M1911 Gunsmiths: Know a good one?

[CmdrSlander]

I'm looking to get a new trigger and Rock River Arms target rib installed on my plain Jane GI style M1911. This will require excising the GI front and rear sights and drilling/tapping the slide for the rib installation. Do you know of any gunsmiths who will do this work for a reasonable price?

 

[surjimmy]

Smith George
Status: Active. Owner operator of EGW Evolution Gun Works


Swenson, Armand
retired deceased



Tussey, Terry



Verdun, Abe
retired deceased



Vickers, Larry

Warner, Chuck

Weddle, Royce



Williams, Don



Wilson, Bill


Yost, Ted

 

[cpirtle]

I've had Rob over at Benchmark Precision do a lot of work for me over the years, his attention to detail and craftsmanship is second to none.

He's a one man shop and everything is done in house (except refinishing), pretty amazing turn-around times as well.

I feel fortunate to have him about 45 minutes from me.

http://www.benchmark-precision.com/

 

[Quoheleth]

Down here in Houston, http://www.vandenbergcustom.com/

I've not used him, but Mr. Vanden Berg was recommended to me by someone on this forum (I forget who) and then also by a competetive shooter at my local club.

Q

 

[LeonCarr]

This guy is in Austin and does good work:

www.hankgun.com

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[kcshooter]

Smith George
Status: Active. Owner operator of EGW Evolution Gun Works

George is sending the bulk of his work to his understudy's shop now, Jim Milks at Innovative Customs.

Highest quality work, he was great to deal with too when he worked on mine.

http://www.innovativecustomguns.com/p/about-innovative-custom-guns.html

 

[Holland&Holland]

James W. Hoag

Tool and die maker before becoming a smith. Worked on pistols for Jeff Cooper, Mickey Fowler, and Mike Dalton in the early days of IPSC and still in business. A great guy!

Located in Canoga Park, CA. 818.998.1510.

 

[tuj]

Greg Derr. Does awesome work, and has good turn-around times.

http://www.derrprecision.com/

 

[orionengnr]

Not familiar with that rail, but I have had Ken Crawley (www.crawleycustom.com) work on several of my 1911s.

Top rate work and depending where you are in TX, you might be within driving range. He is in Kemp, TX.

 

[BP-1911]

I'm looking to get a new trigger and Rock River Arms target rib installed on my plain Jane GI style M1911. This will require excising the GI front and rear sights and drilling/tapping the slide for the rib installation. Do you know of any gunsmiths who will do this work for a reasonable price?

CmdrSlander. If you already have the rail, I can install that for you. Rock River slide-mounted scope rails are an excellent quality part and incorporate a nifty cocking handle. We can do the trigger work as well. Contact me through my website if you're interested www.benchmark-precision.com . You're looking at a 1-2 week turnaround. I do offer bluing and parkerizing in-house as well. Although, this particular job will not require any refinishing.

Regards,

Rob

 

[cpirtle]

I do offer bluing and parkerizing in-house as well

Rob, good to see you here and nice to see you are offering refinishing as well! Keep up the great work.

 

[BP-1911]

Rob, good to see you here and nice to see you are offering refinishing as well! Keep up the great work.

Hi Chad, Thanks for mentioning BP and also for the generous compliments.

 

[CmdrSlander]

Hi Chad, Thanks for mentioning BP and also for the generous compliments.

Thanks for responding to this thread. I am still deciding what kind of sights I want installed, but I am now leaning towards more traditional fixed sights (the gun is simply a range toy and does not have to adhere to any competition guidelines so I can do whatever I want to it) because they are cheaper to purchase and likely cheaper to install.

Here is a link to the sights I am now interested in: http://www.fusionfirearms.com/servlet/the-186/Sight-Set-Government-3-dsh-Dot%2C/Detail

They should fit the existing GI sight cuts, about how much do you think having you install these would cost me?

 

[rellascout]

I would not use Fusion for custom work. Bob Servas shop has a bad rep of being very hit or miss.

There are too many other good shops out there to take a chance.

 

[CmdrSlander]

I would not use Fusion for custom work. Bob Servas shop has a bad rep of being very hit or miss.

There are too many other good shops out there to take a chance.

I'm not using Fusion to install the sights. I'm just buying the sights from them, another gunsmith will handle installation.

 

[rellascout]

Why even buy his parts? QC is hit or miss too. I you can get GI cut sights anywhere and you really do not need a smith to install them if you don't have to do any milling.

 

[BP-1911]

I don't offer staked-on front sights at all, due to their inherent tendency to loosen. I recommend cross-dovetail sights to my customers, like Novaks and the host of others that are available. Dovetailed sights are well secured and will not loosen over time. By the same token, you can always change your dovetail front sight down the road to a tritium, fiber optic, serrated target or anything else you'd like - not to mention varying heights. To machine a dovetail and install a front sight, I charge $45 for Heinie's and $55 for Novak's (sight not included). For the reasonable up-front cost and value of a good sighting system, I always encourage customers not to compromise in this department. If you have a rear sight to fit your GI dovetail, I won't even charge you to swap it out.

 

[rellascout]

I don't offer staked-on sights at all, due to their inherent tendency to loosen. I recommend cross-dovetail sights to my customers, like Novaks and the host of others that are available. Dovetailed sights are well secured and will not loosen over time. By the same token, you can always change your dovetail front sight down the road to a tritium, fiber optic, serrated target or anything else you'd like - not to mention varying heights. To machine a dovetail and install a front sight, I charge $45 for Heinie's and $55 for Novak's (sight not included). For the reasonable up-front cost and value of a good sighting system, I always encourage customers not to compromise in this department. If you have a rear sight to fit your GI dovetail, I won't even charge you to swap it out.

I agree with this advice 100%. If you are going to swap out the sight do it right and have the slide milled.

 

[CmdrSlander]

Well, let's say I wanted Heinie slant pro sights in a three dot configuration. How much would that cost me?

 

[BP-1911]

Well, let's say I wanted Heinie slant pro sights in a three dot configuration. How much would that cost me?

As far as I know, Heinie doesn’t offer 3-Dot sights, except in a few tritium configurations. For a plain black Heinie SlantPro rear sight (Novak dovetail) and a plain black serrated front, the cost is $65, plus $110 for machining and installation. For Novak brand 3-Dot sights, you’re looking at $75 for the sights and $120 for the machining and installation.

 

[namvet68]

Ten Ring Precision

Alex Hamilton at Ten Ring Precision in San Antionio does great work. He has done both action and coating work for me with great results.
Check out his website at http://tenring.com/

 

[stickboy]

Crawley Custom

I've had some work done at Crawley's and am never disappointed. If Crawley's is convenient, then I'd give him a call. I highly recommend him. He turned a cheap RIA into a good shooting 1911. I go to him for all my work.

 

[One_Jackal]

If it's a real Colt 1911 I know a great gunsmith that is retired tool and die maker for colt. Otherwise he is to expensive.

 

[Skylerbone]

I'd skip on the three-dot sight regardless of which brand you choose. If you want a good rear sight to fit your current cut John Harrison (Harrison Custom) makes an excellent one. If you prefer a round bottom 10-8 Performance.

A properly staked front sight should last a good long time but a dovetailed sight is stronger.