Posted: 8/27/2010 8:27:14 AM EDT
| Anybody have experience with Fusion 1911 and their parts/kits? I'm looking to get a .40 1911 single stack, does anyone besides Fusion and the custom shops make one? Not looking at Paras. |
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I just got my Fusion in 40 S&W and 10MM 2 weeks ago. I haven't handled a ton of 1911's but I have felt quite a few Kimber's and Springfield's. The Fusion's fit is very tight all around. The Barrel to bushing fit is very tight on mine as well as the slide to frame fit. The gun is more accurate than I am, that is for sure.
I had the Yukon green coating done and I must say, it is very nice. Kind of gave the gun a texture that is hard to explain. My Kimber's finish is nice but I really like the Yukon coating. The pictures in the link below don't do the coating justice. At least from my computer screen, it looks like there is a sheen to the coating, but I assure you, it is a nice flat green. I had a few failure to feed's with it but that was on me. I was using the wrong mag and didn't know it, different mags for 10mm and 40 S&W 
The gun runs great and for what you pay, your gun can be built to your specs without paying High end prices. $2k is not unusual for one of Fusion's pistols depending on what you want on it. But in my opinion, it's worth it. I have a long slide 45 ACP in ION BOND and a 4" Bobtail in 45 ACP coming soon too. So I will definitely get to check for continuity in their craftsmanship. There were a few people who had issues with their Fusion's. I don't know the whole circumstances behind it but you can find more detail at 1911 forums. The owner is Bob Serva and he really prides himself on customer relations. I have called him at 6PM on a saturday when I was having issues fitting a piece on my kit gun I ordered from him, he didn't mind at all. So if you are seriously considering it, just give him a call or email him and he will work with you to figure out exactly what you want, and get you a price. Here is the link to my gun in 40SW / 10mm. She is ugly, just how I like it.  http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=282255
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search Glocktalk 1911 forum for a thread called" my fusion should be ready next week"
The Fusion forum over at 1911forums only allows positive threads. Any threads containing negative reviews are routinely deleted. Searching the "general" thread there might yield info though. |
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Quoted: search Glocktalk 1911 forum for a thread called" my fusion should be ready next week" The Fusion forum over at 1911forums only allows positive threads. Any threads containing negative reviews are routinely deleted. Searching the "general" thread there might yield info though. this is a little misleading. anytime a thread gets started the same 4-5 posters over at 1911forum troll the fusion section and always post the same thing (eta: and the thread gets locked) all and all wait times are longer than expected. some pistols might show up with a problem they get sent back and fixed a majority of guys like their fusions. the wait time, not so much |
| I agree with what was said regarding the wait but again, you are getting a 1911 made the way YOU want. Not what the maker offers as a standard. I'm not taking anything away from other high end 1911 manufacturers such as Les Baer, Ed Brown, Wilson and Nighthawk. They all offer a fantastic line of pistols and I have heard great things about all of them. But if you want something thats not currently offered by those guys, you will have a similar wait regardless of who is producing it. |
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Here is an interesting thread... Ya needa read all the way thru, because mixed in the junk is valuable info... |
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What's wrong with Fusion?
A while ago I ordered a set of grips from the Fusion website. The ones I ordered were to be with out the ambi cut & when the came they had the cut & I had to send them back. Recently, he posted some new products at 1911auto.org; one of which was recoil spring caps available in stainless, black oxide, and Gov't or Commander length for standard or thick bushings. I ordered 3 black oxide commander plugs for thick bushings. What I got was 3 regular commander bushings. I called him about it & he told me that they only had stainless for the thick bushings & that he'd Yukon coat some for me & to send him a reminder email. In the email I sent I told him I didn't want painted stainless plugs & would rather wait on a back order of the oxide. You guessed it.....I got the painted parts. Why would I want to invest umpteen hundred dollars in a Fusion gun when they can't even get the small stuff right. |
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I bought a Fusion not too long ago. I ended up with a decent product after some back and fourth. It was difficult to communicate all of the features I wanted on the gun, and their specifications form / invoice leaves a lot of room for error. You really have to stay on them (Bob) to make sure you get the right features.
I spec'd out a gun with similar features to a Springer TRP or Nighthawk GRP, but with a few different features according to my tastes. It was nice to be able to get a gun with the EXACT features and finish that I wanted. I was able to specify the exact trigger, slide stop, saftey, grips, sights, recoil system, slide serrations, checkering LPI, etc. which was nice because I am not skilled enough to fit and assemble my own parts. The cost ($1700) was in between the TRP and GRP, but it did contain all high end parts and no MIM, and ION Bond finish which is generally pretty expensive. I don't think it is the same quality as a Wilson or similar, but doesn't cost nearly the same either. I think I got a lot for $1700, but it was indeed a hassle and the wait time was 7 months. The gun runs perfectly after I threw away the mag it came with, the ACT mag would not feed some JHP's reliably. I would recommend them again based on my personal experience, assuming that you can wait that long. Reading that thread on GlockTalk was pretty disturbing, I would definitely like to hear the other side of the story if there is one. I should also add that I changed my mind a couple of times on the parts to be used on the build, and Bob had no problem updating the invoice without any hassle. I was making his life hell for a couple of weeks there. |
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The problem with Fusion has been the amount of problems recently. Sure, it might be a small number compared to the amount of proper pistols, but it is also a much higher rate of problems than with other manufacturers. So, imo, why bother when you can get something and not have to deal with the issues.
