Question on 1911 "hand fit" vs "custom"?

[newbie1234]

What is the difference between 1911 "hand fit" and "custom"
I guess.
(1) "Custom" is file & fit every single part on the gun.
(2) "hand fit" is file & fit couple parts of the gun, I do not know what part.

And there are two kinds of "custom"
(3) Each gunsmith file & fit one particular part in his expertise, so more than one gunsmith complete a gun.
(4) Each gunsmith file & fit the whole gun, one gunsmith completes the whole gun.

I could be wrong so educate me.

[elSquid]

"It depends."



-- Michael

[Snoopy47]

Production = $
Hand Fit = $$
Custom = $$$

[FeuerFrei]

Both terms are always open to interpretation by the payer and payee until a meeting of the minds is reached. All retail rules apply.

*when doing a "custom" build, get everything in writing. Signed/witnessed.

[1911RONIN]

Production
Semi-Custom
Custom

The first is obvious.The latter two blur and there is no accepted criteria for them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tarmy]

Most higher end semi custom gun manufacturers are like Wilson, Nighthawk, No Name….or similar. They do custom work too…but they build many of their lines of guns and ship/sell them to dealers/buyers as a “semi custom” types of build. You pay for the hand fit…but not a custom build.

[walmart_ar15]

All 1911 will require some hand "assembly" some point in their production. Now if during the "assembly" a file is pulled out, now its "hand fit"

Most manufacturers do not make all the parts in their 1911 production, and sources parts from other vendors. Due to tolerances variances between vendors, some hand fitting are required. Search web for video on workers sitting in front of a parts bin and hand pick parts to fit in a frame.

Some higher end manufacturers will intentionally use oversized parts so it will have a tighter fit. Extend of hand fitting varies between manufacturers.

A true custom is typically when a customer bring a purchased 1911 to a special shop/Smith that specialize in 1911 modification. A list of custom modifications are drawn up and the smith makes those modifications. It is now more equivalent to finding an artist to draw your portrait. Skill sets vary.

[ar15barrels]

What is the difference between 1911 "hand fit" and "custom"
I guess.
(1) "Custom" is file & fit every single part on the gun.
(2) "hand fit" is file & fit couple parts of the gun, I do not know what part.

And there are two kinds of "custom"
(3) Each gunsmith file & fit one particular part in his expertise, so more than one gunsmith complete a gun.
(4) Each gunsmith file & fit the whole gun, one gunsmith completes the whole gun.

I could be wrong so educate me.

"Custom" means different than standard and has nothing to do with hand fitting.
No hand fitting is required for custom.
You can use drop-in parts and make something "custom".
Custom can be just as crappy fitting as standard parts, just with different parts.

Hand fitting is required when you buy parts that are specifically made oversized in specific places SO THAT you can hand fit them together.
Oversized parts do not fit together without being fitted.
This is done to make the parts fit tighter than standard/drop-in parts.
The purpose for tightening up the fit of many parts is usually improved precision/accuracy.

[LkPillsburyDude]

Go to the marketplace and look at all the "custom" ar15s. Im sure every manufacturer has their own standards.

[XDJYo]

Here is a lo-fi YT video showing what a custom, hand-fit 1911 means. It is also a hard-fit gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpdy8QQ-Y-Q

At roughly 3:50 mark, Rob Schauland is shown working on a magwell. He went on to open Alchemy Custom Weaponry and then to Cabot Guns. Rob re-opened Alchemy and offers several *very* nice 1911's.

https://alchemy1911.com/