Priority changes and SVI 1911's

[Noir]

As you can see, I haven't been terribly active on this board, but was (under a different name) on TFL. Alot has changed in the last few years, and my gun hobby has fallen by the wayside, and I haven't even carried in two years. My passion is for handguns, and not so much long guns, and I've been through just about everything... I currently own two SIGs, an HK P7M8, a Kimber, and a Seecamp .32. At this point (and amittedly the urge may pass), I'm considering selling them all, and ordering a single Commander sized custom SVI.

I've never handled an SVI, but the impression I get is that money could not buy anything better. Has anyone here ordered a custom via their GunBuilder? I cannot fathom what these guns cost, but I'm sure I'll have to reach pretty deep... If anyone has one, or cares to venture a guess, I'd love to hear it. Thanks in advance. If you run into this same topic at SigForum, I apologize for the repetition!

Ref: www.sviguns.com

 

[mattjoe]

They are only the best guns I've ever handled.
I shoot USPSA competitions, so I have plenty of friends with them, including a few friends on Team SVI, my 38 super Open gun will be arriving this month or next, but but with all the different ones i've picked up and used, you honestly can't get a better gun.
The drop in Tri Glide trigger system is unreal. You'd pay significantly more from a gunsmith to try to match that trigger feel.
The interchangable breechface is a great innovation if you want to make many guns on your same platform.

SVI stands so far above the other top names in custom guns, it's a shame they really aren't known as well as the others are outside of the competition shooting circles.

 

[Jim Watson]

SVI guns are good quality.

I still say it is a mistake to sell a gun (or guns) that you KNOW works to get one that you HOPE works.

A Commander size SVI can't replace a pocket .32; keep the Seecamp if you carry it.

I'd sell the Kimber and one or two of the service pistols for a start on the SVI but would keep a proven gun around, at least until you had checked out the SVI under all applicable conditions of carry and shooting.

 

[MoNsTeR]

SV makes great stuff, but you can get a full custom for less money and often less wait.

My Limited gun has an SV frame and I love it, but I would be hesitant to buy a complete gun from them (because of price and wait, not quality).

 

[Noir]

mattjoe- Care to share what you may have spent? What I'm looking to have built is not a competition pistol, but more a tactical style one. Double stack, Novak Tritiums, standard frame. Not a whole lot of machining like forward slide serrations and such...

Jim- Thank you for the thoughts, that was a very enlightened response. The SIG 229 and 232 will be most difficult to part with, and potentially impossible, so it's likely that I'll always have them around.

Monster- How long a wait are we talking? I suppose a gun built to the owner's exact specification (even serial number!) takes time, so I'd be willing to wait a while.

Thank you all.

 

[mattjoe]

Noir- when all is said and done, the final price on mine would be a bit over $3000. It is a 38 super competition wide body, and of course, has a bunch of machining. The wait has certainly not been excessive in my opinion when you're having a custom gun built. Especially one with all these innovations they are making at that factory.
I think the price shocks a lot of people at first, but these are really investment grade guns which will last you a lifetime.
I worked a gun show this winter for SVI, and we had a couple for sale, both stainless, one being the 45 wide body, polymer frame, and an all steel single stack 45, the widebody 45 was about 2500 I believe.

 

[MoNsTeR]

Several months, depending on options I suppose.
BrianH or Benny Hill can typically turn a frame into a gun in under 6 weeks.

But, I wouldn't take my word for it. Call up Tami at SV and ask her about the wait time and price, then call some smiths (*cough*BrianH*cough*) and ask them. Even a basic pistol at this level of quality costs a lot of money, and you deserve to get exactly what you want when you lay down that kind of dough.

 

[Correia]

I've got to shoot a few SVIs, and they are very impressive guns. Possibly some of the the nicest I have ever seen.

However from your initial posting, I feel that I have to ask something. Have you shot enough to really know what you like? Have you shot enough that you know what features you want to put into a high end custom gun?

If you have done this, then please excuse me for asking. However I think before somebody sinks $2500+ into a custom built gun, they might want to experiment with all sorts of different options first before settling on what they want on their dream gun. I know that personally my opinions have changed a ton as my experience has increased. I would hate to sell other guns and drop a pile of cash on something, only to discover that it isn't exactly what I wanted later on.

 

[Noir]

Thank you gentlemen.

Correia- Point well taken, I'm 32, and have been shooting for more than 10 years. Not as long as many of you folks, but not a noob either. I'm also one of those people who have to try everything, and I've shot just about every brand and style. Despite my bad experiences with them, I keep going back to the compact 1911. There's something about it, but I have never had one work 100%. I have done much thinking on the subject, and the bottom line is, I need to streamline my existance, so I'm leaning toward the one-gun philosophy. Where features are concerned, I want the typical 1911 configuration, Novak NS, rust proof, and boom every time. And I want it Black.

I'm actually agonizing over my custom car like this too (also black), only I can do this customizing myself since I'm in that line of work... But I do have a daily driver, so maybe two guns isn't a bad idea...