Posted: 4/6/2006 8:25:44 PM EDT
So here we go. I picked up my first 1911 pistol in December, slightly used. I decided to purchase a SS Loaded Champion, barely used for the price of $550 shipped on the AR15.com Equipment Exchange. I kept it around for 2 months before I decided that I couldn't take it any longer. So I made my decisions as far as parts, and labor work to be done, and off it went. Below is the before pics.  So I started looking at customized guns on here (1911forum), AR15.com, Louderthanwords.us, and other forums and image sites. I made these decisions. First of all, I wanted to change out the MSH for a checkered one, and also I wanted to have the front strap checkered. I chose an Ed Brown flat 25lpi MSH as a happy medium between the harshness of 20lpi, and the not so effective (in my opinion) 30lpi. Additionally I wanted the high cut done to give me a lower mass. Backing up the lower mass, I decided to have the beavertail swapped out with an Ed brown unit, which is made to sit the gun lower in your hand. All of you know that the tangs had to be welded to accomplish this on a Springfield, so it was done. I decided that I liked the Chip McCormick trigger the best, and decided to go with STI Commander hammer. I also went with a STI match sear. I had the trigger tuned to a clean 4 lbs break. Additionally I went with a Wilson tactical ambi thumb safety. I know a lot of people object to ambi safeties, but naturally I'm a lefty, so sometimes I have the tendency to grab the pistol with my left hand, and I want to be able to take it off safety if I happen to do this when the tough gets going! I do shoot righty, and my right eye is dominant though. I also swapped out the Slide stop and Mag Catch for Ed Brown hardcore stuff. Additional work that I had the gunsmith do, is to recrown the barrel. His findings were that the crown was off axis with the bore of the barrel, which was obviously affecting accuracy. We decided on going with a recessed target rifle style crown was to be very attractive. After doing so, he polished out the muzzle of the barrel to a brilliant shine. While working on that end, he also trimmed off some of the guiderod, since it stuck out a big from the end of the gun. I must say it looks a lot better. He also redid the carry bevel that SA decided wasn't important enough to make the lines straight. All better now Going to the rear of the gun, I had the 'smiff smooth out the back of the slide, and match it to the rear of the frame. It was woefully uneven back there in stock form. He also rounded off the butt of the gun, since I'm irritated with the point butt of most 1911's. I didn't want to go as radical as a bobtail back there though. Moving to the magwell, he straightened the lines up there and cut the bevel a bit more of an angle. Other modifications the the frame, not mentioned was minor cleaning up of some imperfections on the frame, removing a bit of dummy mark left by the guns previous owner (I'm sure I added to it a bit), and countersinking the slide stop hole. Some cleaning up of the aftermarket parts that were purchased was also done. Ending out the aesthetics, a set of Wilson Combat hex head grip screw bushings and VZ 320's in blasted canvas were added to the mix, and to top it all off a fresh coating of satin hard chrome was done over the entire gun. And to keep my new baby warm, a Milt Spark VM-2 was purchase for carry purposes. The gunsmith in question that had his run on most of the work was Matt Stambaugh. Some of you may know him through other various means as Buzz407. Matt can be reached at his employer - Tripp Research - Alpine, TX.  Pic galleries can be found below. I hope to have better photos available this weekend, as it was getting dark when my package arrived today, and I was too eager to wait for better lighting. If there's anything in particular you'd like a better photo of, let me know and I'll try to get you a picture this weekend. www.milesmedia.net/1911/ AND www.the-gunsmith.com/buzzworkin/CARHART/ -- OJM/NREMT-Paramedic |
| Tripp Research always does good stuff. They're sort of the gunsmith shop for the masses. Virgil and crew aren't doing hand cut checkering or blending everything together with a file and some sandpaper. I'd refer to them as technicians rather than artists. The turn-around time is fantastic and the prices are honest and fair. I haven't found another shop who can do the level of work for a similar price. |
Sure looks like a file to me! (pictured below is the gentleman that worked on my particular gun) 
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I did not mean to say that Virgil and crew don't use files in the shop. But much of their work is done with CNC equipment. Don't get me wrong, I love Virgil's work. I have sent Virgil a bunch of money over the years. He'll continue to get my business and I have referred three friends to him for custom builds. |
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no sir.. we do not have a CNC in the shop.. nor any shortage of files or gatorgrit sandpaper. the front strap checkering process.. I usually do on weekends because its absolutely mind numbing how much concentration is required.. all other checkering is done by hand. The above gun has several hours of hand blending in it. But above all else we are pistolsmiths. Our turnaround time is faster than most, our prices don't break the bank. But we still put our heart and soul into these pistols when they grace our shop. http://www.the-gunsmith.com/buzzworkin/turningbull.jpg http://www.the-gunsmith.com/buzzworkin/March2006-unfinished/magwellcleanup.jpg http://www.the-gunsmith.com/buzzworkin/jarvisridgerem.jpg http://www.the-gunsmith.com/buzzworkin/October/checkerin.jpg and lastly.. that file in my hand up there... thats a checkerin file http://www.the-gunsmith.com/buzzworkin/March2006-unfinished/rear-serrations.jpg |
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well i gotta take that back.. we do have a minature multi-axis carbon numerically controlled machine.. the Pistolkiller 3000..http://www.the-gunsmith.com/buzzworkin/March2006-unfinished/pistolkiller3000.jpg |
I stand corrected. I meant no disrespect in any of my replies and apologize if I have offended you. |
I gotta admit, when I first saw your .45 I went directly to SA's website and thought, how am I supposed to get one like that, they don't have it anymore or something? I'm glad I searched for this topic, because that is a beautiful .45! I'm sure if Springfield made them like that, they would be about $800 more at least... Guess I gotta get one and modify it like yours, it's just too purdy... |
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Thank you gentlemen (and ladies if any of you are) for such the comments... the gun shoots just as good as it looks... A custom fit gun is a world of difference from a production one... the 4lbs trigger job is just amazing in the crispness of the break... and the action is SO much smoother... I'm going next weekend to buy 1000 more rounds of ammo so I can shoot it more :-) |