Thoughts on Base 1911 for Full Customization

[trigger945]

UPDATE: Decided on a base gun - Stainless Colt Series 70 repro. Thanks all!

Hi All:

I am thinking of having a 1911 modified to my specs. I figured I may not be able to acquire a 1911 from a custom shop built to my liking if the SSE loophole is taken away by next year. As such, I may just get a base gun for now and then have it customized later on.

My goal is to have a keepsake to pass down to my only son - probably as a wedding present or a death bed hand down kind of thing (hopefully I am far, far away from this scenario). I will shoot it but not a whole lot. I want it to be 100% reliable and 100% beautiful to my eyes. I want my son to be proud of this gun that he may eventually pass it down to the next generation.

Basic requirements would be no FCS, American made by an American company, highly customizable (kind of like a blank canvas if possible) and will eventually be a two-tone (stainless frame with blued/black slide). Total budget not to exceed $5K.

Given these, what would your recommendations be? What base gun and custom shop?

If you have done this kind of thing, would you please share your experience in detail?

TIA!

Best,

trigger945

[Cool Custard]

Colt 70 series.

[trigger945]

Oh yes, I forgot, it should be a Series 70 and Government model.

@Cool Custard, is there a stainless Series 70?

[InGrAM]

Remington R1, Colt 1991/70's series

SA mil-spec but I don't think it is made in the US.

[TMB 1]

Colt

[trigger945]

SA Mil-Spec has FCS. The GI model does not.

As far as Colts, are there stainless versions of the Series 70 Gov't?

[skosh69]

Contact Rob at Alchemy Custom. He'll know exactly what you want to start with and will build it to your wildest dreams.

Here is their website: http://1911doctor.com/

[Bakerloo]

SA Mil-Spec has FCS. The GI model does not.

As far as Colts, are there stainless versions of the Series 70 Gov't?

No FCS on the Mil Spec.

[trigger945]

@skosh69 - thanks!

@Bakerloo - thanks for pointing that out. I thought it did.

[dkthree]

Fusion kit and finish it myself.

[SDPatriot]

It has to be a Colt with Colt marked stainless steel magazines. I'm getting goose bumps just typing this.

[Cool Custard]

Oh yes, I forgot, it should be a Series 70 and Government model.

@Cool Custard, is there a stainless Series 70?

Yep, there sure is!

http://www.colt.com/Catalog/Pistols/Series70™.aspx

[balmo]

Check out Caspian for starting truly on a blank canvas.

https://www.caspianarmsltd.com/

[beetle]

I faced this question myself, and went with Colt... twice. No other base gun can convey the history of the 1911 like a Colt.

Colt Build #1 by Ted Yost

Before: Base Gun - Colt WWI Reproduction


After:


Colt Build #2 - By Jason Burton

Before. Base Gun - Colt WWII Reproduction


After:

[Cool Custard]

I faced this question myself, and went with Colt... twice. No other base gun can convey the history of the 1911 like a Colt.

Colt Build #1 by Ted Yost

Before: Base Gun - Colt WWI Reproduction


After:


Colt Build #2 - By Jason Burton

Before. Base Gun - Colt WWII Reproduction


After:

That build by Ted Yost is jaw dropping! Wow! Simple and clean and beautiful!