Custom 1911 - what would you get?

[JiminCA]

One thing I'd suggest is that if you don't already have clear-cut preferences for features on a custom 1911, maybe you shouldn't go buy one yet

That is the problem in this thread. The original poster hasn't used a 1911 enough to know what he does and doesn't want. There's little point in getting a custom built if you can't benefit from getting it done the way you want to suit your shooting style, strengths and weaknesses.

My recommendation is to get a used Wilson CQB, Protector, 96A2, Classic, etc. They're out there in very good shape for 12-1400 bucks. Wilson will honor the warranty for used buyers. Shoot the thing and figure out what you like and don't like. Then go get a custom. You will be able to sell the Wilson it for pretty much what you paid for it (although I'd bet you probably won't sell it).

Or just get a good base model Kimber. Not one of the upper models, just the classic custom. Find a nice used Series I gun and shoot it. Again, should hold its value given the desire out there for Series I guns. A classic custom with a nice set of Hogue grips and some Heinie or Novak sights is a great shooter, and all you have to do is spend 100 bucks for the sights and grips. You don't even need that stuff but it will make the gun nicer.

You need some experience before you can make this choice. It is like picking components for a sound system when all you've done is read magazines about sound systems. You have to go listen to make your choices.

In your case you have to go shoot in order to make intelligent choices. Don't rush the process - enjoy it. 1911's are definitely a process in terms of learning the guns and exercising all the options.

Good luck.

 

[John Forsyth]

Well said JiminCA. Good post.

 

[9mmepiphany]

picking just the right custom touches is a learning process. it does take some experience with the 1911 to see what works for you.

to that end i'd suggest the basic kimber also

 

[denfoote]

My idea of a custom 1911 would be to send my Springfield Loaded off to Larry Vickers for accurizing. But, since he only does a handfull of guns per year, I am afraid that I might be old and gray before I get it back!!

 

[dandean316]

One thing I'd suggest is that if you don't already have clear-cut preferences for features on a custom 1911, maybe you shouldn't go buy one yet

That is the problem in this thread. The original poster hasn't used a 1911 enough to know what he does and doesn't want.

I should clarify a bit about these points. I have 11 Para Ordnance's at this time. That includes single stacks, double stacks, single actions and double actions. So, yeah, I don't have a "true" 1911 (single stack, single action) in many books, but it's not like I'm going from Glocks to a custom 1911 here. My original intent of the question was to get your opinions on certain features for my semi-custom 1911 RRA I will be getting. I figured if they can trick it out a bit for me, I'd ask some opinions and maybe get a couple of add ons. Simple extra stuff like top serrations and ambi safety.

How this all started is I wanted to get a nice Kimber, but for about the same money I can get a standard RRA. But then with the RRA I can get all these extras, so I started going down this custom path.

But Sean was right - since I am not sure if I want things like snake skin checkering or ivory grips, I shouldn't buy a custom yet.

So, I'm going to order the plain Jane RRA or see if anyone around town has a nice used Kimber. Then I'll take all these suggestions you guys gave me and trick out one of my Para's.
Thanks for all your help!

 

[Ankeny]

You can't go wrong with the RRA. I would suggest hard chrome if you are actually going to use the pistol. There is no reason why the gun wouldn't take you as far as you are willing to go in USPSA or IDPA shooting.

 

[Harold Mayo]

You have a lot of questions about custom guns for someone who is wanting to spend $2500 on one.

No offense, but I would recommend some extensive research on the web to start with (which you are doing) at sites like this one as well as:

www.pistolsmith.com
www.1911forum.com

Look at pictures, correspond with people...get a feel for what you should have that way.

Then try and find someone in your area with custom guns. There's nothing like trying something out to know whether you want it or not.

Talk to gunsmiths on the phone or in person. Go with someone you like personally (or as personal as you can get in a limited time).

You can spend a lot of $$$ on a custom gun and no be satisfied, especially if you're not familiar with what you want. I speak from experience.

OR, buy some used stuff and trade around. You'll most likely lose money in the long run, but you'll get an idea of what you want. Used RRA and Wilson guns are nice. Used Kimber custom shop stuff is pretty good. You can find plenty of custom guns out there. Check the auction and sales sites:

www.gunbroker.com
www.auctionarms.com
www.gunsamerica.com
www.snipercountry.com (the emporium)
www.sturmgewehr.com
www.glocktalk.com
www.ar15.com

Those are some of the major ones.

 

[JiminCA]

Denfoote: LV does jobs like what you have in mind in a few months or so, depending on his backlog and "real job" requirements. Reliability jobs, accurizing, and other minor work get done as he has time, and really don't take very long. Get what you want! Call the man up. It is only the full customs that have the really long wait times.

Back to Dandean316: 11 Paras! You certainly know something about 1911's. Given all of that you know enough to make intelligent choices in a semi-custom. RRA is a good choice because they'll use anyone's components. For instance, on mine I got Brown thumb and grip safeties. Try getting Baer or Wilson to do that! Anyhow, I'd suggest that you try something different - ie with different profile safeties than your paras (maybe Brown).

RRA will work with you to get what you want. That's one of the reasons why I earmark them as one of the exceptional values out there.

Good luck and good shooting.

PS: Here is some food for thought. I have some very nice high end 1911's, including Vickers, Brown, Baer, RRA, Wilson, and others. But here is the bottom line - I can shoot in IDPA just as well with a cleaned up Kimber classic custom. If the gun runs, is accurate, has good sights and trigger, then you have what you need. A tight gun cycles a bit smoother also. Lots of rounds can make a gun very smooth.

