Essex Arms

[shessman]

Would Like Some Honest Feedback On Thier Slides And Frames. Pictures Of Finished Pistols? Do They Hold Up Or Not?
Thanks Much.

[kcshooter]

Welcome to the Forum, I'm sure any questions you have can be answered by some of the 1911 geniuses lurking around here. Until then however...
I just finished one using an Essex frame. Not extrodinarily impressed with anything but the price. I used the enhanced w/ rail frame, and I got seriel number 000004, which was cool, but had to send it back to have the beavertail dimensions recut and reblued because I didn't want to cold blue it, then the plunger tube unstaked itself and I had to redo that, then the ejector came loose within 50 rounds, they didn't put the pin in.
But it did make a nice gun, I think mostly because I used much higher quality parts for the rest of it, mostly Fusion followed by Wilson Combat. Its been completely reliable, I haven't had a failure at all, but I doubt thats because of the frame.
If I were to do it again, I'd go with a Caspian, or the off-brand Caspian, the name escapes me but it's the name Caspian sells their seconds under. Maybe someone else can help jog my memory here?

Edit: Ya know, I did use a Fusion slide on it, and now that I think about it, I would probably use a Fusion frame next time.

[gb6491]

I have an older 1911 built using an Essex slide and frame. The markings on the slide are not that well done, but other than that the slide is good to go. The frame could be better cosmetically. As built, the gun was accurate and reliable, not counting a new extractor, it has stayed that way after many, many rounds through it.

Foster is Caspian's seconds brand. They have some frames listed now.

Regards,
Greg

[ranburr]

I have seen some decent quality Essex frames over the years. I have also seen some really poor Essex frames. They are too hit or miss in the quality department. I would either get a Baer or Caspian frame.

ranburr

[shessman]

Thanks Fellas! This Is My First Time At Building One. Thought I Would Experiment With Something That Costs A Little Less Before Moving Up.

[amd5007]

I got a Springfield GI and changed out all the parts with after market parts. I then had a box full of the original parts and decided to make my own using an Essex Arms slide and frame. Currently the pistol is at my local gunsmith to do some work on the barrel, but aside from that all the parts just dropped in the frame and the slide. Excellent quality so far.

[Hawkmoon]

I'm currently working up a project pistol based on a mutt frame with an Essex Commander slide. The quality of the slide is fine, and accuracy with a Sarco house brand ("Roto") barrel is quite acceptable. Can't say about longenvity, because the project isn't finished so it has very few rounds through it at this point.

[drftrman]

I have a Colt mutt built on an Essex frame. The quality is fair, but it was not cleaned up well, and the trigger channel is terrible. But to be fair it shoots great, and everything fit perfect. No mechanical problems at all!

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/drftrman/Colt3-1.jpg

[gb6491]

drftrman, I have the same style rear sight on my Essex 1911 :) :
http://i31.tinypic.com/2vct7cl.jpg
Regards,
Greg