High End Custom 1911

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Walkalong said:
And you do not seem to understand that the difference in quality as well as fit of the parts.
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Speaking of... I was actually listening to a podcast the other day where the Smith stated his parts cost alone was 1500.00 + with his manufacture/mass quantity discounts. All before one minute of bench time.
 
rpenmanparker said:
Then something is wrong. The same processes are being used to make Browns, Wilsons, Baers and they start from scratch and can be had for what $3,000. PLUS those brands have to charge big bucks for the production of the major castings, millings, and forgings that OP would get for about $250. There has got to be some daylight in there. Hired , lower cost labor is one way to cut cost. OP’s role would be to supervise and inspect. Don’t tell me Les Baer is making every gun that carries his name with his own hands.
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Most smiths won't touch a Phillipines make 1911.
 
rpenmanparker said:
Les Baer is making every gun that carries his name with his own hands.
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Don't worry, I won't !!! I worked for Les for 21 years. He has a highly skilled crew who builds the guns, but Les does personally inspect almost every gun after test firing. He gives each one the hairy eyeball, briefly, just to make sure it looks good to him.
 
As with any business, especially a new one, you need to differentiate yourself from your competitors. The wait time may be one way to do it. I bought a EDC X9 a number of months ago. Wilson Combat had a waiting list of 9 months, if my memory serves me correctly. I wanted one, but not enough to be put on a 9 month wait list. I found one at a good price at a LGS. For me buying a new gun is exciting. If you could deliver the high end 1911 I want with a significantly shorter wait than your competition that would be a huge plus for you.
 
Walkalong said:
Well of course not, but they have all trained there and don't work on customer's guns until they are good enough.

Whether you agree with what they charge or not has nothing to do with people wanting them.

And you do not seem to understand that the difference in quality as well as fit of the parts. You cannot take just any 1911 and turn it into the equal of these truly custom jobs that start off with best quality parts or guns with a good enough frame/slide to build on.
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I get all that. I was just pointing out that the origination of this whole business area was working on mil-spec A1s.
 
Walkalong said:
Yes and no.
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Why do folks reply like this? I call it coy even though that term seems to be nearly universally offensive. But hey, the truth is the truth. Nevertheless, if you have something to say, say it. Make no mistake, I am interested in knowing and understanding what you mean.
 
tarosean said:
Auto-correct struck again.. Clock not Glock
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Well that doesn't help a lot, but I will go out on a limb. Is clocking the grip screws making them all point to the same point on an imaginary clock circle? Tedious, likely. Difficult, I doubt.
 
tarosean said:
pull off your ATI's grip panels... you will see a bushing... So timing a screw inside a screw inside a screw is likely a little more than tedious.
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Perhaps you are right. I do have to say that if clocking grip screws is what you pay for on a custom 1911, I think I'll pass. Seriously?
 
tarosean said:
If you think thats it... I do not know what to tell ya..
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But it is part of it, right? You aren't telling me how tough a job it is, and then suggesting it comes for free, are you? Perhaps I haven't made it clear. When I talk about really good 1911's, I am talking about only two things, operating and shooting them. I couldn't care less about all the frou-frou. I'll pay good money for a tack driving, sweet shooting 1911, but not an extra penny for frou-frou.

My new shotgun is a 12 ga O/U that cost me $450. Looks decent. Shoots great. It isn't holding me back in the least from learning to bust clay targets. I'm tickled with it.

Of course that isn't everybody's way of seeing things. Fair enough. No reason we shouldn't all be happy in our own ways.

Now back to the OP. IMO he should give some thought to whether there is a market for guns that shoot lights out and forget about trying to build a reputation as a gun decorator. JMO.
 
Getting what I want, not what everyone else or the gunsmith wants. That's the first issue. The time it takes for any custom work is too long. Price comes in third.
 
rpenmanparker said:
And don’t forget OP could get a couple dozen ATIs or so at wholesale dealer price. What could that be, $250 each? Lot of profit potential there. If he found himself an up and coming, talented shooter to sponsor with his best finished gun, the competitive results would sell the guns.
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The problem with this idea is that what you'll end up with is a pile of expensive, albeit good shooting, ATIs. No matter how well the gun works you're going to have a helluva time selling an ATI for $1250-$1500 because it's still a low buck filipino gun built up by an unknown 'smith.
 
JTQ said:
What a Colt base gun gives the custom gunsmith is generally true lines on the frame and slide, a pretty good barrel, and all the holes in the right spot.
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I used to believe that was why Colts cost more also, until I sent a Colt off for custom work and the smith told me the slide had been drilled, for the barrel, off-center...Colt wouldn't replace it as they said that it functioned within spec.

I once asked a well regarded 1911 smith why he only worked on Colt 1911s; basically asking if they were "better" than other 1911s. He surprised me by telling me that they weren't. He said that with a Colt, he already knew were all the flaws (crooked lines and such) were and had his mill already set up to correct them before he'd start his work on them. He now produces his own frames and slides
 
rpenmanparker said:
When I talk about really good 1911's, I am talking about only two things, operating and shooting them. I couldn't care less about all the frou-frou. I'll pay good money for a tack driving, sweet shooting 1911, but not an extra penny for frou-frou.
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My answer above (Post #48) is an example of the difference between being functional and being correct.

Your definition of good has similarities to the Russian firearms design philosophy. Their Olympic handguns were considered both ugly and unfinished, but highly functional and accurate

Hi-Points follow a similar mantra
 
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