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Winter builds for 2023

Here is the starting point for 2023 build's.

Two mock ups ready for the next stage of communication.

17L, I had to order some more magazine release springs for a Tyrant mag release. I will be changing out the trigger with the new Performances trigger system but will keep the Finger Blaster trigger shoe. I have new Tyrant pins and slide release, Rook Rails front and back. Zaffiri Precision slide and barrel.

On the frame,I will sand off that front step on the barrel end of the frame like I do to all my builds and modify the trigger guard. This is what I hope to do with this build, I have a Elk antler that I think I can put on the grip if I can cut it thin enough. My color scheme is light OD green with Gold accent.

CL, I'll put a Performance trigger system in or a Timney trigger, haven't made up my mind yet. Tyrent bling.

Zaffiri Precision slide and barrel, samr mods to the frame but this build will have a walnut grip with some peral inlay.

Again it all depends on cutting walnut thin enough to work. My color scheme is still up in the air but it will have a gold accent.

So, the building season has started, updates coming as I move on with my plans for these two builds.

7 comments

Comments (7)

Hawkeye

Dec 16, 2024

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Finished

Hawkeye

Jan 15, 2024

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Paint finished

At first I used oasis green but it turn out to be to light, I ened up mixing light flat OD green with a flat green, then added some oasis green. Then I added clear peral. I like the color, it has a creamy look with pearl sparkles.

Getting ready for stippling, melted in saved tabs to cover the magwell screw hole. Flatten out all the factory stippling and finish shaping my border.

I think it all turned out ok. nexted is finish the bone in a clear seal and start fitting parts.

Hawkeye

Dec 08, 2023

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Got some more time to work on my new build so this is where I'm at now.

I managed to get some Walnut for build 2. Several thin pieces in differnt thickness.

It is going to be a lot easier to put this on a grip than what I have to do for the antler.

After solving the problem of cutting slices off a round antler without it moving, I have to solve the problem of how thick using an antler will make the grip.

A P80 grip measures one inch, so just adding the new grip it would increase the width of the grip by 1/2 inch. This made the grip feel to big for my hands.

Each side wall measures .1 thousands, So I sanded as much as thought safe, off both sides.

I took off about .040 to .045 thousands from each side, leaving the eide wall .055 thousands thick.

This is what I have to start with. When I add antler, it only adds .1 to .13 thousands to the width of the grip.

You can see just how much polyer I sanded off by looking at the magwell. It is really loose now. Not to worry, I will be molding it in and reshaping it with JB Weld.

Now to solve another problem, I don't want to intall the antler untill the last stage of the build, but I need a way to know where the antler will set on the grip. I will be stippling the front and rear of the grip. This let me make a line of plastic to layout the spot the anler will set.

Here is a mock up so far.

You can see i started on some of the other mods i like to do to these P80, but we'll talk about them later. I think the antler looks to big, but when I add that 17L slide to it, it looks about right.

The larger grip makes the slide look smaller.

Hawkeye

Dec 12, 2023

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Replying to

Started working on the frame mods.

This is something I do on all my builds. First I round off all the sharp edges of the frame, then I remove the step on the front. I absolutely hate the look this gives to a build.

I still need to do some sandng but you can get the idea for what the look I'm going for. The way I do this, is to start laying the bottom back then bringing the top down to form a full radius.

It may just be what I find appealing to me and the way my eye flows across the my build from front to back. I think that all the sharp edges looks cheap and is a way to cut costs in molding the frame.

I did a under cut and a double cut under the trigger as well as remove the frount of the trigger. I just don't like the way this feels when I shoot. I all so did the Glock knuckle cut in the right side of the trigger as I am a right handed shooter.

Here is where I'm at as of now. I think by going with the over size grip, it helps the look of the build, Making it more proportional. The slde being so long it give the look that is not balanced to eye. The larger grip helps balance the look.

I think that the reason I change the look of P80s has to be with me being a old school shooter from the time before plastic pistols. I shot 1911s and wheel pistols. If you look at the 1911 frame and the way I do the mods, you can see they have the same lines and flow.

I still need to come up with a color scheme for this build. I have a polished gold barrel with a twist, so I will have glod bling. My wife wants me to do another Black Chrome.

I am not sure about doing another one, you have to polish the frame for the Black Chrome to really pop on a build and I believe it would take a way from the ploished Gold barrel and bling. I am thinking a mat finish (plus I get to play with my new sandblaster) but I am not sure on the color SO way in guys for ideas. I want to finish the antler in a natural finish. With a polished barrel and natural finish on the grip a plan matte finish would compliment the rest of the build.

I still need to mold in the magwell, what I am thinking to do with it is filling in the offset that the antler has when it meets the magwell on the back. Reset the the screw that hold in the magwell and melting some black polymer to cover it so I can spipple and never see the mounting screw.

Just a few more nights of sanding, fixing the magwell and I should be ready for paint.

SO lets here some colors you guys may like, I have and idea but would like to here some input.

Hawkeye

Dec 24, 2023

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Replying to

Got the magwell molded in, top and bottom. Then blend and shaped to match the contours of the grip.

Sand blasted and all masked off. Just waiting for paint to get here.

I decided on oasis green, that should make all the polished gold pop.

Nosce Veritas

Dec 01, 2023

Phenomenal, and great write up!!

Hawkeye

Dec 01, 2023

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yesterday I tried to cut my elk antler but I have to solve some problems first.

First I have come up with a way to hold a round antler to hold it in place while I cut thin stirps.

This is what I came up with.

I screwed a flat piece of wood to a long antler. This holds the antler upright and inplace so it does not turn and I can cut a stright thin piece.

I cut up tp the wood leaving the thin strip still attached to the main body of the antler. Then I can cut it off for a clean thin piece fo antler.

I cut two pieces about 12 inches long.

One just needs some sanding on the back side and the other I need to run across a planer to make it just a little thinner.

The reason I didn't use the table saw, is I thought I would have better control over the cut if I didn't try to pust the antler making one cut through at one time. This antler is at least 48 years old and is all most as hard as rock. By using a compond radial arm saw I could make a number of shallow cuts, not building up heat or even bogging down the saw. Anyway my plan for cutting worked out, I should be able to use the same process for cutting my walnut.