Building the 1911 from the ground up.

[chul_soo]

hey guys i'm wondering if it's worth building a 1911 from scratch. would u have a better pistol than a wilson combat, night hawk, les baer, etc. would it cost less, the same or more?

now if it's worth it, how hard would it be? i'm guessing i'd need some help from a gun smith.

pro's and con's?

[stans]

I think you will end up spending more building one high quality pistol than by purchasing one.

[hitachifixer]

I put together an STI frame with a SA slide. When finished I had the gunsmith go over it and check fit of all pieces.
It is a learning experience without a doubt to fit evrything together. You will appreciate how much work really goes into putting one together.
As far as cost goes, I think it can be done less than a Wilson or the others you mentioned. If you want it to look real nice, buy one already made, as far as blueing and such. I din`t even get a finish on my frame, it`s still white steel, don`t plan on a finish, I don`t use it for much else than shooting at least three matches a week. Good luck with your choice

[tex45acp]

hey guys i'm wondering if it's worth building a 1911 from scratch. would u have a better pistol than a wilson combat, night hawk, les baer, etc. would it cost less, the same or more?

now if it's worth it, how hard would it be? i'm guessing i'd need some help from a gun smith.

pro's and con's?

chul..........you need to understand something. the gunsmiths at the companies you mentioned are not gun assemblers!!!! they are highly trained, seasoned craftsmen in their field. anyone can assemble a 1911 from loose parts with a diagram. creating a functional, fully operational tool where all parts work together in unison is an art. there are many that attempt to but only a few that have the true talent to make a fine firearm.

in years past I have taken good firearms and tried to make them great firearms and I have a very strong metal working (machinist) background. it was'nt until i bought a top end custom, i chose a wilson, that i really saw the craftsmanship that comes from the masters of the craft. i wish i knew then what i know now......i could have saved a fortune. i learned a lot of invaluable information doing it myself.....but also lost a lot of valuable shooting time in the process.

[1911Tuner]

Building your first one should begin with gaining an understanding of exactly how the gun functions. Study and ask questions...Learn to separate the BS from the gold...and start with all-new good quality parts. That would actually make it more of a kit, but you'll learn from it. I suggest Caspian for the slide and frame. Kart Easy-Fit for the barrel.

Rebuilding a battered, worn-out, or out of spec existing pistol is where it gets
tricky.

[Barry in IN]

I got my first 1911 by building it.
I had a slide from a gun show, a barrel from a trade, and some other odds and ends. I ordered a new frame, and made it a Winter Project. I had screwdrivers, files, and emery paper. I did everything but finish it, and I prepped it for that.

I learned a lot, ended up with a gun just like I wanted (which is easier to do now by just walking into a gunshop), and I had fun.
I didn't save a nickel, and probably spent more than just buying one, BUT I am very glad to have done it. That was a long time ago, but I still use things I learned.

[chul_soo]

so wut u guys are saying is... if i want to learn try building one, but if want a work of art 1911 i should buy one because with my noob skills, i'll just fail misserably...

[Barry in IN]

No.

What I'm saying is: There are usually three reasons why people build their own-
1- To save money.
2- To get something they can't find anywhere else.
3- To learn.

Regarding #1-You won't save money unless you have most of the parts and tools, and got them for a deal. The gunshop I usually go to has had used G.I.-style Springfields in the $350 range several times in the past year. Buy a decent frame and slide, and you're almost there.

For #2- Getting what you want isn't that hard to do now- Not like it was when you had a choice of Gov't Model, Commander, Gold Cup, and maybe a choice of blue or nickel. If someone wants a 1911 today, and can't find something having the "features" they want (or don't want, in my case usually), they aren't looking. Finding that, in their price range may be different.

That leaves #3.
And it's a good reason.

As far as a "newbie" screwing it up goes- The one I built was the first centerfire semi-auto pistol I ever owned. I had nothing to go on except a couple of books, which may have hurt as much as helped (right, Tuner?).

I possibly could have assembled mine in no time, but I chose to spend the winter fitting, peening, polishing, blah blah blah, to "have something". I did use a bunch of no-name parts, trying to save money, and they required some re-fitting anyway.
When finished, mine looked good, and felt good when hand-cycled.
It sure didn't function very well, though.

Besides what I learned putting it together, I learned a lot about troubleshooting (and using junk parts).
I still use some of the things learned.

Would I do it again?
Not with a bunch of no-name parts, no.
I would do it again with quality parts. But it would have to be something different that I really wanted, because there is such a wide choice available today that we can buy almost anything.