Birth of a spoon...

MotoSook · 06:49 AM

...birthing is expensive, but I'll get exactly what I want. There will be no other like it.

Just got this, and I'm impressed with the quality despite its current state. This started out as a full size full dust cover frame, and I had Fusion cut it back to match the Commander slab side slide. They fitted the frame and slide, and although I didn't ask them too it appears they fitted the barrel to the slide also. The barrel locks up solid. The bushing is a little tight and requires the tool to remove. I may loosen it up a tad.

I'm sending the slide out to get some machine and lightening work done. The frame may get a bevel along the bottom of the dust cover back to behind the trigger.

I've got a few things on order to complete it. Hopefully sooner than later so I can get on some other Porsche related projects.

There's an extended slide stop in the picture, but I've got a forged Sig slide stop also. I can't decide. I may cut back the extended slide stop a bit and narrow it.

Jim Bremner · 02-22-2010, 09:23 PM

It's Beautiful!

Geronimo '74 · 02-23-2010, 12:40 AM

Can't wait to see the finished spoon!!
looking good!

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Not familiar with "dust cover" on one of these, where is it exactly?
Jim

NY65912 · 02-23-2010, 02:46 AM

Very nice!

How long did it take Fusion to deliver? I know it can be a long one.

MotoSook · 03:25 AM

Quote:

Very nice!

How long did it take Fusion to deliver? I know it can be a long one.

This only took a few weeks. That's one advantage to building it myself. I don't have to wait 2 years. Fusion has a couple of already finished pistols for sale. There's a similar looking .40 on Gunbroker now, Mike. I think it's a blue finish. I can send the link if you don't mind the $1900 price.

If you decide to build, they have the frame and slide instock. Tell Bob I referred you

MotoSook · 02-23-2010, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Not familiar with "dust cover" on one of these, where is it exactly?

Jim

The dust cover is part of the frame that covers the recoil spring, the area under the barrel. On a standard 1911 this is shortened and machined to a smaller contour.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Thanks. I noticed the frame has a different profile, would it be damning with faint praise to say it is similar (looking) to a Coonan? Do you know how much heavier the Fusion is than a 'standard' A1 frame?
Jim

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Subscribing!

MotoSook · 06:46 AM

Quote:

Thanks. I noticed the frame has a different profile, would it be damning with faint praise to say it is similar (looking) to a Coonan? Do you know how much heavier the Fusion is than a 'standard' A1 frame?

Jim

Not at all damning. Actually when I saw a Les Bear monolith, I told my self I had to have one. The price and wait is not favorable though. It too looks like the Coonan in that it has a full length dust cover. So this is not a truely original design.

Although not finished, the 4" Fusion feels heavier than my factory 5" Springfield. The slide has a lot of material on it compared to a standard 1911 which has material removed for contour.

The frame is obviously heavy. The pistol as it is now is very muzzle heavy. I'm lightening the slide to reduce reciprocating mass, but until I put it all together I'm holding off beveling the frame. If the balance is good, I'll leave it. The heavier dust cover should help keep the muzzle down. I won't mind a muzzle heavy pistol if it'll keep me on target. I have in mind what a perfect cycling pistol should be and I'm hoping I get to that.

Obviously it's apples to oranges when comparing this to a standard government 1911, but I think I can build this well enough (not too heavier and bulky for IWB carry) to make a nice CCW spoon. Parts I have on order were selected with CCW in mind if I were to need such a spoon.

m21sniper · 02-23-2010, 06:50 AM

At this point the thread should be called "conception of a spoon."

It's not quite born yet.

JTO · 02-23-2010, 07:51 AM

I've been ogling Fusions for a few months. I really like their double stack ten millimeter variant. Seem like nice guns and feature for feature, undercut their competition on price.
Troy

tangerine911S · 08:46 AM

I too have been looking at building a 1911. I have heard good things about both Caspian and Fusion but the Fusion "kits" look very appealing especially since they offer a 15% discount on all remaining parts to complete the build, including putting the finish of choice on your frame.
I was thinking of doing one in SS but now I like this. Best looking spoon I have ever seen.

m21sniper · 02-23-2010, 09:58 AM

The spoon itself isn't that great, and it has just a run of the mill matte finish. What makes it sparkle is those grips.

Those are GORGEOUS grips.

tangerine911S · 02-23-2010, 10:07 AM

I like that its somewhat understated. I think it is an ion bond black finish with SS accents. All SS is a little flashy and I dont like the SS frame/black slide look. And yes, those uncheckered grips are absolutely gorgeous.

MotoSook · 02-23-2010, 10:16 AM

I like that Fusion produces their own pistols and sells their kits to us directly. If I wanted to I can sole source all the parts I need for the kit and they'll know if it'll fit or what the issue are when fitting.

FYI: they sell frames and slides on Gunbroker for less than the price you see on the website. You could put together the parts you want for less than the kits they offer. It may be a small savings, but the ala cart aspect leaves you with a custom pistol kit like no other.

MotoSook · 10:22 AM

Quote:

I like that its somewhat understated. I think it is an ion bond black finish with SS accents. All SS is a little flashy and I dont like the SS frame/black slide look. And yes, those uncheckered grips are absolutely gorgeous.

I agree. I'm no fan of all SS or nickle plated or hard chrome spoons. This is one reason I can't go with te NP3 coating that Robar offers, it's not black.

I love the contrast of the polished stainless on the flat black. Fusion achieves this by bead blasting the slide and frame before they send them out for Ion bond coating.

m21sniper · 02-23-2010, 10:23 AM

I've been looking at black nickel plating for my P7. It's THE BOMB.

Ford's offers it.

MotoSook · 02-24-2010, 07:10 PM

Speaking of coating, I was set on Ion Bond DLC, but a recent thread on another forum leads me to believe that a melonite is the way to go. Anyone have experience with Melonite versus Ion Bond? I have a CMMG AR barrel with W.A.S.P (the CMMG version of Melonite) coating and it's very hard and durable. I hear the Ion Bond is not as scratch resistent as Melonite.

MotoSook · 02-24-2010, 07:32 PM

Here's an interesting chart for you Snipe RE: nickel vs SNC QPQ

And friction property of Melonite (SNC)