 2005 by the American Pistolsmiths Guild.
Bill Laughridge
Purpose: To provide a hands-on class which teaches professional Pistolsmithing
theory and the techniques needed to accurize and enhance the 1911 style semi-auto pistol
using hand tools.
Scope: To instill knowledge about the history of accurizing the 1911 pistol. To teach
modern techniques of installation and fitting of parts needed to produce an accurate and
reliable 1911 pistol.
Some of the subjects to be covered:
1. Safety
a.
Shop work safety rules
Shop work safety rules
2. Slide Tightening
a. Discussion of Advantages and Disadvantages
b. Peening method (demo only)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
c. Slide to frame
Fitting Thumb Safeties to the Fire Control Group
Fitting the Extractor
Barrels
a. Fitting a semi-drop-in barrel to the pistol
b. Fitting the barrel bushing for accuracy and reliability
c. Throating the barrel & frame
d. Barrel Crowning
Triggers
a. Fitting the trigger to the frame
b. Reduce Trigger Free Play
c. Trigger Pulls
d. Installing C&S Trigger Pull Set
Powers Sear Stoning Fixture-How it works
A message from the instructor (see below)