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AR15.COM
11/16/2005 3:09:45 PM EDT


A recent thread got me to thinking about a SA Milspec 1911 in the safe. I don't like shooting it because the grip safety cuts into my hand and it's just not the shooter that my Kimber is when it comes to the trigger.

So, would it be worth while to send it somewhere like Wilson's and have a trigger job and beaver tail safety done on it or would it make more sense to sell it and buy a better pistol. Or just put it back in the safe and forget about it?
11/16/2005 3:20:46 PM EDT
[#1]
Send it to Yost Bonitz. They can build a pistol off that frame and slide that is better than almost any production or semi production pistol. Custom>production.
11/16/2005 3:41:05 PM EDT
[#2]
Or you can shoot a few K of ammo and you and the pistol will be one.
11/16/2005 4:13:30 PM EDT
[#3]
Send it to me and I will adopt it, sharing love with it from a large family of its kind.
11/16/2005 4:14:41 PM EDT
[#4]

Quoted:
Or you can shoot a few K of ammo and you and the pistol will be one.



One, bloody unit.
11/16/2005 5:32:36 PM EDT
[#5]
I've had several customs and many semi-customs.  The nicest of the bunch is a stainless mil-spec turned into a full house custom by Bob Rodgers. It is an excellent base gun to build off of.
11/17/2005 4:51:41 PM EDT
[#6]

I happy with the gun except for the grip safety. I can live with the trigger.
11/17/2005 5:41:44 PM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
I happy with the gun except for the grip safety. I can live with the trigger.





Mfr: KING'S

Drop-In Design Gives Faster Handling, Improved Comfort

#204 - Narrow, upswept "tail" prevents hammer bite and guides the hand into a higher position on the frame for a faster grip. Fits Commander, Officers ACP, and Springfield Armory Govt. frames with Commander hammer.

or



Mfr: SMITH & ALEXANDER

.220° Radius Fits Springfield Armory Frame Contour

.220° radius eliminates the unsightly gap at the top edge of the frame tangs on Springfield Armory guns. Raised palmswell gives positive release with any style grip. Curved shape lets the pistol set lower in your hand for better recoil control. Extra width and a long trigger block arm help you get a precise, custom-looking fit.

***************************************




Mfr: MGW

Super-Hard Marine Corps Design; Fast Trigger Job For 1911 Autos

Gold Cup-style, repositioned hammer strut hole gives increased mechanical advantage for stronger hammer fall with lighter, quicker, trigger letoff. No-snag. Commander design eliminates "hammer bite". Sear and hammer are machined from cast A-2 steel and hardened to Rc 46-50 for superior performance and long use. Available in Standard with the factory shaped spur, or Slotted to reduce unwanted weight for an even faster hammer fall.
**********************************

Pretty easy and inexpensive fix if you're even remotely mechanicaly inclined.

11/17/2005 6:19:47 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
Send it to Yost Bonitz. They can build a pistol off that frame and slide that is better than almost any production or semi production pistol. Custom>production.



Big +1
11/17/2005 6:54:13 PM EDT
[#9]
My Gunsmith believes great guns are built not bought.  And you watch it transform   I would build it up.  Wait I did build one up and I love it.  
11/18/2005 4:20:21 AM EDT
[#10]
tagged.

I just picked up a Colt Officer series 80.  Was looking for some upgrades i could do myself as I am more the DIY type.  I was thinking trigger, grip safety and extended thumb safety.  I already have night sights to go on it.

How hard is it to stake the front sight?  I've built several AR's and now realizing it's time to learn more about my 1911's.
11/18/2005 6:34:59 AM EDT
[#11]
Combat_Jack, what about Hilton Yam?

Signature Grade

He's good enough for your avitar...
11/18/2005 10:57:50 AM EDT
[#12]

Quoted:
Combat_Jack, what about Hilton Yam?

Signature Grade

He's good enough for your avitar...



Hilton Yam has a two full time jobs (LEO and 10-8 Consulting) and several websites to manage.  As a result, he isn't able to build many pistols.  The wait is long.  I'm not even sure if he is accepting work right now.  I have the avatar up because it is a good looking pistol and my YoBo gun doesn't show up right as an avatar.
11/18/2005 11:19:16 AM EDT
[#13]
I had the exact work done on mine, but not by Wilson. I bought a Wilson beavertail, sear and hammer from Kblagg during the Wilson mag group buy. I took the stuff to my smith and had him install (he's a pistolsmith). For $120 he installed the parts, but I didn't have him refinish since I was going to molycoat it. He cut for the beavertail and contoured everything for a smooth fit and appearance.

I couldn't be happier. I went this route specifically because I wanted the tight fitting beavertail, instead of the factory fit one. The factory jobs look o.k., but they aren't as tight as hand fitted.

