Polishing and duracoating spoons
 

Don't leave me alone with a rum and coke, polishing wheel, airbrush and a fugly Kimber 1911.

A little history here: I bought this Kimber on the cheap as a carry piece a couple years ago. Before I learned to truely appreciate a LIGHT pistol for carry purposes. I ended up replacing it primarily due to the lack of an ambi safety which I felt would impair my use of said firearm in a life or death situation. I'm left handed.

So, I bought another gun and threw this one in the glovebox. After several years of disuse, I pulled it out to clean it and found some very minor tarnishing on the hammer and barrel.

As this happened to coincide with the unusual consumption of Bacardi 8 and Coke I disassembled it and took the offending parts to my buffing wheel in the shop. Well, what started out as a quick cleanup job turned into a full blown polishing extravaganza. I polished everything... and polished it good. I was starting to sober up right around the time I started putting it back together. You can imagine how my excitement began to fade as I realized I had given birth to a weapon perfectly at home on the hip of a Puerto Rican crack dealer.

Damn. Bling.

****. I hate bling.

So, I started digging through my bins of parts and paint... sketching a plan in my head to tone down the monster I had made under the influence caffine spiked rum.

I ordered an ambi safety from Kimber and added a set of rosewood grips and a steel mainspring housing to replace that shameful plastic bit on the lower end Kimbers.

I found a bottle of matte black Duracoat in my basement and set out to make amends to the tasteful pistol Gods.

A couple of my friends still think it looks pretty bad, but I will resist and say that I kind of like it. If I ever get really tired of it, I'll send out the slide and have it bead blasted.

I didn't have the heart to photograph the poor thing in it's fully polished state. So, you'll have to make due with before and after photos:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1272747666.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1272747680.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1272747695.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1272747713.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1272747728.jpg

Looking good.

I like the Duracoat, I've used it on an old remington 870.

I've got a little Kimber CDP II.

Looks awesome.

I polished the ejection port/barrel hood on my LCP, as well as the guide rod, muzzle, and takedown pin. Came out like mirrors. Waiting until it's all finished to post more pix though.

Looks good. More importatly, howzit shoot.

Awesome job, now all you need is some pearl grips:D

Yeah, these would fit nicely. :D

Seriously, nice polish job there Lee. You might consider scotch-brite/steel wool'ing the rounds at least. Either way, I'd flip in on Gunbroker and find a non-external extractor version, or just replenish funds in your BRD (black rifle disease) account. :D

Don't flip it on gunbroker!!! Call Kimber and tell them you are having FTE's, and they will give you a new slide with the internal extractor.

"Only a new orleans pimp puts pearl grips on his pistol."
~George S. Patton

I have read HORRIBLE things about Kimber's customer service.

Really?? If so, GOOD CALL!
(and good cust. svc. on Kimber's part)


Oh, and great quote Snipe!

Looks okay to me!

Kimber does exchange external extractors (wow, three "ex"'s in a row...I must be channeling Larry King) with no questions asked. That, and slide stops. This is the limit of their customer service...and be prepared to be growled at just for asking.

So is the metal surface under the duracoat highly polished? I'm interested to hear how it holds up--duracoat is supposed to adhere best to a parked or blasted finish.

Shouldn't that be Andrew Jackson?

that turned out very nice. some night sights and yer set. go shoot it.