[rock jock]

I won a Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 last night, but do not like the original Mil-spec deisgn. I much prefer the modified version. I would, however, like to get another 1911. So, my options as I see them are to either sell the Mil-Spec and buy another 1911 or send it off to a gunsmith and have a major modification job done. Any advice?

Also, any recommendations for 'smiths in the Houston area?

[Skunkabilly]

Get a Glock. Just kidding.

Since you already have the gun, you can always build it up.

Tons of options for lotsa parts, like Ed Brown, Wilson, everyone's prolly gonna chime in with their favorites.

Some people like getting the Milspecs and building them up since most of the newer 1911s like the Springfield Loadeds, Kimber Customs, etc all have front cocking serrations, which some people dislike aesthetically.

You can send it to Springfield and have them do the parts (I THINK) if you are uncomfortable and unfamiliar with sending it to a smith.

[rock jock]

Good advice Skunk. I would have traded it for a Glock 20, but I just bought a used one two weeks ago. What I really want is a nice 1911 and maybe this is a good start for a 'smith.

Anybody heard of Ed Vanden Berg in Houston?

[SelfProclaimedExpert]

With the number of semi-custom 1911s out there right now, I think smithing this one is a waste. First, you have to face the fact that, unless you send it to a big name, it might not turn out like you want. Second, you might spend less total if you just buy an STI, Kimber Custom, Springfield Custom, Valtro, etc.

Someone out there likes the style 1911 you have. Sell it to that person and use the money on something with a warranty, the original finish and sights that align with the bore.

[444]

If you want a custom gun eventually, I would use the one you have as a foundation for it. No matter how many bells and whistles a new gun has, they will have been installed in the fastest, cheapest and least manpower intensive manor possible. I think you will have a much better gun by having the installation performed by a good custom smith.

[Skunkabilly]

You know, I wouldn't do anything to it before shooting a few thousand through it. When I first got into 1911s, I bought what I thought I wanted. Turns out I didn't want it. Then I wanted to do the smith route and put every doodad on it to make it highly tactical and racey. Then I was dumping money on doodads. Thankfully I never did it. Then I wanted a plain jane one. Then now I kinda want a slightly above plain jane. But I'm more fickle than most.

What I'm saying is since you're new to 1911s and don't know much about them and what's out there for them, wait a while, let yourself cool down, and decide your needs as you use it--for carry, competition, bullseye, plinking, whatever. You may want to get dedicated guns, or just a balanced gun that does all of the above.

You really can't go wrong with the new Springfield Milspecs (the old ones have a bigger frontstrap that some found aesthetically unpleasing, myself included).

Your needs may change over time and what we, your gunsmith, the gun rag, etc, suggest to you, you might not want.

Now I'm might catch hell for this, but in my experience a sizeable share of professional gunsmiths eschew just buying and running over the counter guns. They may think that over the counter 1911 and attached parts are total crap (do a search for MIM on here and 1911forum if you have a few weeks of free time) when a stock Kimber Custom may work fine for lots of folks who don't care what the sear and hammer are made of.

There's so many 1911 services and parts out there, there's something for everyone. If you want it chances are it's out there. What I'm saying is don't let anyone convince you something's not right for you unless something is SERIUOSLY wrong with it; don't let a gunsmith tell you that your stock Springfield won't cut it; don't let us tell you on a forum you are forfeiting your life unless you replace all the MIM parts with tool steel parts; don't let the gun rags tell you that if you have a Trijicon plain tritium unserrated front sight, you'll probably get taken to lunch in a civil suit if you use it in self defense instead of a Novak tritium serrated front sight.

Shoot it, see what you like and don't like about it. You may hate it and end up buying another Glock or something. Either way, you can't lose since the thing was free :p

Damn that was long.

[Siggyboy]

It all depends what you are looking for. I'm not sure what you mean by "the modified version". If that means that you just want to throw a beavertail grip safety and commander style hammer on it, then you might want to keep this one. Otherwise, here's my advice:

If you just want a cheap 1911 and will be satisfied by the above changes, then keep it.

If you want a lot of other things like better sights, night sights, extended thumb safety, grip checkering, extended mag well, front cocking serrations, full piece guide rod etc. etc. then sell the Mil-Spec and buy a Kimber or Springfield Loaded.

If you want to have a smith build up a 1911 then go ahead using the Mil-Spec.

But if you want a smith to build up a super-duper expensive 1911, I'd sell the Mil-Spec and buy a Colt to use as base.

[10-Ring]

Since you won the Mil Spec invest some money & customize to what you want exactly. The toughest part will be finding the right smith to do the work.
Good luck ;)

[AZ Husker]

It doesn't take long to wring up $500 or more with a good 'smith, and most of them earn it. Although you got it free, you could easily sell it for $400 to an individual (plus no tax), so in essence you DO have value in it already. After the gunsmith work, you've now got a $900 gun that most guys will still view as a pretty mil-spec. For not much more, you could buy an STI Trojan and have a truly fine weapon put together the way it was meant to be. Nothing against Springfield, but I wouldn't use their South American frames to build a custom gun on anyway.

[Lofland]

don't let a gunsmith tell you that your stock Springfield won't cut it; don't let us tell you on a forum you are forfeiting your life unless you replace all the MIM parts with tool steel parts; don't let the gun rags tell you that if you have a Trijicon plain tritium unserrated front sight, you'll probably get taken to lunch in a civil suit if you use it in self defense instead of a Novak tritium serrated front sight.

Right on! Skunkabilly, that was brilliant, you should use it as your sig line!

[Lofland]

for a big-name gunsmith in the Houston area, the guys at www.pistolsmith.com have good things to say about Teddy Jacobson in Sugarland.

http://www.actionsbyt.com/