lesser known 1911 smiths?
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10mmshooter
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IMHO...Dan Wesson makes a great 1911, with every option a person could ask for....at a reasonable price.
Umm... just FYI, Dan Wesson is dead. He was not a 'smith, he was an heir to Smith & Wesson who left that company to build his idea of a better revolver.
While alive, his company turned out revolvers that were awesome shooting machines.
After his death, the company changed hands, lost sight of QC, perished, was bought, sold, restarted and killed... a couple of times.
It is now in the hands of Bob Serva... clearly NOT a 1911 smith either, but along with Dan's revolvers, they are trying to build a good 1911 pistol. They haven't succeeded yet, IMO, but they are still trying. (...and still fighting QC issues as well... seems to be a plague for that Marque since the namesake passed.)
For lesser know 1911 'smiths, try Terry Tussey, Ned Christensen, or Victor Tibbets.
While alive, his company turned out revolvers that were awesome shooting machines.
After his death, the company changed hands, lost sight of QC, perished, was bought, sold, restarted and killed... a couple of times.
It is now in the hands of Bob Serva... clearly NOT a 1911 smith either, but along with Dan's revolvers, they are trying to build a good 1911 pistol. They haven't succeeded yet, IMO, but they are still trying. (...and still fighting QC issues as well... seems to be a plague for that Marque since the namesake passed.)
For lesser know 1911 'smiths, try Terry Tussey, Ned Christensen, or Victor Tibbets.
Sean Smith
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Most of the "semi-custom" guns aren't made by the guys whose names are on the gun anymore. Bill Wilson and Les Baer don't make your gun for you anymore, haven't for years. Ed Brown guns are made by the Ed Brown family, but not necessarily all by Ed himself.
Dan Wesson is the name of a company that makes normal production guns, not anything you'd call "custom." Dan Wesson himself made revolvers and is, indeed, long dead.
Now, if we are interested in actual pistolsmiths, meaning people who will build or modify a gun to order for you, "lesser known" is relative. Most shooters have never heard of Richard Heinie, for instance. Many pistolsmiths are backloged out to years, and aside from 1 or 2 articles in the gun rags are unknown to almost everybody.
But just for fun
, I'll throw out some names:
Ted Yost of Yost-Bonitz Custom http://www.yost-bonitz.com/
Chuck Rogers of Rogers Pecision http://www.rogersprecision.com/
Don Williams of The Action Works http://www.theactionworks.com/
George Smith of Evolution Gun Works http://www.egw-guns.com/
Ned Christiansen of M-Guns http://www.m-guns.com/
Here is a simple (on the outside) gun that Ted did for me:
Dan Wesson is the name of a company that makes normal production guns, not anything you'd call "custom." Dan Wesson himself made revolvers and is, indeed, long dead.
Now, if we are interested in actual pistolsmiths, meaning people who will build or modify a gun to order for you, "lesser known" is relative. Most shooters have never heard of Richard Heinie, for instance. Many pistolsmiths are backloged out to years, and aside from 1 or 2 articles in the gun rags are unknown to almost everybody.
But just for fun
, I'll throw out some names:Ted Yost of Yost-Bonitz Custom http://www.yost-bonitz.com/
Chuck Rogers of Rogers Pecision http://www.rogersprecision.com/
Don Williams of The Action Works http://www.theactionworks.com/
George Smith of Evolution Gun Works http://www.egw-guns.com/
Ned Christiansen of M-Guns http://www.m-guns.com/
Here is a simple (on the outside) gun that Ted did for me:
Grayrider
Member
I have to mention my smith here as well. Jeff Cockrum does excellent work at very good prices in a timely manner. It is hard to find a smith that will get done when he says he will in my experience. I have had him do various things to various 1911s and all have turned out great. He does everything from minor repair/tuning, to building full blown race guns. The latter are a pleasure to shoot. Here is his web site:
http://www.c-rums.net/
He posts here from time to time under the handle c-rum. Give him a call if you want something built. I am sure he will give you a very fair price.
GR
http://www.c-rums.net/
He posts here from time to time under the handle c-rum. Give him a call if you want something built. I am sure he will give you a very fair price.
GR
MoNsTeR
Member
Scott Mullerkin
www.sdmfabricating.com
www.sdmfabricating.com
10mmshooter
Member
When I mentioned Dan Wesson...I was refering to the company in general. I understand that by most peoples' standards...DW's are not custom guns, however...mine is as described.
Full size 5 inch barrel 1911
Chip Mccormick hammer
Extended beavertail grip safety w/speed bump
10 MM Auto caliber
Beautiful cocobola rosewood grips w/ gold medalion insert
3.75 pound trigger that is exceptionally smooth
2 piece, full length guiderod
Extremeley tight slide to frame fit
Match grade barrel
Bluing that is so deep...the gun appears wet
Front, and rear cocking serrations
Throated,and polished feed ramp
Metalform magazines
Well tuned internal extractor
Fully adjustable sights...BTW it is extremely accurate
100% reliable with several different brands of JHP ammo
All of these things come together to become one heck of a nice firearm. And at only $560.00, I think I would have had a hard time finding a better 1911 for the money.
