Custom 1911s; who has one and who made it?

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Warner

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I have the custom 1911 "bug" again and just might make it happen this time around. I've always liked Novak's work but realize there are others out there.

Anyone with experience with any of the famous gunsmiths? Are their wait times a killer?

Thanks,

W
 
depend on what you consider a killer.

when you're dealing with custom work, it seems silly to stress over cost or time frame.

i don't ask about cost except generally and don't hold them to the estimate.

i take their time estimate and double it before i start getting concerned....don't call or e-mail, because i figure it just distracts them from working.

i like the smaller pistolsmiths. i've had work done by Ned Christiansen (he quoted me 2 years on the waiting list and called me just short of 4) and Bruce Gray...waiting to get on the list for Stan Chen. for an up and comer, i currently have a Colt with Drake Oldham, who studied with Vickers and Gray
 
Fusion has been something of a god-send to budgetly challenged full-custom 1911 lovers. They do amazing custom work at prices that nobody else can touch.

There may be fancier stuff out there, but you're gonna pay out the a** for it. I'd love something from Chen, but it would just end up being a safe queen at his prices.

Fusion will build you just what you want at prices where you don't mind getting a scratch on it :)

... edit, check out http://www.louderthanwords.us/ for work from some of the top smiths.
 
I agree!! Bob(Fusion) has done me well on my past projects... great parts and great prices. Guess I was lucky, time was never an issue. In fact, I'm about to get a custom frame from him once I make up my mind what I want. :rolleyes:
 
John Harrison has built me several custom 1911s, and I have been very pleased with everyone of them. Wait times ran from six months to one year.
 
Bob does good work but his grip fit and finish leaves a lot to be desired IMHO.

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Bob does good work but his grip fit and finish leaves a lot to be desired IMHO.

Do you own any Fusions, or did you just decide from those pics of his that ALL his grips aren't fitted right?
 
Those Fusions look awesome! Love the lack of lettering.

Just get new grips.

I'd bet that was early in the bobtail craze, or a bad batch of grips .. or some other explanation, because all the bobtails I've seen Fusion post pics of lately don't have the gap by the MSH.
 
i'm not familiar with Fusion because we can't get them here...please induge me a moment.

i thought Fusion was a high-end production shop like Brown, Wilson or Nighthawk. is it a custom shop with work done by Bob?...like Jardine or Michguns
 
Why hasn't he updated his website?

If I was looking for a custom 1911 and did not know his fine rep I would immediately go elsewhere fpor that lack of attention to detail.

Normally a website shows your finest work.
 
I guess Fusion would be considered Semi custom, am thinking of getting one in a 10mm, but you can't go wrong with a Les Baer.
 
I guess Fusion would be considered Semi custom

so he/they have package guns that you can add options to?.
like the S&W Performance Center with their custom spec'd parts or Springfield Armoury's Custom shop?
 
Warner: I don't know what your $$ situation is but hear me out.

Recently, I found a gun for sale in PA made by the Springfield Custom shop. (TG01) The guy selling it was a big time IDPA, IPSC shooter who had a large collection of 1911s. He had been laid off and needed cash quickly.

He told me he had about nine 1911s including several "custom race" guns made by some big time names ranging from $4K to $6K. When asked by me why he didn't sell one of those instead, he said, rightly so, that he'd never get the money out of them of what they're worth.

But he said the TG01 was a rare semi-custom gun that was in high demand. I paid him $2200 for it - and he gave it to me VERY RELUCTANTLY.

But of all his 1911s, he told me that he could honestly say that NONE OF THEM have a sweeter trigger than this Springfield. (Nor a tighter build)

I've owned two Colts, three Springers, one Dan Wesson, and one Les Baer. So I have limited experience, but I can't imagine how spending another $2 - $3K could make a 1911 any better.

It truly has the best trigger of ANY gun I've ever shot (including many S&W/Colt revolvers.) The thing shoots scary accurate - I can't think of anyone other than Rob Leatham that could take this gun to its potential.

In any case, just wanted to throw out the fact that, at some point, the law of diminishing returns comes into play as to exactly how pretty, tight, sweet, and accurate a 1911 can be made.

Exclusivity and Cool factor? Now that's a different story .......
 
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Thanks. I'd be less than honest if I said the exclusivity factor didn't enter into it. Like cars or watches, if just doing their basic job (even very well) was the objective, things could easily be accomplished for less. I do realize that.

I think the extra toll can get a little bit of "artwork" injected into the mix along with a 1911 that has everything you want and nothing you don't. If those factors are worth the extra dollars is a wholly debatable point.

W
 
Having a carry commander built on a Colt 1991 by Eric Zinn, should have it in Sep; I will post pics then.
 
Beautiful stuff.

If I had to get on a gunsmith's waiting list, for YEARS yet, my wife would definitely forget she ever gave me the go-ahead to purchase it.

Anyone ever work around that one?
 
9mmepiphany, I have no idea what Fusion has at their factory. What I consider a custom is and I could be wrong. Is a gun built by hand to your specifications. A semi custom to me is a Ed Brown, Wilson, Les Baer, Fusion, Nighthawk and the other top high end guns. These are the guns that are in stock at the factory, like the Custom Carry at EB, or the TRS at LB or CQB at Wilson, and the Hunter at Fusion. I think any and all the above is an outstanding gun and you can't go wrong with any of them. I just like Les Baer one reason I can't afford EB or Wilsons and I can get the same gun in a Les Baer for $1000 less. Back to the OP I now have a Springfield Omega 6in ported made by Peter Stahl in a 10mm, but those Fusions sure look nice I would like one in a 5in 10mm as a CCW. Hope I didn't rant to much. The above statement as always is just my 2cents worth and should be taken as such. farscott that is a nice bunch of weapons, and thats a fact not my 2cents.
 
surjimmy - thanks for the info. that was very close to my understanding of their operation too.

it seems we just use different terminalogy. i refer to guns coming out of a shop like that as "high end production" because they have builtup guns in stock as opposed to building up a gun when ordered. perhaps i should reserve that term custom shops attached to manufactirers...but then Baer and Brown blur that line too

these shops make alot of sense because most folks want guns modified pretty much the same way nowadays...the exception being competition spaceguns...and there are enough shops around that you can find a shop that offers what you want already in stock.
 
I fully agree that the semi-customs are the likes of Ed Brown, Wilson, Les Baer, Fusion, Nighthawk and some others. Those aren't the ones I'm after right now.

As they say in some ads, I'd like a "unique example of a gunmakers art" while I can still get it and if there's any way at all - without the multi-year wait.

Taking suggestions ......

W
 
If you are looking for a ground up custom check out Wild West Guns. Call Ken get a Colt or a caspian frame and have him build it up to your exact spec.

Jim West is a master pistol smith and will make you a one of a kind pistol.

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You might check with Gary at randgfirearms.com he has some customs that were done by the old masters.
 
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