Thoughts on Base 1911 for Full Customization

[SoberClurichaun]

Grab a Colt!

[PutTogether]

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?

I think if your'e looking for a two toned 1911, you'd WANT to go hard chrome instead of stainless. Hard Chrome holds up way better, looks awesome, is not terribly expensive, and that's how some of the first masters did it. Hard Chrome frame and blue slide. Think Jim Hoag and Armand Swenson.

Plus side with hard chrome is that you can buy the blue (carbon steel) gun and have either the frame or the slide chromed, doing it the other way around and trying to blue part of a stainless gun ain't gonna fly.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about, but in Commander length. (Not my gun - sadly)

[bernieb90]

I have built 2 guns using Springfield GIs as base guns. One I did myself, and the other was built by Don Williams of The Action Works in Arizona. Both are great guns, and the Imbel forged frames are very strong.

[trigger945]

I think if your'e looking for a two toned 1911, you'd WANT to go hard chrome instead of stainless. Hard Chrome holds up way better, looks awesome, is not terribly expensive, and that's how some of the first masters did it. Hard Chrome frame and blue slide. Think Jim Hoag and Armand Swenson.

Plus side with hard chrome is that you can buy the blue (carbon steel) gun and have either the frame or the slide chromed, doing it the other way around and trying to blue part of a stainless gun ain't gonna fly.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about, but in Commander length. (Not my gun - sadly)

Very nice input. I am okay with a different kind of coat on the slide ala Armor Tuff from Wilson but your suggestion, especially with the picture, is great!

I have built 2 guns using Springfield GIs as base guns. One I did myself, and the other was built by Don Williams of The Action Works in Arizona. Both are great guns, and the Imbel forged frames are very strong.

Thanks for the input on The Action Works. Will look it up.

[liljhonsmith]

I have built 2 guns using Springfield GIs as base guns. One I did myself, and the other was built by Don Williams of The Action Works in Arizona. Both are great guns, and the Imbel forged frames are very strong.

Pics? I feel the Springfield line is the way to go but you cant go wrong with Colt either lol. I want to do the same from a base model. Would need one with a checkered front strap as that is the only thing I dont think I could on my own.

[bernieb90]

This is the one I built while waiting for The Action Works to finish the one I sent them. I have used it for IDPA and target shooting. The barrel is an Ed Brown, and all the fire control parts are Cylinder & Slide Components. The finish is black Gunkote.


This is the one Don built for me. The finish is Birdsong Black-T. Golf ball front strap treatment was done by Chuck Rogers. I hate to admit it, but this one is the safe queen.

I also have a Kimber Custom II that I bought on consignment from Turners. That one is my beater gun.

[trigger945]

This is the one I built while waiting for The Action Works to finish the one I sent them. I have used it for IDPA and target shooting. The barrel is an Ed Brown, and all the fire control parts are Cylinder & Slide Components. The finish is black Gunkote.


This is the one Don built for me. The finish is Birdsong Black-T. Golf ball front strap treatment was done by Chuck Rogers.

Wow, very nice! Thanks for posting pics of these beauties.

I love their subtle, yet refined look!

[bernieb90]

Wow, very nice! Thanks for posting pics of these beauties.

I love their subtle, yet refined look!

Thanks, I like to keep things simple yet functional. There is no better way to learn about the 1911 platform than to build one from the frame up.

As a side note be mindful of selecting 1911 parts? I ended up with several bags of parts that I found to be substandard from big name manufacturers before I settled on what is in mine.

[trigger945]

@bernieb90, thanks for the tip on selecting high quality parts from the get-go. I am mostly leaning towards Ed Brown parts and maybe some Wilson parts based SOLELY on reading about them. Can you please recommend or maybe list out the parts that ended up in your guns?

[bernieb90]

I went with Cylinder & Slide for all the fire control components. I am a mechanical engineer, and a machinist, and honestly can't make better quality parts. I tried an Ed brown disconnector, and it had an offset parting line so big I didn't even want to use it.
The Wilson trigger I tried wobbled back and forth like crazy. I ended up using a Greider Precision short trigger. It fit properly and has a strong trigger bow. I like Caspian or Wilson extractors both are good steel, but they will need to be tuned properly.
I used an Ed brown drop in barrel, and had tons of issues with the drop in barrel bushing. The bushing was cocking and locking up on the barrel as the slide went into battery. Tightly fitting an Ed Brown oversized bushing solved the problem and improved accuracy, and function.

[trigger945]

^^^Fantastic! Thanks for detailing the parts and your experience. This is really helpful!

[bernieb90]

No problem I am glad to help.

[The Mad Crawdad]

COLT. Preferably a 70s series. You could have something very nice put together for well under 5k. Great fit and finish, trigger, and slide/frame fit & 100% American.

[1911Luvr]

I went with Cylinder & Slide for all the fire control components. I am a mechanical engineer, and a machinist, and honestly can't make better quality parts. I tried an Ed brown disconnector, and it had an offset parting line so big I didn't even want to use it.
The Wilson trigger I tried wobbled back and forth like crazy. I ended up using a Greider Precision short trigger. It fit properly and has a strong trigger bow. I like Caspian or Wilson extractors both are good steel, but they will need to be tuned properly.
I used an Ed brown drop in barrel, and had tons of issues with the drop in barrel bushing. The bushing was cocking and locking up on the barrel as the slide went into battery. Tightly fitting an Ed Brown oversized bushing solved the problem and improved accuracy, and function.

As I wrote in the Wilson vs custom thread, I would agree with the above statement. My customs have Kart barrels, EGW bushing, EGW grip safety, EGW slide stop, Ed Brown wide thumb safety, STI triggers, if its a weld-on magwell it's either EGW or Stan Chen, Cylinder & Slide ignition components and hammer, and Dawson fiber sights or SDM gold bead sight.

[trigger945]

To All:

Thanks for your perspectives. I was able to decide on my base gun. It will be a stainless steel Colt Series 70 reproduction. I am just ironing out the logistics at this point to officially secure one.

As I wrote in the Wilson vs custom thread, I would agree with the above statement. My customs have Kart barrels, EGW bushing, EGW grip safety, EGW slide stop, Ed Brown wide thumb safety, STI triggers, if its a weld-on magwell it's either EGW or Stan Chen, Cylinder & Slide ignition components and hammer, and Dawson fiber sights or SDM gold bead sight.

@1911Luvr - I agree with you. I will be specific on the parts that I will use. After all, it'll be MY gun Thanks for your thoughts.