80% 1911 Officer Build

Mr. Mosin said:

I just realized that there exists 80% 1911 kits. Albeit, I'm broke right now, but this is interesting. Price hovers right around $1.5k for everything one would need, minus the blueing equipment or cerakote work. I personally think it's well worth it. A gun built how *I* want it, the first go-round; and it's off the grid ? Yes, please.

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Does the $1,500.00 include the tools to build this, or do you have those tools already.

This "The 1911 Project" article may be helpful, though I don't believe he used an 80% kit, and I'd expect those to be much more involved. You may want to start in the "Lesson's Learned" section.

http://how-i-did-it.org/1911-project/index.html

Aren't those 80% 1911 receivers aluminum?

I am building my 1911 through a Stealth Arms kit. The frame is aluminum but the jig can be used on steel frames as well.

Mr. Mosin

I built this Essex 1911 frame many years ago and it was quite a learning experience. My advice would be to get a book or video on building a 1911 (the ones done by Jerry Kuhnhausen are excellent), buy a set of Swiss files, and purchase quality/name brand parts. Be prepared for a lot of trial and error in the fitting of those parts and if you already have a 1911 be sure to use it so you can readily see how things are supposed to work when they're properly assembled.

My Essex frame with a TacSol 2211 .22 slide assembly:


My Springfield Armory M1911A1 control model:

I've built 3, full size government model, all steel, a stainless commander, and a lightweight commander. All came through 1911builders.com. They offer the jigs needed to finish the frames. Their parts are all really good. They do not come with magazines or sights, but all of the other parts are included in their kits. Their basic plastic grips don't look bad, but I've put custom grips on all of them, and taken them to a nearby shop to have customized laser engraving. I'm struggling to figure out how to convince my wife I need to build another one . . . .

Tom-R2 said:

I've built 3, full size government model, all steel, a stainless commander, and a lightweight commander. All came through 1911builders.com. They offer the jigs needed to finish the frames. Their parts are all really good. They do not come with magazines or sights, but all of the other parts are included in their kits. Their basic plastic grips don't look bad, but I've put custom grips on all of them, and taken them to a nearby shop to have customized laser engraving. I'm struggling to figure out how to convince my wife I need to build another one . . . .

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Not including the tools about how much did each build cost?

MikeInOr said:

Not including the tools about how much did each build cost?

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Sorry for the late response, we were vacationing in Europe a couple weeks ago and it was a journey to get home, now on quarantine . . . . we're fine, but just making sure.
Anyway, the kits are about $1000, little less if you chose certain options or get in on a sale, they are good sales around patriotic holidays. The cutter and jig were, I believe just under a couple hundred, so I've worked on three pistols, so that cost can be spread over three . . . . so far.