Suggestions for a milsurp pistol "bitser" project build?

avroe

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..going into another long winter, I keep thinking about the idea of spending the winter building a restored milsurp pistol from sourced parts from different sources.

My goals:

1. To spend countless hours putting together a milsurp pistol that I can in the end shoot and enjoy

2. Learn a little more about the assembly of milsurp pistols through required research etc during build

3. Spend a fair amount of time searching the internet for the specific parts I require, hopefully original and low-use/unissued if possible (I am willing to spend a little time and money)

4. This pistol will be something I keep in my collection, i'm not looking for it to be economical or profitable to build, I'm just looking for a decent winter project.

Might I ask for suggestions on which milsurp pistol you might suggest would be a good project for this "bitser" build?

Curious to see what everyones feedback might be.
 
The only pistol that comes readily to mind is the M1911. I would think you would want something made in large quantities that might still have a good supply of parts available.

How much restoring are you thinking of doing and how complete? Do you just want a working gun or to build a 'period correct' but non matching pistol from bits and pieces?
 
Doing up a Luger would REALLY take time.

Grip frame number is what it is registered by: 4 numbers plus letter

Upper frame (receiver) ALSO is numbered, 4 numbers plus letter, and DATED.

FACTORY mark is on the TOGGLE, which is marked with ONE or TWO digits.

EVERY part big enough to take a punch is marked with the last TWO digits of the serial number. Your chance of a match is 1 in 100 on EVERY SINGLE PART.

For most small parts, you have 100 different numbers to choose from. Matching a Frame with a RECEIVER is 1 in 10000 times 1 in 10000 times 26 times 26. Pretty hard.

And P-38s are almost as bad: just less parts to match but more factories.

Stay sane!

Get a Tokarev refurb and restore it to date of manufacture. That is at least POSSIBLE without sorcery.
 
Avoid revolvers. Parts are much less interchangeable than on most semi-autos. The easiest would be a 1911A1, followed by perhaps a Hi-Power.
 
Avoid revolvers. Parts are much less interchangeable than on most semi-autos. The easiest would be a 1911A1, followed by perhaps a Hi-Power.

a 1911A1 seems like my most probable choice at this point.

I've tossed an ad in the EE looking for a frame (or parts gun) to start from. If I get any decent leads on a frame, perhaps thats the path i'll travel down....
 
Look at w ww.switzersauction.com. There is an incomplete Webley Mk. VI. Heaven only knows where you would get the missing parts.
As mentionned, a 1911 would probably be easiest.
 
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