Recommend a local gunsmith?

[costayoung]

Can anyone recommend a gunsmith close to Orange County to handle the fitting for a replacement grip safety for my SA Mil-Spec Parkerized 1911? I'm working on a budget and just need someone reliable for this service.

It puts a hurtin' on my thumb-index webbing after 200 rounds or so. Definitely the grip safety and not the hammer.

I'd try smoothing it out (dehorning?) myself with some sandpaper or a dremel if I didn't think I'd mess up the finish back there. Would I expose some steel and have to apply Cold Blue or get it refinished after I'm done?

[pklin1297]

mount the safety in a vise and use a strip of higher grit sanding paper to just knock the edges off, or more depending on what you need. After you are done, blast it with Gunscrubber and either cold blue, or use the plethora of spray on finishes to recoat. Try not to use Dremel because it will most likely take too much off too quickly.
No one around OC I can really recommend for fitting a beavertail... What you can do is to get the Wilson no fitting needed beavertails for now until you have more money saved to send it out for a proper fitting by a good smith. You will probably wait longer though.

[ar15barrels]

If you can get up to Corona, I would recommend Will Ohara.

[Fatcat]

Wil O'hara does Q U A L I T Y work. You should survey what good gunsmithing costs and you'll find his rates are reasonable. Go to some of the Norco matches and you can see various examples of Wil's work and other smiths around the country. He's local so there is no issue with shipping and he's accesible. I can vouch for the several guns he has worked on and built up that the workmanship is 1st rate.

[hawk1]

Wil O'hara does Q U A L I T Y work. You should survey what good gunsmithing costs and you'll find his rates are reasonable. Go to some of the Norco matches and you can see various examples of Wil's work and other smiths around the country. He's local so there is no issue with shipping and he's accesible. I can vouch for the several guns he has worked on and built up that the workmanship is 1st rate.

Can you pass on any contact info for him? Always helps to have a good local 'smith.
Thanks,

[costayoung]

This is what I found on the guy. I haven't been able to call him yet, but I decided to give my Google-Fu a workout.


Will's Gunsmithing
1550 Brookdale Dr.
Corona, Ca 92880
(951)371-4971

http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/willsgunsmithing/

[Black_Talon]

Can you pass on any contact info for him? Always helps to have a good local 'smith.
Thanks,

Will's Gunsmithing
1550 Brookdale Dr.
Corona, Ca 92880

951.371.4971

willssmithing@yahoo.com


And I'll vouch for Will as well. Absolutely top-class work.

[ar15barrels]

I have been shooting competetively for around 11 years.
Everyone that I shoot with RAVES about his work.
I'm not a 1911 guy, but if I was, Will would be the guy to build my 1911's.