Carbine_Man
22nd February 2005, 18:29
Thanks to the good information to be found here, I find that I'm building an Auto Ordinance 1911 quite by accident!
I got the bug to build a 1911, and looked around at a few frames. When I called Sarco and told them what I was interested in, the Sarco gun shop guy steered me toward frames from a company called SMI. Sarco has more expensive frames, but I wanted to build a drop-in shooter. He told me that he had very good experience with these frames and had built a few guns with them, and that the parts just dropped in, and they ran great.
So I ordered it, had it delivered to the local FFL, went over and did the paperwork last week. I was impressed with the quality of the machining and finish for an $89 frame. What caught my eye was the "WORCESTER MA" under the "SMI MA INC." on the side of the frame.
I own a Kahr PM9. I find it hard to believe that in anti-gun Massachusetts there would be two completely unrelated gun manufacturers, Kahr and SMI. So I looked around this forum and sure enough, SMI is Saeilo Manufacturing Industries, division of Saeilo, Inc. Check this out. (http://www.saeilo.com/oper_front_f.html)
And the president of SMI is none other than Justin Moon, who also started Kahr Arms, which purchased Auto Ordnance.
It just so happens that today I have been searching high and low for a reputable source of GI parts. I have already ordered some parts from Brownells, but Brownells was out of grip screw bushings. So I went over to Auto Ordinance (http://www.auto-ordnance.com/) and thence to Tommy Gun Shop.com (http://www.tommygunshop.com/) where I found all the parts I needed.
I may go ahead and buy the top-end parts from Auto-Ord as well, since lately they have a good reputation.
AND BEFORE YOU REPLY: Yes, I know I could have done it cheaper by just buying one, but I really want the satisfaction and knowlege that only comes from building it yourself. I will be doing a beavertail grip safety and upgraded internals as well.
Hope someone finds this useful information.
I got the bug to build a 1911, and looked around at a few frames. When I called Sarco and told them what I was interested in, the Sarco gun shop guy steered me toward frames from a company called SMI. Sarco has more expensive frames, but I wanted to build a drop-in shooter. He told me that he had very good experience with these frames and had built a few guns with them, and that the parts just dropped in, and they ran great.
So I ordered it, had it delivered to the local FFL, went over and did the paperwork last week. I was impressed with the quality of the machining and finish for an $89 frame. What caught my eye was the "WORCESTER MA" under the "SMI MA INC." on the side of the frame.
I own a Kahr PM9. I find it hard to believe that in anti-gun Massachusetts there would be two completely unrelated gun manufacturers, Kahr and SMI. So I looked around this forum and sure enough, SMI is Saeilo Manufacturing Industries, division of Saeilo, Inc. Check this out. (http://www.saeilo.com/oper_front_f.html)
And the president of SMI is none other than Justin Moon, who also started Kahr Arms, which purchased Auto Ordnance.
It just so happens that today I have been searching high and low for a reputable source of GI parts. I have already ordered some parts from Brownells, but Brownells was out of grip screw bushings. So I went over to Auto Ordinance (http://www.auto-ordnance.com/) and thence to Tommy Gun Shop.com (http://www.tommygunshop.com/) where I found all the parts I needed.
I may go ahead and buy the top-end parts from Auto-Ord as well, since lately they have a good reputation.
AND BEFORE YOU REPLY: Yes, I know I could have done it cheaper by just buying one, but I really want the satisfaction and knowlege that only comes from building it yourself. I will be doing a beavertail grip safety and upgraded internals as well.
Hope someone finds this useful information.