Make your own 1911

[tcencore3006]

I have been thinking for a while about buying a 1911 frame and putting one together.  Anyone else out there ever build one? Who sells decent quality/priced parts kits? Any and all feedback is helpful. Thanks

[rdmallory]

Thought about it, Priced the parts. Priced a complete gun.

Bought a complete gun and moded it to fit my needs.

Doug

[williamlayton]

If you have the skills and patience to do the work and the fitting i think you would really enjoy the results.
Lots of good, solid parts available to suit your desires.
Takes some specialty tools and a real understanding of what you are doing and trying too accomplish.
I don't have the skill or the patience.
Blessings

[reliquary]

I've done it a couple of times, years ago.  Once in the '70s and once in the 80s, for relatives.  In those days, it wasn't unusual to find a receiver for sale at gun shows or in shops.  I used surplus parts whenever I could get them and mail-ordered the others.  One was mildly accurized by peening the rails and using NM slide, barrel, and bushing and some kind of adjustable sights, plus a modest trigger job.  One was just a basic shooter.  Both were made (back then) for far cheaper than an off-the-shelf Colt, and are still in use. 
 
Today, it's like building a car by buying the repair parts and putting them together.  Your finished gun will cost way more than a corresponding commercial model, and probably won't be as accurate or reliable unless you have a lot of experience and time to tinker.
 
I thought about getting a receiver to permanently mount my .22 conversion kit on, but it turned out to be cheaper to buy a complete Rock Island, use it, and just store the .45 parts. 
 
I'd recommend you shop around for the gun you like and buy it.

[anachronism]

Cylinder & Slide offers classes a couple of times a year for 1911s. The class project is building reliable 1911s, and learning each step, plus some modifications. You also have to buy the tools to do the work. You get to keep everything. If you want to build a 1911 from the ground up, you might contact them. I will tell you it's much more involved than building AR15s. 1911s actually require hand fitting.

[tacklebury]

Brownell's has a nice version catalog for building your own.  Has all the frames, triggers parts etc and even goes into good combo's or kit build-ups.  Might request one.  Last one I had gave me more Ideas than my checkbook can support.  lol 
 
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=23960/Product/1911-CATALOG

[tcencore3006]

Thanks Tacklebury.  I just ordered one.

[Ex 49'er]

I did it twice about 35 years ago. I was working in a gun store and bought a couple of bare Crown City stainless frames. The grip bushings and plunger tube had been installed at the factory. Parts were a lot cheaper back then. I built one as a .45 and one as a frame for a .22 conversion unit. Got rid of the Conversion unit about 5 years ago. I still have the .45, tho. It was an education and I'm glad to have the experience under my belt.  Good luck with yours.

[Mikey]

Crown City Arms - man, I haven't heard that name in a few years or more.  I forget the owner's last name, first name was Terry.  The place was in Cortland.  Visited there and watched them assemble their handguns.  Interesting trip. 

[1911crazy]

I want to still build a complete  1911 from a bag of parts(kit).  I purchased the slide complete assembly and the lower inside frame parts from sportsmansguide.  I need the frame next.  I asked some dealers and i got snubb'd about getting a new frame for me.  I may end up getting a frame and slide already fitted ready to assemble to start off with.  I'm not sure yet this on going project gets side tracked all the time.  Its important but others things come first.  If the first try goes well i may do more.  But keep in mind these builds do cost more now too than buying a low end new 1911.  CZY

[williamlayton]

Frame and slide assembly's are available from a number of folks--with all the dovetails and fittings as you desire.
That is the way I would purchase them.
I would choose Caspian & have the frame and slide matched and mated. I would choose a special to me serial number. Must be done thru a FFL.
Blessings

[1911crazy]

Frame and slide assembly's are available from a number of folks--with all the dovetails and fittings as you desire.
That is the way I would purchase them.
I would choose Caspian & have the frame and slide matched and mated. I would choose a special to me serial number. Must be done thru a FFL.
Blessings

William;  Thank God we have you for ideas and you think out of the box sometimes too.  I like your idea on the serial number it could be our birthday??
All my mechanic tools are inscribed with my birthday rather than my name.  This why the theft is confused on what the number is.  I've seen many others who looked at my tools and the numbers.
 
Now i think a frame and slide kit is the way to go.  This way we can get the machining options we want upfront.  Like the milled slide for the dovetail sights front and rear.  I know a build will get costly but in the end it will be worth it.
 
I been pondering about getting my ffl01 license to sell and do gunsmith work.  Plus my local gun shops want nothing to do with getting me a new frame and slide.

[tcencore3006]

Why don't you just order one and have it shipped to your local ffl?  You can pay the transfer fee and be done.

[tcencore3006]

I have gotten quite frustrated with alot of gunshops who only seem interested in selling you what they have on the shelf.

[1911crazy]

I would like to build my own 1911a1 in 45acp as my CCW, shooter/beater pistol.  I really don't care about the accuracy as long as its one minute of man at 25yds.  A cheap plain jane that rattles is ok with me.

[mak43]

+1 on williamlaytons post. I have looked at building my own 1911, but the expense has always stopped me. IF I started one, I would order a prefit Caspian frame and slide in the style you want. Yes, it must go to an FFL. If nothing else, use the FFL search on Gunbroker to find someone willing to accept the shipment for you. As far as accuracy, no reason it shouldnt be as good or better than an off the shelf pistol if you do your homework before assembly.  Good luck.

[GRIMJIM]

I built a race gun out of a stock .45 a few years ago. It is a lot of work but I like to be able to say I did it myself. I had some issues with the finished product and have put it on the back burner for a while until I get more time to tinker with it.
 

In retrospect I wish I would have gone with a caspian setup as well and fitted the other parts.I started with an AMT hardballer.

[c1skout]

Sarco sells bare frames or frame-slide kits.