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Article: 09-2005
Pistolsmith
Class
By: Ken O’Donnell
Note: The author is a NTI team member.
Jim Garthwaite has been a good
friend and committed team member of ATSA and its annual event, the NTI, since
it was just an idea. At the end of
June, a mere few weeks after NTI XV, Jim held a 1911 pistolsmith class for 4
NTI team members. This is the 3rd
of such classes Jim has offered during the past several years. The goal of this class was for each student
to assemble from unfitted and unfinished parts a 1911 of the caliber and model
of the student’s choosing. Unlike some
of the other 1911 gunsmith classes I’ve seen offered, the student has a lot
more freedom in choosing what he wants to build and its options.
The class lasts an entire week,
starting early Monday morning, running from 8 to 5, breaking for lunch each
day. Jim had 3 specific subject areas
he wanted us competent in by the end of the week: 1) Proper slide to frame fit;
2) Proper barrel to slide fit; and 3) Performing a good, safe trigger job,
which included the proper functioning of all the 1911’s safeties. By Friday at 1pm, all 4 students had his
pistol finished far enough along to take to the local range for sighting in and
a thorough functions check. I am glad
to report each student’s pistol worked reliably.
Jim had a building constructed
specifically for teaching students this class.
We all had a sturdy work bench and a set of tools provided to us for
use. Jim usually does most of his work
in his original shop, which is also where his big machines are located, but the
classroom is a dedicated teaching space.
We each had a bin of parts with our names printed on it waiting for us
at our work bench when we arrived.
Monday morning focused entirely
on the tools we would use. Jim took the
time to teach us how to shop for quality tools, and quality parts. First we reviewed our measuring tools:
calipers and micrometers; plates for measuring frame rails; feeler gauges; and
1911 specific tools for measuring the firing pin stop and the length of barrel
hood. We discussed all of our various
cutting tools: files, stones, papers, lapping compound, reamers, grinding
wheels, and the tool that probably has destroyed more good guns and parts than
any other – the dremel tool. Monday
after lunch we began to fit the frame to the slide.
Tuesday we continued to fit
slides and frames. Jim emphasizes
removing 90% of the material first, quickly, so you can spend your time on
doing the last 10% the right way. He relates
how folks get frustrated when working on fitting a part early on because they
spend too much time taking off too little material in the rough cut, get out
the dremel tool, and by that time take too much off and ruin the part. We spent a lot of time hand lapping the
slide and frame to get a good fit. By
mid morning two of us were far enough along to begin fitting barrels. We started out filing on the barrel for an
initial rough fit, and once again used our lapping compound for the final fit.
Let me take the time to point
out Jim is an artist, not just a craftsman.
Over the years he has made his own fixtures to perform many of the
specific pistolsmith tasks he performs.
He has acquired many of the tools and fixtures available from the popular
1911 shops, tools commonly found in the Brownell’s catalog, such as sight
pushers for example. He takes the time
to show his students the advantages of those tools, the shortcomings of those
tools, and shows how the fixtures and tools he has made work compares to those.
Wednesday morning we took a trip
to his mill and lathe and got an overview on how to make the cuts for the
aftermarket rear and front sights. We
also were shown how he makes the custom cuts like the flat topped and serrated
slide. We continued to fit our barrels,
and by mid morning began to fit our grip safeties. We all had Springfield frames, half Officers, the other half
Commanders, and we all used the high ride type beavertail grip safety. Jim showed us the way to fit a grip safety
so it blends into the frame nicely. It
takes extra time, but it results in a better feel, and makes the difference in
good craftsmanship. Personally, I can
now appreciate the difference.
Thursday we began working with
the trigger group. Again here two
things made a big difference: 1) quality parts; and 2) fixtures Jim developed
to achieve good trigger jobs. We
learned how to both fit thumb safeties properly and make them feel well in the
hand. This type of attention is what
makes Jim’s work shine so much. He
doesn’t just fit the part. The time he
takes to make it work, and feel, and interact with our hand really makes his
craftsmanship stand out. We installed
our sights. We installed our mainspring
housings.
Friday morning we spent finishing up areas we needed to spend more attention on, and performing function checks with the magazines we were going to use with the gun. We were shown how to tension an extractor. Once again, quality parts make the difference. That afternoon we went to the range and shot the guns. I guess I put 200 rounds thru mine, a lightweight commander chambered in .45 ACP, and other than a couple rounds feeding a bit sluggishly on the first magazine, mine never malfunctioned after that.
Accuracy wise, we were shooting
at and hitting shards of clay pigeons 40 yards away with our guns. Jim hit them better than I did, usually on
the first shot, but I like to think I held my own. We also had a Farnam flipper that we set up at several distances
to practice on. At the end of the
session we had moved it out to that 40 yard line and each student was able to
hit that steel plate with his gun with no problems from my observation. All these guns worked reliably, accurately,
and did it in style. And we all came
away with priceless knowledge.
I asked Jim
a few questions for inclusion in this article:
How long have you been
building defensive pistols?
I started working on pistols for carry/IPSC in 1979. Hunting was and is a
big part of my life and it was that love of firearms that translated to my
involvement with handguns. Some of my acquaintances saw the work I was
doing to my personal weapons and asked that I do the same for them. The
rest, as they say, is history.
Why did you decide to
offer classes in pistolsmithing? I
saw many practitioners who were trying to do work for themselves, some good,
some questionable, and wanted to help them build/modify their pistols
using proper methods that would enhance reliability, be
comfortable to shoot, and give them pride in ownership.
Which pistols do you use
for your classes? The
pricing for the class includes one of Springfield Armory's 1911A1 pistols as
I've found them to be one of the best values and an exceptionally good platform
to use when building a defensive pistol. We must keep in
mind the frame, slide, and barrel are the "building blocks" to
making a reliable, accurate, and quality pistol.
What are your biggest
challenges with the classes? One
of the most important teaching points is to stress patience and attention
to detail. At first most students are hesitant to start filing/cutting/grinding
on the components because they fear making a mistake and ruining the job.
It is my responsibility as their instructor to instill confidence, thoroughly
explain the modifications, show the difference between quality and substandard parts,
and be sure the student understands the process.
We must ALWAYS
remember these are defensive pistols and may be used as a life saving tool!
Domari Nolo,
Jim Garthwaite, Pistolsmith
Watsontown, PA
Jim was a gracious
host and a good teacher. I thought he
did a great job imparting pieces of his 25 years of knowledge to us. We had a wide variety of 1911 experience
among the students. One student had
never owned a 1911; this was going to be his first. On the other extreme, one student had actually done some minor
1911 gunsmith work, but nothing of this magnitude. And the other 2 of us fell somewhere in between. I took this class for the knowledge, and to
gain an appreciation for fine work. I
got my money’s worth and then some; I even have a really great handgun at the
end of it all, too. I feel a great pride of ownership in what I built. Thank you, Jim.