ACW Unplugged Part 1: Hand Fitting an Alchemy 1911 Frame and Slide

Don’t worry, Eli will be back on the socials very soon. Nick was recently at our Facility in Ft Wayne where we make the pistols for both Cabot Guns and ACW and he spent a day with our team of talented Gunsmiths at ACW following them around with a camera to watch how they take high-quality oversized 1911 parts all made in the USA, and hand fit each one of them together to make these tight fit 1911s that we consider to be functional works of art.
Now, we won’t be showing the entire process for a couple of reasons… the first is that it would take about 20 hours to follow a blued gun from start to finish and that would be a very long video, and the second is that… well we gotta keep some of the magic for ourselves. However, this is a pretty raw dive into the process behind building our pistols…. No soft music or fancy slow motion or marketing… just our talented gunsmiths building guns and talking about it along the way.
So we are calling this series ACW Unplugged. For part one, we are starting at the beginning with some parts prep and some frame-to-slide fit and blending with Brant. Now like we said…. This doesn’t cover the entire process from start to finish, because that would take a few hours to show the whole process, but you’ll begin to see the amount of time and craftsmanship that go into each and every ACW. Enjoy.

[@alchemy1911]

Dude, Nick is so professional. LOL.

[@therealnickmorrow]

The most professional-ist

[@johnrebel8925]

Thank you for showcasing not only your product and process, you also gave your employees recognition with this video. We as the consumer are getting to see those who make the product we purchase from you and it adds to the purchasing experience. Let’s face it we as consumers of your product are a more discerning lot, otherwise we would be purchasing COTS stock items. Please continue to showcase these folks as they are part of the brand and we as consumers enjoy your content Doc/out

[@alchemy1911]

Thanks! They deserve tons of credit for sure!

[@capellerk]

20 hours of 1911 video "...a lot of you would die of boredom"....challenge ACCEPTED!

[@mikethebike67]

I love to watch someone work that really knows what they are doing. They make it look effortless.

[@alchemy1911]

Our guys (and gal) are very god at what they do!

[@Nick87899]

This really shows the 1911 is a balancing act, where everything needs to be just so, upper lug, barrel feet to slide stop, hood to breechface, bushing to barrel, barrel feet to VIS, all had to be timed just right, Nice work!

[@slimfire5475]

Awesome video and a great look into a small part of hand fitting a 1911. Thanks for the video.

[@alchemy1911]

Just wait for parts 2 and 3

[@slimfire5475]

Awesome y'all.@@alchemy1911

[@peterrenda92]

Now I want to be charged an extra fee to come down and build my custom ACW under your guidance! Looks like so much fun.

[@alchemy1911]

Like the places where you make your own pottery 🤣🤣…. I dig it.

[@gamip6866]

This episode was awesome 👏

[@alchemy1911]

Part 2 is pretty cool

[@frontiereast]

It's amazing

[@alchemy1911]

thank you!!

[@steve4248]

Great video, but I wish it could have been a bit longer as it left me wanting more.

[@alchemy1911]

Just wait for parts 2 and 3….. total Run time would’ve been an hour. First edit was 1:30….

[@ericbrabham3640]

Good stuff.

[@alchemy1911]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Steelcityrockers]

Way cool!

[@alchemy1911]

thank you!

[@mbenjamin292]

With today's CNC machines, you would think there would be no hand fitting in 2023, but I guess I am wrong. This was an eye-opening video thanks for sharing.

[@alanmeyers3957]

Cabot is the only manufacturer to do that, that’s the problem with 1911’s, the tolerances are all over the place.

[@blueyedevil3479]

@@alanmeyers3957only manufacturer to do what? Hand fit the pieces of the build to each other? Ummm NO, no they are most definitely not the only ones doing hand fitting…

[@matthewsalyersjr4965]

After building a 1911 from parts myself, I have way more respect for the 1911!platform!! It took me days!! to file, fit and polish, every single part to get it fit fit just right! The only thing I couldn’t get down was the bluing!!

[@jerdobi]

Slide fit to frame, ejector fit to frame, hammer fit to slide, barrel fit to slide would be way more interesting.

[@BOFZoilo]

“Hi there! I’m curious about the brand and cut size of the file you use for the slide and frame . Could you please share that information? Thanks!”

[@willy4869]

Is there a showroom in Ft Wayne? I could drive there in no time and would love to fondle a few af these before buying...

[@jacksmith8002]

Kyle sounds like Rob

[@alchemy1911]

Gunsmiths all have a specific “sound”…. It comes from years of pushing files 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@metal75801]

At the 12:55 mark, what foredom handpiece is he using to blend the rear of the slide?

[@hk_mpfive]

Should I start saving my pennies now for hopes of a builder's class at Cabot/ACW? 😉

[@alchemy1911]

They would be much different classes… two totally different build processes under one roof (I know it’s confusing) but who’s to say it’ll never happen