Also, Bob Serva is a frequent contributor to the forums on 1911.net, and I was informed by him that my sub-100 serial #'d gun was a very limited production. I also believe that DW offers custom work on any of their pistols, and if you have any specific features in mind...I believe they would accomodate you. All you have to do is go to the forums, and ask him for yourself.
Full size 5 inch barrel 1911
Chip Mccormick hammer
Extended beavertail grip safety w/speed bump
10 MM Auto caliber
Beautiful cocobola rosewood grips w/ gold medalion insert
3.75 pound trigger that is exceptionally smooth
2 piece, full length guiderod
Extremeley tight slide to frame fit
Match grade barrel
Bluing that is so deep...the gun appears wet
Front, and rear cocking serrations
Throated,and polished feed ramp
Metalform magazines
Well tuned internal extractor
Fully adjustable sights...BTW it is extremely accurate
100% reliable with several different brands of JHP ammo
All of these things come together to become one heck of a nice firearm. And at only $560.00, I think I would have had a hard time finding a better 1911 for the money.
Also, Bob Serva is a frequent contributor to the forums on 1911.net, and I was informed by him that my sub-100 serial #'d gun was a very limited production. I also believe that DW offers custom work on any of their pistols, and if you have any specific features in mind...I believe they would accomodate you. All you have to do is go to the forums, and ask him for yourself.
George Hill
Member
Terry Tussey is THE MAN when it comes to 1911's. He is a freaking 1911 Jedi Master. I can not recommend him enough.
His guns are absolutely the finest 1911s I have ever seen. His work trumps Ed Brown, Les Baer, Bill Wilson, Cylinder and Slide, Actions by T, everyone else.
He works on only relatively few guns compaired to some of the other 1911 mills out there bearing a gunsmith's name... but it is exquisit and a step above and beyond what I have seen from the other guys.
His guns are absolutely the finest 1911s I have ever seen. His work trumps Ed Brown, Les Baer, Bill Wilson, Cylinder and Slide, Actions by T, everyone else.
He works on only relatively few guns compaired to some of the other 1911 mills out there bearing a gunsmith's name... but it is exquisit and a step above and beyond what I have seen from the other guys.
Sean Smith
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And not to make the rubble bounce, but most people are right. Everything with a beavertail stuck on it ain't custom.
Slowhand
Member
Another vote for George Smith at EGW. I've had him do quite a bit of work for me, and I've got some of his parts in all my guns. His hammers and sears are great. He just came out with a new hard sear that is super tough. An all around better steel than S-7.
Sean Smith
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The EGW hard sear and firing pin stop are in my Yost Delta Elite. George has some neat parts.
45R
Member
Teddy Jacobson.
Gerald McDonald
Member
Dave Berryhill, at yost-bonitz does excellent work. Not a household name but a very good smith none the less.
Sean Smith
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Ted spoke very highly of Dave's work when I talked to him, I was going to have Dave do the Delta Elite pictured above on Ted's suggestion (since Dave was local to me), but Dave wound up moving out-of-state (and eventually wound up working with Ted in Arizona), so Ted wound up doing the gun. Great gun, but oy vey!
samray
Member
Smith
I would also say that while maybe less than known, he has made guns for some high profile folks such as Evan Marshall (steet stoppers author).
Karl Sokal
West Rutland, VT
I would also say that while maybe less than known, he has made guns for some high profile folks such as Evan Marshall (steet stoppers author).
Karl Sokal
West Rutland, VT
HankL
Member
Tim Brian is one heck of a 1911 smith.
He's well known in some circles but I suppose would qualify as a lesser known smith. The man is a true craftsman and artisan when it comes to the inner and outer workings of a 1911. Tim is also a very easy person to work with because all you need to do is tell him what you are looking for in a pistol and let him do the rest.
He worked up the Officer's Model that I have posted on before and it has gone 2000 rounds with one failure to fully chamber and no other malfunctions. I defense of the pistol, it was dirty, running dry and near the end of the recoil spring life when the malfunction happened.
Eye Candy:
He's well known in some circles but I suppose would qualify as a lesser known smith. The man is a true craftsman and artisan when it comes to the inner and outer workings of a 1911. Tim is also a very easy person to work with because all you need to do is tell him what you are looking for in a pistol and let him do the rest.
He worked up the Officer's Model that I have posted on before and it has gone 2000 rounds with one failure to fully chamber and no other malfunctions. I defense of the pistol, it was dirty, running dry and near the end of the recoil spring life when the malfunction happened.
Eye Candy:
Gerald McDonald
Member
Sean, I had Dave do a little work on a Kimber I have when he lived just a few miles from me here in Texas. Great guy, very knowledgeable about handguns in general whether it be revolvers or autos, good personality.
I am currently saving my pennys for the next trip I make to Az so I can leave a Hi Power with him for a little hot rodding. I think highly of him.
Shoot safe
Gerald
I am currently saving my pennys for the next trip I make to Az so I can leave a Hi Power with him for a little hot rodding. I think highly of him.
Shoot safe
Gerald
BluesBear
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A
AnklePocket
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Pete at www.customarms.com is tremendous.
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