Custom 1911

SteveS

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
117
Location
Norman, OK
What is the best 1911 to buy if I want to trick one out. I have the inside track at Springfield. I can get one at 22% below dealer cost. So, would I go with a TRP, Trophy Match, or just a base GI? When I say trick one out I am talking a limited gun.
 
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What is the best 1911 to buy if I want to trick one out. I have the inside track at Springfield. I can get one at 22% below dealer cost. So, would I go with a TRP, Trophy Match, or just a base GI? When I say trick one out I am talking a limited gun.


Out of what you mentioned I would go with the TRP, but that is just a persoal preference
 
Mike C did a little survey of what the market offers as the bones for a build up gun. Dang it to old age... I think it's over at the other forum.

Cast vs forged.. frames... forged usually wins. Barstock or forged slides trump cast. One of the other things Mike noted is the holes need to be located and drilled to tight tolerances. Holes that are correct generally make fitting everything else easier.

As far as what comes on a stock gun.... my first question is "What stays and what goes?". If you like Novak sights, it may make sense to buy a base gun thats already dovetailed for them. If you want some cool slide cuts or a custom finish added... stay with a plain jane gun... simple things so you don't do the same work twice.

Caspian and some of the other shops sell frames and slides in the white... maybe the way to go if your looking for a true custom gun
 
An actual 1911 smith can turn any gun into a dream. Your base gun should have good quality steel. And that's about it. You'll end up with few original parts left, probably the extractor, slide, and frame. I'd start with a low-end GI, like the Springfield, or, at the higher end, the cheapest Colt I could get. The gun will almost certainly be refinished anyway, since the new grip safety will have to be blended in, and the trigger guard will be undercut, plus all the hand filing, etc.
 
Or you can have crywus build you one with the STI frame and slide he has, but that is more as a competition gun, and a 2011.
 
An actual 1911 smith can turn any gun into a dream. Your base gun should have good quality steel. And that's about it. You'll end up with few original parts left, probably the extractor, slide, and frame. I'd start with a low-end GI, like the Springfield, or, at the higher end, the cheapest Colt I could get. The gun will almost certainly be refinished anyway, since the new grip safety will have to be blended in, and the trigger guard will be undercut, plus all the hand filing, etc.


kinda true, if money is no object; but a good smith will refuse to work on crap. Its almost always better to build up from scratch.
 
Freedom Gunworks did a little cosmetic surgery on my STI Spartan
Plate-Tacular did the Ceracoat finish on the frame
thumb_pre_1311164108__spart.jpg
 
nice undercut and checkering, looks like, too.
You are correct. The slide has been Tri-topped and the cocking serrations have been deepened and rounded. When shooting 200gr bullets, it feels more like a 40S&W than a 45acp. The timing is much quicker and by it being lightened, target to target splits are less too.
 
youre not supposed to "lighten" a ss gun for ss division. Its a little fuzzy in terms of interpretation.
 
USPSA is giving smiths some "artistic freedom" with cosmetic alterations to personalize their stuff. USPSA was consulted before any of this was done.
 
I made very deep chunky cocking serrations on my SS, as well as hi power cuts, both are legal, look good, and take some of the weight out of the slide.

I still had to go after the frame under the grip panels to make weight though.
 
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