Custom 1911

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sprice

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Which frame and slide should I buy to make a 1911? Why?

Right now I think I'm liking the fusion stuff :)
 
it might be more appropriate to pick your pistolsmith first and see which frame/slide they would prefer to build on.

most of the very good 1911 smiths have certain manufacturers products they would prefer not to deal with
 
I agree in picking a smith first and the finish first. If you want the gun to be blued or hard chromed, then a cast frame is not your first choice as the chance of voids can mess with the metal polish. Other than finish, the Caspian cast frame is excellent (I believe Caspian still claims to never have a frame fail in normal service), and I have a full-house John Harrison gun built on a Caspian frame and slide. John worked with the frame to make sure the gun looked go after hard chroming.

I believe most smiths like to build on Caspian frames and slides, but the Caspian frames are now all cast frames. Colt, Springfield Armory, and Les Baer now offer forged frames. My next build will probably be on a Baer frame and slide as I already have guns built on Caspian, Colt, and SA frames and slides.

BTW, the Fusion parts are made by STI.
 
I think the OP is talking about making his own.

I think that any of the well-known makers would work. Just know that most of the "quality" in a custom built pistol comes from the skills of the gunsmith, not the materials.
 
Just know that most of the "quality" in a custom built pistol comes from the skills of the gunsmith, not the materials.
Click to expand...
this is completely true
you could get the finest parts available on the market, read all the manuals/books available and still not equal the quality of a mid-grade production gun like a Dan Wesson PM-7 or Springfield TRP...well maybe is you had training in machining and welding.

knowing how to fit the 1911 parts correctly is the whole key.

not that i'm trying to discourage you. you'd learn a lot about how the gun functions and that education would be worth the money you'd spend parting together a 1911...but don't believe it's an economy route
 
Fusion sells kits in which the frame slide are already fitted. If I were building it myself I would go that route or a similar one to avoid a lot of work on my part.
 
On second thought I'll just buy a fusion gun and have them do everything to it that I'd want :D
 
You should buy a lightweight Officers frame, and a stainless steel slide. Than if you don't like it sell it to me as thats what I've been wanting to do :) I lack the skills though and as others have said above that's where the build is REALLY critical, the skill.


M
 
Dont give up sprice. I built a caspian with only hand tools and help from the web. I had caspian fit the frame and slide (for $75) and I used a kart ez-fit barrel. It shoots better than I do. I'm waiting for the frame and slide for my second build now. I love the gun. It just feels different than my other 1911s. It seems more personal.

Heres a link to the build that inspired me. Its a long read but a good one.
http://how-i-did-it.org/1911-project/index.html
 

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About $1500 with some tools the finish and shipping included. The small parts are colt, ed brown, and egw. I could have saved some money by ordering everything at the same time for combined shipping. The build only took about a week but I was on vacation. I also spent $60 on the 1911 shop manual vol. 1 and 2 by Jerry Kuhnhausen. And I had a real gun smith check the gun out before I shot it. It only cost $45.
 
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