The gun is still in a transition, but here's a link to pics...

1911
11/18/2005 1:54:35 PM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Combat_Jack, what about Hilton Yam?

Signature Grade

He's good enough for your avitar...



Hilton Yam has a two full time jobs (LEO and 10-8 Consulting) and several websites to manage.  As a result, he isn't able to build many pistols.  The wait is long.  I'm not even sure if he is accepting work right now.  I have the avatar up because it is a good looking pistol and my YoBo gun doesn't show up right as an avatar.



Yeah, I know he's got a real long waiting list, just givin' you some trouble there...
YoBo make some of the finest 1911s in the world, their stuff is just beautiful.
C.T. Brian and Chuck Rogers make some nice ones too...

Louder Than Words
11/18/2005 2:06:53 PM EDT
[#15]
I know LTW well, and I know that they do their own machine work.
11/18/2005 2:25:05 PM EDT
[#16]

Quoted:
Send it to Yost Bonitz. They can build a pistol off that frame and slide that is better than almost any production or semi production pistol. Custom>production.



Oh I sure like that answer...
11/18/2005 2:41:25 PM EDT
[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Send it to Yost Bonitz. They can build a pistol off that frame and slide that is better than almost any production or semi production pistol. Custom>production.



Oh I sure like that answer...



Edited for opsec.

Sattelite office my ass.
11/18/2005 3:21:31 PM EDT
[#18]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Send it to Yost Bonitz. They can build a pistol off that frame and slide that is better than almost any production or semi production pistol. Custom>production.



Oh I sure like that answer...



Edited for opsec.

Sattelite office my ass.





11/21/2005 8:14:36 AM EDT
[#19]
I have a full-house custom, built on a SA mil-spec.  

To do it again, I would use a new series 70 Colt as the base gun.

For a long time, the SA milspec was the way to go, but not now, especially with the guns that Colt is turning out.  They are excellent bases for a custom gun.

Keep the SA for a shooter and build on something else.  

Lastly, consider this:  You can buy a Les Baer for under $2k that is damn near as good as a custom maker, without the wait.  I'm very happy with my Premier II.

SF
11/24/2005 10:41:09 PM EDT
[#20]
I just had a full custom built from a SA milspec.  The fit, finish, and work is better than either of my Baers.  If I were to do it again, I'd go this route vs. getting a Baer that has been worked on/handled  by 10 people (that's the number of signatures on the Baer certificate).
11/25/2005 1:43:50 AM EDT
[#21]
FNC80, I am pretty sure that my next gun will be built off of a Les Baer oversize frame and slide. Best of both!
11/25/2005 1:49:50 AM EDT
[#22]
This Colt commander had the crappy downsloped beavertail when it was stock.   It now wears a de-bumped Wilson drop in unit.   My cost was $24, it doesnt look as nice as my fitted Ed Brown on my SA Milspec based gun but was a hell of a lot cheaper and feels nice.   ( the fitted will sit lower though )  The Mil Spec has a drop in BarSto barrel (fit perfectly out of the box) and the frontstrap relieved up into the trigger guard with hand cut checkering and of course Novak sights.   I plan to get my Commander cut for the Novaks as well although it will likely get the Yost sights for the novak cut.  



Here's before bead blasting the commander and with my old MilSpec  in the middle.



Lastly I'd highly reccomend the STI short trigger, it's what you see in the top photo of the commander.   It fit so nicely and feels better than a long trigger to my little girl hands.   Eventually my worked over Mil Spec will get one too.  
12/3/2005 10:48:05 PM EDT
[#23]

Quoted:
I just had a full custom built from a SA milspec.  The fit, finish, and work is better than either of my Baers.  If I were to do it again, I'd go this route vs. getting a Baer that has been worked on/handled  by 10 people (that's the number of signatures on the Baer certificate).



I had a problem with my MILSPEC cutting the web of my hand on the sharp grip safety tang. I went with a drop in Kings grip safety, CMC trigger & Hammer, and S&A mainspring housing.
12/5/2005 2:05:05 PM EDT
[#24]
Here's the pic

12/6/2005 2:56:42 AM EDT
[#25]
You can always build an "MEU/SOC" clone.... http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/0/d6a3fc7de02523fe8525627c006c5814?OpenDocument

12/6/2005 8:23:12 AM EDT
[#26]
I second that Bob Rodgers does some incredible 1911 work (He's done a full house custom Springfield Operator and a ORM Colt 1991 for me and his beavertail fitting is flawless). He doesn't have a long wait list for work but that is quickly changing as he is getting alot of exposure out there. Give him a buzz if you just want a trigger job and a new beavertail fitted and he can probably fit that work in between his full-house custom builds..D