The biggest thing that bothers me is that there are a number of pistols being delivered that do not match their build sheets. This is a very easy and simple thing to do before a gun ships, you make sure it matches the build sheet. Simply ANY gun that leaves a custom or semi-custom builder that has the wrong parts on it, is unforgivable in my opinion. My personal gun arrived (and this was several years ago, long before all the recent issues) and it was not even finished in the right color. I mean, c'mon, how hard is it to make sure a gun being shipped out matches the color on the build sheet? Additionally, it had other parts that were not right as well and most of all, did not even function. I was told to try different ammo and break it in. It would never feed more than one round at a time. Eventually it had to go back to Fusion, where they fixed the problems and re-finished it to match the original color I wanted. In the end, its a decent pistol for the money, but it took some time to get there and was a pita. And as I said, there is no excuse for a custom gun to leave a builder not matching the build sheet or supposedly being test fired not able to function from day one. Save yourself the hassle and spend a few hundred more bucks, get exactly what you want from Wilson or Baer and you'll also save yourself 7 months or so in wait time as well. |
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Quoted:
In the end, its a decent pistol for the money, but it took some time to get there and was a pita. And as I said, there is no excuse for a custom gun to leave a builder not matching the build sheet or supposedly being test fired not able to function from day one. Save yourself the hassle and spend a few hundred more bucks, get exactly what you want from Wilson or Baer and you'll also save yourself 7 months or so in wait time as well. Alas, this was my experience, too. Sorry to say that because I want Fusion to succeed. |
| i agree with spending a few more dollars. Yes they can turn out a good pistol but many have had problems. There are way to many other companies out there that dont get it wrong nearly as much and i will trust them with my projects instead. It really is a shame too because i remember when they were starting to get a lot of buzz about a year or two ago. The gun's Bob has on his website are stunning!! And i wanted one for awhile, im just glad i didnt have the funds at the time and now went another route |
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Mistakes can happen with anyone..........that being said I am a Fusion Fan of sorts........I've used three barrels from Bob and I can't complain........especially the last one which was a Wilson/Nowlin ramped drop in in 9mm para........this barrel shooooots!!! and did exactly what it was supposed to do.........drop-in!!!
Considering the last 1911 barrel I had a gunsmith fit and furnish was in the 400.00 dollar range........After fitting the barrel, finish reaming the chamber and crowning......shipping both ways.......Fusion is a bargain. I paid less than 200.00 for the barrel and it came with the link installed and with a bushing.......... 
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I ordered a kit, and it came with a .40 barrel "fitted" to a 9mm slide.
I honestly think that the Fusion shop is incredibly disorganized, and I'm not convinced the "gunsmiths" there are actually qualified. What is the point of a custom gun if it doesn't come with the exact features you requested? Why can't they give a reasonably accurate estimate of the wait times? Why are all of these guns that are supposedly test fired not able to feed more than one round at a time? It all adds up to questionable craftsmanship and a lack of attention to detail. I would never do business with them again. |
I bought a commander frame and slide from them, already bobtailed with a set of grips. Bob sent the wrong grips. Everything else went fine and shipped quickly. The rest of the gun went through a Brownell's catalog (discount) with almost all Ed Brown parts. It was my 4th or 5th 1911 build and I wanted something nice. Basically, it's an Ed Brown Executive Carry with a STI frame and slide. Had it teflon-coated. STill tinker with it some, the Ed Brown barrel didn't like XTP's so had to send it back to Brown to get the chamber cleaned up. The $50 Sarco barrel ran them fine.  Shoots as good as any of my Colts, and has been dead nuts reliable ever since.
I've got about $1000 in it. After I got done, it would have been simpler just to buy a CBOB. If I were to have to wait a while, I'd just go ahead and get an Ed Brown or Baer. Resell would be easier as well. That being said, this one isn't going to be sold.
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For every 1 person that is dissatisfied with Fusion, there seems to be 3000 that are fine. Of course, the thread @ Glocktalk and 1911forum seem to be what people talk about most, the majority of what you read will be positive. One of three thousand here. Got mine 2 years ago. First time I pulled the trigger, "Click" 30% failure to fire. Got it "Fixed" Now its down to 10-15% When I posted about it here after getting it "Fixed" Bob Serva came into this very forum and called me a liar. |