Thoughts on Base 1911 for Full Customization

[Gottmituns]

Start with a RIA 38 Super.
You can always barrel swap for 9mm and Tokarev later..
You cant do that with a 45

[trigger945]

To all who posted - thanks!

@beetle - if I start with a blued Colt, can the frame be stripped so that it becomes stainless to achieve the two-tone look I am going for?

@Cool Custard - thanks for the link. That's probably what I will be going for. I do want a Colt Series 70 as a base gun but did not know about that model

@balmo - if I go with Caspian and do a full build from scratch, it will take a long time and I might run out of time if SSE goes away. Am I thinking straight or missing something completely?

@Gottmituns - thanks, but it's gotta be .45 ACP and American made

[keenkeen]

Start with a RIA 38 Super.
You can always barrel swap for 9mm and Tokarev later..
You cant do that with a 45

Funniest post of the night...Thanks for that.

[bigdrunk92037]

I echo what others have said. Start with a Colt Series 70, but blued.

http://grabagun.com/colt-series-70-govt-45acp-blue.html

I could be mistaken but I don't think stainless pistols take blueing well. With that being said, get a blued Series 70 and finish the frame and lower controls in matte hard chrome.

I plan on SSE'ing a S70 before year end. I don't have a $5k budget though.

[trigger945]

Thanks @bigdrunk92037. That's what I did not know - if the blued finish could be stripped and turned into stainless

[trigger945]

Blued guns are carbon steel, not stainless.

There are 2 guns for builds. Series 70 colts, and Springfields.

Thanks. So if I got a blued Colt, and do not want a blued frame, my next best option would be to hard chrome it?

[TMB 1]

Have it nickel plated or satin nickel plated.

[trigger945]

^^^ Thanks. That's what I thought, which is probably not an option. Hence, I need to get a stainless-framed base gun.

[steelrain82]

What is FCS?

[viet4lifeOC]

What is FCS?

Front cocking serrations?

[Bill Steele]

I think the BHP cut is the new FCS...

[adamjay]

Heirloom? Colt.
And I own a Springfield.

[trigger945]

Front Cocking Serrations. People use them for press checks. It used to be a deluxe option, something custom builders did to guns. But now a lot of 1911s come with them, so to look custom, people don't want them.

Maybe you have a point. All my 1911's except for two have FCS and for my custom build, I want as clean a look as possible with as little rollmarks as possible, too. In fact, the ideal build to me is one that has no markings whatsoever, except of course the required ones, like the SN, etc.

[trigger945]

Heirloom? Colt.
And I own a Springfield.

Yes, thanks. Heirloom is definitely a consideration as I have seen pictures of their work. IIRC, @beetle's Colts were done by them.

[BEE]

Dan Wesson RZ-45 "Heritage" perhaps. Solid base to build upon.

As far as custom shops goes, I think Dan Wesson is doing custom work at the moment, Alchemy Custom Weaponry does great work, and Severns Custom is accepting custom work at the moment as well.