1911 shortened and radius slide stop pin technique
When enhancing your 1911 with a countersink slide stop pin most people find that producing a perfect radius on the pins end is very difficult, but I have found a technique that simplifies the process.
You need to under stand that it is critical not to change the remaining diameter of the pin or frames shaft, also you don’t want to over heat the pin and change the tensile strength of the pin.
First remove the slide from the frame and slip the stop pin through the hole on the frame, with a sharpie marker shade all the protruding section of the pin, if you have a black pistol use a silver color sharpie.
Now take the pin out and on a grinding wheel start to grind the tip of the pin applying light pressure so as not to over heat the pin, as you start getting to the end of the marked portion check it with the frame, the idea hear is to leave the pin slightly longer then flush about 1/32” to 3/64” because you will need this extra material once you start to rough shape the radius on the grinding wheel, I would wrap a piece of masking tape about 3/16” below the end of the pin to assure that I don’t change any of the remaining diameter of the pin. Start rotating the pin around the grinding wheel in a continuous motion making sure not to grind where you’ve taped, when you have roughly radius the point of the pin you will end up with a slight point, which later on you will remove, that’s why you left the pin slightly longer to begin with.
Third you will need a 7/32” or 3/16” hex head electric screw driver tip and a small piece ¾” x ¾”of plumber’s emery cloth. Install the 7/32” or 3/16” driver tip to a hand held drill and place the piece of emery cloth on top of the driver and hold it down with your rough slide stop pin and run the drill at a high rpm while pushing the stop pin down into the driver, it works like an electric pencil sharpener and will produce a perfect polished radius and while applying pressure and pushing the stop pin down, will remove the extra length that was left slightly longer and pointed.
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