Wilson Combat 4 dvd set on customizing / tuning/ building the 1911's

[1911crazy]

I just received this 4 dvd set from brownells.  I was hesitant at first but WOW tons of info and i haven't finished watching the 1st dvd yet.  The guys at wilson combat explain everythng while there doing it hands on infront of you.  If you want to learn about 1911's this is the dvd set.  I also like the Jerry K 1911 shop manual and the armorers video also.  I just got a Patrick Sweeny book on the 1911/45acp too.  If you want to make your 1911 better the info is out there and worth doing.                               Bill

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !!!!!!!

[victorcharlie]

Sweet!  I've ordered a couple of different instructional videos, and learned something from both.

We live in a great time.  This wouldn't have been possible 25 years ago.

Now, if it isn't on you tube, you can order a DVD.  Amazing, simply amazing IMO.

[saddlebum]

Thanks for the heads up on the Wilson DVD. Sounds like the way to go!

[rbwillnj]

I have the Wilson set,  (Unfortunately when I bought it is was only availabe in VHS).   It's good, but I prefer the American Gunsmithing Institutes Part I and Part II "Building the 1911 Limited Class or Carry Gun."   I think it does a much better job showing how to fit a slide to frame, and how to fit a barrel.

[1911crazy]

I have the Wilson set,  (Unfortunately when I bought it is was only availabe in VHS).   It's good, but I prefer the American Gunsmithing Institutes Part I and Part II "Building the 1911 Limited Class or Carry Gun."   I think it does a much better job showing how to fit a slide to frame, and how to fit a barrel.

Thanks for the heads up on that too i'll be going that direction soon too.  I'm buying anything that catches my eye.  I know i need more info on frame work too.  But the wilson combat tells the many ways of improving it too.  My list is growing now...                                         Bill

Merry Christmas!!!!!   Happy Holidays!!!!!!!

BTW; With a break in the eating festivites today i ordered both the AGI 1911 video's.  I think this will be my last of the video's so i can get more 1911 tools too.

[Mikey]

Bill:  Merry Christmas.  And when you set up shop (no joke) let us know. Mikey.

[1911crazy]

Bill:  Merry Christmas.  And when you set up shop (no joke) let us know. Mikey.

Mikey thats what the misses said for me to setup an area with a work bench and start working on them.  My norc is going to get the works done to it next. Little by little i'm tweeking it to perfection.
                                                                                                                                                                                    CZY

[1911crazy]

I received the AGI two dvd from brownells and it does cover working on the slide/frame fit much better.  I'm as far as the extractor right now but it looks like another dvd set we should have also. There's a 3rd AGI dvd but i haven't ordered it yet.  I need to recover from christmas now.                                                Bill

I'm almost done with the first AGI DVD on 1911 smithing.  I notice that other dvd or video's have things said /shown that the AGI dvd i haven't seen yet, yet the other video's don't have what the AGI DVD has shown too.  My point is we need most of the video's to catch all of the tricks/things to learn it all with nothing left out.

[DDZ]

Years ago I bought Wilson's book on customizing the 1911. It did not have a lot of detail, but enough you could figure it out. I don't think the dvd set was out yet when I built mine. I used a few different books including Jerry Kuhnhaussan's manual, which is a very good book. I think I paid around $480 for my colt at the time, and I wish I would have kept track of the cost of all the parts and tools I purchased to complete the gun. The parts and tools are not cheap, and I bet I had a bundle wrapped up in it when done. Although it is very rewarding to end up with a nice looking and good shooting 1911, when done.
I used to wonder how Wilson could charge $1500-3000 for a custom 1911, but after doing my own I can see why.

   

[rbwillnj]

Like I said before, I prefer the AGI DVDs, but you can never have too much information.   My only caution on the AGI DVD's is that they tend to push a lot of Brownells special tools.   Some are absolutely essential, some make the job easier, and some are completely worthless.   One of the DVD's demonstrates a big punch for upsetting the rails.   If you think you have to have one, I'll sell you the one I bought.   

One tool that they don't mention that I have found very useful is a Starrett Grove micrometer.   It allows you to measure the rails and the grooves in the frame to help you figure out where you need to remove metal, and where you shouldn't.

[1911crazy]

I purchased the two swage punches a few years back.  Now i'm looking at about $500 worth of 1911 tools that i just can't seem to do the work without them.  I'm going to have around $1,000 invested into the 1911 knowledge and the books and videos too.

[rbwillnj]

Is that all??

[1911crazy]

With what i already spent on stuff to learn about the 1911's i'll have about a $1,000 into it all and maybe more before i'm done.  CZY

There's also 1 dvd from AGI i still need too.