Frame/kit ?'s

[Moose63845]

Well unless I win the lottery and seeing as I don't play it the odds are highly out of my favor to do that. I've decided that my next 1911 will be self built. I want a series 70 with an accessory rail. I would like to make matching full size, commander, and officers at some point, and possibly a long slide. I know that the officers frame probably wont be able to get the accessory rail, but I would like the same company frame for all three. I was looking at brownells, and found the Caspian Recon, and the Essex I forget the model with rail. I also was looking at the Fusion kits. I did not see if these were 70 or 80's series however. Any input on what to get, and start with would be appreciated. It's my first build of anything, and I'm thinking either 45acp, or 10mm. If you need to know anything else ask, and thanks for any information/input in advance.

[sharps4070ss]

Well,
If money is truly the major issue, I would just buy a finished gun.

You will spend a TON of money on tools and quality parts.
On my first build: http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=49111
I figured that I had about $3K in tools and parts.
My current build is running about $1K. (Using the left over Norinco frame and an Essex slide I bought on sale).

My next build (coming soon!) the parts alone are running at $2,900

You can buy one heck of a nice Kimber for $3K.........

Lee

[jhudson]

+1, the two 1911s that I've built cost a lot of $$, it would have been way cheaper to buy a factory made gun, but I had fun with both projects.

[Hawkmoon]

It's hard to go wrong with Caspian.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/AguilaBlanca/100-0097_IMG.jpg

[amd5007]

I have used Fusion and Essex for my two builds, and I say this from experience, don't go Essex. I had a lot of problems with the slide I got from them, they fixed it all and now it is a running pistol, but looking back using Caspian would be a better choice. Fusion is amazing service wise and input from Bob is helpful. Fusion parts also come standard with many features you would need to pay Caspian extra for at close to the same price as Caspian. In my opinion a Fusion frame/slide kit would be the best bet. Caspian also runs Foster industries, something like that, which sells genuine Caspian frames and slides with slight cosmetic defects. I don't know too much about it but if you search around here some more you will find some good things about them.

[Moose63845]

Thanks guys, I'm pretty sure I'll get a Caspian for my little project. I know I could buy a full custom 1911 for cheaper than building it myself, but then I wouldn't be building it myself. I like Fusion, but it just has too much stuff that I don't want. I want a "traditional" looking 1911 with minor tweaks to make it mine. I know what I want pretty much, I'm going to do similar mods to one of my 80 Series Colts.

[Rick McC.]

It's also my understanding that a build is usually more expensive than buying a completed pistol.

Rick