1911 Lower Lug Cutter

[McAllyn]

I’m wondering if anyone around Nashville has the Brownell’s or Wilson lower lug cutter kit they’d be willing to rent?  I can get a gunsmith to do this easy enough, but I’d really like this to be a “I did this” project more than a “I paid for this”. I’d rather not buy the tools since this will probably be the only barrel fit I get myself into.

Mac

[Sidecarist]

Rather than a lug cutter, file them. It's much more rewarding and teaches patience... Even with the cutter there will still be file work to clean things up.

[McAllyn]

Unfortunately, hand muscle/joint issues keep from using small files and stones for extended periods of time, so the patience part might be a bit more than the average individual. Otherwise, I’d love to do it that way.

[McAllyn]

Found one, and then some! Ended up with enough tools to actually build a 1911 from ground up... well almost anyway.

 

[Sidecarist]

Good luck! It's been years since I did one. 

Keep us updated on your progress. 

[ken_mays]

A 7/32" chainsaw file is pretty close to the nominal .200" slidestop diameter, if you need to do some filing.  I like to fit my barrels tight, so there is always some hand work that needs to be done after the lug cutter to allow the barrel to go into battery.  I also like to start with a .195" slidestop so that I can swap in a larger pinned part if the lockup ever loosens up.