High End Custom 1911

[rpenmanparker]

The problem with this idea is that what you'll end up with is a pile of expensive, albeit good shooting, ATIs. No matter how well the gun works you're going to have a helluva time selling an ATI for $1250-$1500 because it's still a low buck filipino gun built up by an unknown 'smith.

After a few test examples were produced from stock ATIs to prove the concept, the commercial product would be based on blank guns with no ATI labeling and a unique serial number series. These could be engraved with the OP’s own logo and other usual labeling. Or possibly OP could just buy all the separate parts unassembled except the ones he would be replacing anyway.

I admit you guys may be right about the idea being unworkable. Nevertheless for the small price of one or two guns, the replacement parts, and OP’s labor, I feel it would be an interesting experiment. How good could OP make what starts out as an ATI? How nicely if just plainly could he Cerakote it with a proprietary look? Could he beat say Dan Wesson’s off-the-shelf accuracy and function as well as price and still turn a profit. I’m an experimental scientist and answering questions like this are what I live for. Anyone can throw big bucks at a famous name custom 1911 and get something special. I want to know if it can be done more cheaply. And I want to know whether there is a business model hidden in there somewhere.

 

[rpenmanparker]

I should also say it doesn’t have to be ATI. That is just a brand that is convenient for example. Surely OP knows of the best inexpensive 1911 that he could sensibly consider upgrading.

 

[Hasaf]

What do you guys consider the biggest problem with High End Custom 1911's?

A few possible issues

• Price
• . . .
• Maybe the quality is not worth the cost
• . . .

. . .

They are just more than I want to spend. They aren't worth the price to me. I don't compete; so a lot of the competition mods are not with it to me. At the same time, I don't shoot my 1911 much anymore anyways. . . I'm probably not your target market.

 

[tarosean]

Anyone can throw big bucks at a famous name custom 1911 and get something special. I want to know if it can be done more cheaply. And I want to know whether there is a business model hidden in there somewhere.

Of course it can....

Les Baer is the prime example. His guns are considerably less than the competition. He is able to do that by not finishing the gun as well as they do.

 

[Nature Boy]

Burton, Rogers, Chen, etc didn't just put up a shingle and slap a $7k-$10k price tag on their guns

Can you really spend that much for a 1911?

 

[rpenmanparker]

Can you really spend that much for a 1911?

Of course. But let me share with you some of my dad's philosophy. His business was not firearms; it was men's clothing, both tailoring which was his family's business and ready-to-wear which he moved into. He used to say (corrected for inflation), "You can buy a $200 suit, you can buy a $500 suit, and you can buy a $1,000 suit. Okay, so you can also buy a $1,500 suit. But there is no such thing as a $5,000 suit. It is just a $1,500 suit that somebody has the nerve to charge $5,000 for." This is a fundamental truth that is just as applicable to firearms as clothing. And I might mention he didn't actually use the word "nerve". But this is a family forum.

 

[Texas10mm]

Can you really spend that much for a 1911?

Easily. Some of the very top tier are breaking $10k.

 

[Walkalong]

Can you really spend that much for a 1911?

Yep, and they are things of beauty. If I had money falling out of my ears I would have my name on a list or two.

One of the smiths used to post pics of finished guns here, I'll have to look around. Real drool material.

But of course RP doesn't care about that, all he wants/is asking about, is function at a top level. That can obviously be cheaper.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Yep, and they are things of beauty. If I had money falling out of my ears I would have my name on a list or two.

One of the smiths used to post pics of finished guns here, I'll have to look around. Real drool material.

But of course RP doesn't care about that, all he wants/is asking about, is function at a top level. That can obviously be cheaper.

Understand that I somewhat hijacked this thread. OP is indeed probably interested very upscale 1911s as part of his business plans, functionality AND aesthetics.

 

[9mmepiphany]

On that note and since the OP hasn't posted since the OP, I think we can put this thread to bed