Custom 1911

[pontifex]

Started building my custom 1911 with my uncle today.

Uncle is a gunsmith.

Got the slide and frame already, figured out which parts I need to buy yet (he has quite a few himself), got measurements for slide to frame fit, and started adjusting the frame to fit the slide.

Can't wait wait until this will be done. should be pretty damn sweet.

He's not charging me anything for labor as we are building it together. I'll do some parts and he'll do some parts. Just charging for the parts that he provides and I'll have to buy some parts myself (C&R FFL discount at Brownell's helps!). Figuring between $700-800 for for the complete gun, depending on parts.

Not only will I have a completely custom built 1911, but I will have built it with my uncle and with my own hands.

I'm thinking about having 1 side of the slide engraved with my uncle's initials and the other side with mine, too. I think that would be a cool thing to do.

 

[Oil]

You should put my initials on it too. That would be a cool thing to do

 

[Kyle]

I actually shot a 1911 last weekend- easily my favorite gun out of the 5 or so I shot...would love to pick one up but am leaning towards an xdm to carry

 

[IEC]

Pics or ban!

 

[BladeVenom]

Lucky for you your uncle is a gunsmith. Handguns are more popular than ever, and most well know custom makers have at least a 6 month waiting list.

Size?
Stainless? if not stainless, what finish are you going to use? Ion Bond DLC has gotten popular.
Caliber?
Bushing or bushingless?
Ramped?
Are you going to get any milling done on the slide?

Got pics of what your starting with?

 

[HAL9000]

Awesome! Pics? What colour? Blued? Chrome? INFO! DAMN IT!

 

[pontifex]

Lucky for you your uncle is a gunsmith. Handguns are more popular than ever, and most well know custom makers have at least a 6 month waiting list.

Size?
Stainless? if not stainless, what finish are you going to use? Ion Bond DLC has gotten popular.
Caliber?
Bushing or bushingless?
Ramped?
Are you going to get any milling done on the slide?

Got pics of what your starting with?

5" Govt. Model

Stainless, although I'd prefer a blued one since I already have a stainless and parkerized models, but I got the slide and frame cheap, so I'll deal with it. I could do an Ion bond type of finish but not sure yet.

.45 ACP of course!

Bushing

Ramped barrel (the frame I have requires it).

Not sure what you mean buy any milling done on the slide?

Caspian slide/Foster frame

No pics yet and it's at my uncle's shop right now. It's not much to look at right now anyway.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Pics please!

 

[HAL9000]

5" Govt. Model

Stainless, although I'd prefer a blued one since I already have a stainless and parkerized models, but I got the slide and frame cheap, so I'll deal with it. I could do an Ion bond type of finish but not sure yet.

.45 ACP of course!

Bushing

Ramped barrel (the frame I have requires it).

Not sure what you mean buy any milling done on the slide?

Caspian slide/Foster frame

No pics yet and it's at my uncle's shop right now. It's not much to look at right now anyway.

I imagine he means engraving on the side.

 

[pontifex]

I imagine he means engraving on the side.

I'm thinking he means like a carry bevel?
Where you round off all the edges, like this: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XCkTSf0sw...E8/PvvHOMA-6QM/s1600/Clark+Meltdown+left2.jpg

 

[BladeVenom]

Not sure what you mean buy any milling done on the slide?

Ball cut
front slide serrations
French border cut
flattening the top, maybe top serrations

 

[HAL9000]

I'm thinking he means like a carry bevel?
Where you round off all the edges, like this: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XCkTSf0sw...E8/PvvHOMA-6QM/s1600/Clark+Meltdown+left2.jpg

Fair enough, are you having anything engraved on the slide?

 

[pontifex]

Ball cut
front slide serrations
French border cut
flattening the top, maybe top serrations

It already has front serrations and flattened top. We might do some kind of serrations or pattern on the top.

Haven't really thought about a ball cut. It has a standard cut, but ball would look cool, or maybe a hi-power style cut.

My slide looks like the one on this pistol, except there are no sight cuts yet and i think the front serrations are a little further back maybe. I can't remember now, lol.
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1192091

 

[pontifex]

Fair enough, are you having anything engraved on the slide?

