Build it myself 1911

[JeffC]

I did one, Colt upper and Caspian lower and I plan to give it to my boy when he grows up.

My first handgun was a Colt Gov't model, it was well built and it served me well, I plan on junior having the same experience with his first .

 

[Steve F]

Count me in Essex frame and Ithaca slide.Had alot of fun and it works great

 

[400CB1911]

DO ALL THE HOMEWORK YOU CAN (ALOT CHEAPER) -1st
THEN MAKE A WISHLIST OF PARTS THAT YOU TRUST.

DON'T GO AT THIS THINKING THAT YOU WILL SAVE A BUCK OR TWO
THERE IS A REASON THAT THE CUSTOM MAKERS CHARGE $1100+ FOR THEIR 1911s - YOU'LL FIND OUT WHY. IT IS, HOWEVER QUITE REWARDING & THIS FIRST ONE WILL QUICKLY BECOME YOUR FAVORITE.

I'D RECCOMMEND A FULL-SIZED .45ACP TO START -THERE'S ALOT OF CHOICES INVOLVED IN THAT ORDER ALONE -FIGURE IN A DIFFERENT CALIBER, SIZE, ECT & YOU HAVE MORE TWEEKING TO LEARN HOW TO DO.

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEND $900 ON THE HOGUE AVENGER -THEN GO RIGHT ON AHEAD & DO IT, BUT THAT SAME $$ WILL ALSO BUY A FEW BARRELS, A SLIDE , AND MOST OF THE TOOLS/ JIGS NEEDED TO BUILD THE THING TO MATCH QUALITY. DON'T TRY TO CUT CORNERS -JUST BUY ONE & STICK THE AVENGER ON IT & CALL IT CUSTOM

IT'S NOT TOO DIFFICULT A JOB TO DO, JUST TAKE YOUR TIME & DO AS MUCH READING/ STUDYING AS YOU NEED TO & DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS
-IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO ASK THEM BEFORE YOU MAKE A MISTAKE.

 

[BluesBear]

Far left side of keyboard.
Third key from the bottom.
Caps Lock.

Locate it,
Learn it,
Use it.

 

[Black Snowman]

I started with making my own grips. That's been an adventure and highly educational. My 1st set actually came out usable, which is better than I imagined they would. Building a whole gun could be fun but something I don't want to invest the money into doing unless I hit the lottery. So basicly, I'm no help either and I'm just trying to boost my post count

 

[JoeHatley]

I put this Frankenpistol together quite a few years ago.



Essex frame, Colt top end, Briley sherical bushing, AlumaGrips, and everything else is Wilson.

Great learning experiance, tons of fun, glad I did it (once). It can be a lot of work, and it probably ended up costing me about twice what a new Kimber would have 10 years ago.

Joe

 

[AndABeer]

Don't forget to figure tools into your bottom line. They can cost as much as the gun parts themselves.

 

[Sisco]

Don't forget to figure tools into your bottom line.

I can't get by with a pair of vice grips and a Dremmel?
Kinda put this project on the back burner for now. The Kuhnhasuen (sp) book still hasn't arrived yet, I want to study it before doing anything.
On the bright side, just found out I'm getting a significant refund from the IRS

 

[Backwoods]

Heres mine, 1978, now the ivory grip panels would cost more than the entire gun did back then. Totally reliable with anything but very short ammo like 185 gr semiwadcutters.

Don in Ohio

 

[grendelbane]

My last, (shooting, but still uncompleted), is a Colt slide on a Caspian frame. I highly recommend Caspian frames!

Shoots well, in spite of, (or perhaps because of ?), the no name generic barrel I found in the back of my spare parts box.

Mostly Ed Brown small parts.

I notice two distinct groups here. Those who want a cosmetically high quality pistol, and those who want all the nice custom parts. Some people want both! I put mine together to shoot it, so I am not concerned that the slide I used already had a decade and a half of wear.

It has been 100% with 230 grain FMJ, so that is what I shoot. If you wanted to shoot JHP or SWC, it would need a little work on the ramp. Someday, it will get it. Then, I will be tempted to do another one, possibly in .38 Super this time. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[Majic]

I took the Essex route. Granted I had to do a littleframe hole placement changes, but I learned a lot. If nothing else you will aquire knowledge of how a 1911 really works. To me it's amazing in it's simplicity.

 

[Tamara]

Don't know if this counts...

...but the last Caspian Officer's-size frame we ordered had a full-length dust cover.

This got me to thinking...

I have a current project gun (built from an Essex stainless frame, a Colt barrel, and a Name Brand Manufacturer That Will Remain Nameless slide blank.)

What if all Caspian Officer's frames come full-length up top now? How cool would it be to order a full-length frame with an OM-length grip and build it into a complete frame to drop under that 5" slide/barrel assembly, and then use the complete Essex frame as a full-time base for my Ciener .22 slide and barrel? I could turn a 1911 parts gun and a Ciener slide into two complete guns for less than $200! Would that be cool, or what?

 

[alarmguy]

For lots of info with lots of photos check out this site:

www.roderuscustom.tzo.com

 

[Sisco]

Thanks for the link alarmguy!