All of the rest of the stuff (checkering, flat-top slides, serrations, etc. are cosmetic stuff that I do pay for because I like it. But it doesn't add anything much to the shooting experience.

 

[dandean316]

Yes, I will most likely go with hard chrome. Although I like the blued better, I know the HC will hold up better. But even if I get the blued, I don't care if there's a few nicks and scuffs.

I never understood not using/shooting a gun. After selling all my Mustangs, I vowed to never get into anything that I had to worry about scratching again.

 

[Ankeny]

I am really suprised at the number of people who don't see the need to checker the front strap. I put checkering up pretty high on my list.

 

[Sean Smith]

Different strokes for different folks.

I dislike checkering myself.

 

[Nightcrawler]

When I saw the title of this thread, I was thinking that it'd be one where the poster was asking what custom 1911 you'd get if you had the bucks.

Frankly, just about every "custom" feature you can think of is now available on a mass produced pistol. Beveled magazine wells, checkering, front serrations, extended beavertail, etc., can all be had on a stock gun these days.

So, if you want a 1911-type with a beveled magazine well, frontstrap checkering, extended beavertail, commander hammer, front serrations, [insert big brand name here]-sights, extra heavy springs (one Les Baer I examined had a recoil spring so heavy I could barely retract the slide; the gun shop guy behind the counted considered this a sign of quality), and so on, there are guns from Wilson, Les Baer, Springfield, you name it.

Now if *I* had $2500 bucks to get my Colt customized....hmm..

I'd add an ambidextrious safety. Not the extended one, I don't like those, just an ambi one. Oh, and I'd replace the stock grips with nice walnut non-chekered ones. I think those look better.

And I'd probably put the other $2300 into my savings account so I can pay for college next year.

BUT...if you're not in college, $2500 can likely buy you a top-notch pistol. (One would hope...)

Just make sure you know what you want before dropping down that kind of coin.

 

[Sean Smith]

Frankly, just about every "custom" feature you can think of is now available on a mass produced pistol.

Indeed. Of course, it would be wise to not confuse superficial features with quality. Kimbers are cheaper than Ed Browns for a reason, and it ain't because Kimber is just that nice.

 

[cratz2]

Such as...? Not to be a wiseass (believe it or not ), just curious. Because I haven't heard too many people getting hosed because they bought a Swenson or a Heinie. On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend custom guns as an "investment" either. To me, the whole question of resale value kind of misses the point of the exercise. Did my Dad buy that really nice table saw as an "investment"? Did he get "hosed" if table saw resale values tank?

You've been around Dane's site long enough to see guys selling guns that the paid $3,000 for for $2,000 and not getting any buyers very quick. There are a few names that seem to have desirable resale but there are many very fine builders that produce excellent guns that seem to have atrocious resale values these days.

I know that custom built 1911s are far from an ideal investement, my comment was directed right at the original poster that is doing research into a full house gun though he has never owned a basic MilSpec or a Springfield Loaded or a Kimber... Other than just to look very nice or to be able to say that you have a custom gun, the purpose of a custom gun is to get something built exactly the way you want it specifically built for you. How can one be prepared to make such decisions if you don't know if you prefer an arched or a flat MSH? Or if you prefer Heinies to Novaks?

Know what I mean?

 

[dubb-1]

I have been very impressed with all of the Rock River Arms 1911s that have come through our shop. I have sold several, and have more than a few on order. This is the one that I ordered for myself:

 

[Erik]

I would select a Colt NRM 1991 and send it off to a reputable smith with a list of the work I wanted done to it. I would have consulted with the smith before hand, of course.

 

[SnWnMe]

Well, all these 1911s are nice and dandy but you really must get a PC945. You get quality, exclusivity and relatively low price all in one package.

I bought one last month. I just bought another one this month. I sold a Kimber to finance this...

 

[Sean Smith]

Well, all these 1911s are nice and dandy but you really must get a PC945. You get quality, exclusivity and relatively low price all in one package.

Translation: they didn't make many because there was no demand, and people still don't want them.

 

[C. H. Luke]

For $2,500.00 I'd get Garthwaite or Vic Tibbets to build me one of their confections! And, it would come out to less than 2.5K too........

That said, am extremely happy with the used RR LTD bought with over 5K thru it.
I consider it to be a one-off "full Custom" 1911 rather than a semi-custom as all the components were spec'd out by the orig. owner. The 3 1/4 Lb. trigger pull is still "perfect" and a total disassembly revealed why. Everything that needed deburring & polishing, etc. was done and done right.

 

[Peakbagr]

Chrome vs Blue

Bullseye shooters are accuracy fanatics.
There is a reason no serious Bullseye shooters shoot chrome.
The slide to frame tolerances can't be made as tight with chrome and chrome wears faster in the Bullseye game where you can shoot thousands of rounds of practice a year.
I don't have a single chrome gun and there isn't a spot of rust on one of them.

 

[HD]

i would buy an original as nib 1911(prefer pre 1914) gvt model ...
strip it ,gauge and check every part for spec , have 1911 tuner check and doublecheck my conclusions (between us we have about 70 yrs experiance with 1911s) , then do nothing but learn to shoot it as it was issued ...
you can't get hurt $$$$ wise , and the accuracy and reliabilty are as good or better than most all of the otr 1911s available today....
all the fancy crap and hand fitting take away from what the gun really is ...
it was and still is the ultimate in a fighting handgun ...
try to make it anything else and you lose everything it was...
customs are nice , originals are better... and there won't be any more originals ever again...

 

[gabeodog]

2 Kimber TLE's