I already mentioned I am thinking about having both my initials and my uncle's initials engraved. My uncle has done some engraving but he's not an expert at it (he's done some fairly decent work but it's not something he does much) and letters should be fairly simple, I think. Otherwise probably not since engraving is expensive.

 

[HAL9000]

I already mentioned I am thinking about having both my initials and my uncle's initials engraved. My uncle has done some engraving but he's not an expert at it (he's done some fairly decent work but it's not something he does much) and letters should be fairly simple, I think. Otherwise probably not since engraving is expensive.

Ah sorry missed that, what about grips?

 

[pontifex]

Ah sorry missed that, what about grips?

not sure yet. I like dark colored grips on stainless guns. My stainless Springfield has these: http://vzgrips.com/gun-grips/1911-pistol-grips-1/elite-tactical-carry-2/etc-black-cherry-g10

I also have these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54482326@N02/5658989087/in/set-72157626462224171/

Which you can see on the gun here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54482326@N02/sets/72157626739592813/
Custom made by Esmeralda O'Sheehan.

I may just get something entirely different. Quite a few grip makers out there that make beautiful grips in exotic woods.

I might try thin grips. I wish I knew someone close by that had a 1911 with those to try out. Also not sure if I am going with flat or arched MSH. Both my 1911s have arched and I've never held, let alone fired a 1911 with a flat MSH.

Not sure on sights yet either. Thinking Novak low profile rear and trtium front. Not sure if I want tritium rear or not.

 

[HAL9000]

not sure yet. I like dark colored grips on stainless guns. My stainless Springfield has these: http://vzgrips.com/gun-grips/1911-pistol-grips-1/elite-tactical-carry-2/etc-black-cherry-g10

I also have these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54482326@N02/5658989087/in/set-72157626462224171/

Which you can see on the gun here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54482326@N02/sets/72157626739592813/
Custom made by Esmeralda O'Sheehan.

I may just get something entirely different. Quite a few grip makers out there that make beautiful grips in exotic woods.

I might try thin grips. I wish I knew someone close by that had a 1911 with those to try out. Also not sure if I am going with flat or arched MSH. Both my 1911s have arched and I've never held, let alone fired a 1911 with a flat MSH.

Not sure on sights yet either. Thinking Novak low profile rear and trtium front. Not sure if I want tritium rear or not.

I like the first set of grips, second are a bit showy for my taste. Looking good though, can't wait to see photos of the finished article.

 

[pontifex]

Got all the parts I needed today except the sights. Still undecided on those but leaning towards adjustable sights.

Ended up getting a snakeskin MSH. Doesn't look as cool as it does in pics though. Might end up replacing it with plain checkered.

Maybe I'll like it better when it's on the gun.

 

[BladeVenom]

Pics? Don't you want a pic of all the parts for the "before" picture?

I probably wouldn't go as fancy as the Esmeralda grips, but I do like half checkered grips.

Going to go with night sights? I think fiber optic sights have also gotten popular. A compact red dot sight is another option.

 

[pontifex]

Pics? Don't you want a pic of all the parts for the "before" picture?

I probably wouldn't go as fancy as the Esmeralda grips, but I do like half checkered grips.

Going to go with night sights? I think fiber optic sights have also gotten popular. A compact red dot sight is another option.

you want pics of parts in little baggies?

Probably going adjustable rear sights (solid black) with either Tritium or fiber optic front sight.


I'm thinking about trying to find a pair of green dyed box elder burl grips, like these:
http://www.brownscustomgrips.com/uploads/6/2/7/7/6277421/6814588_orig.jpg

No one has any in stock that I know of right now. Also depends on price. If they are too expensive, I may just go with something cheaper.

 

[corwin]

Marked for impending PICS

 

[Fritzo]

I thought this said "Custom 911" and I got excited.

Gun fail

 

[pontifex]

I thought this said "Custom 911" and I got excited.

Gun fail

what the hell is a custom 911?

 

[corwin]

what the hell is a custom 911?

Pretty sure he meant a Porsche

 

[twinrider1]

you want pics of parts in little baggies?

Yes. And pics of the frame and slide. In particular pics of the inside so we can see any mill marks. We're geeks for that sort of thing and the machine work is part of what we like about guns.