My Latest Rebuild, a 1911 from SCRATCH
- Thread starter theQman23
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wrigh003
Member
If it's the first one you did, A) you did a hell of a job, and B) I'd keep it just for that. That said, getcha an FFL and part-time some other ones.
Nice work.
Nice work.
LiveLife
Member
Awesome work! And this is your first? Can't wait to see what your 10th project looks like!
I would make a nice frame for "Sally" over your work bench to give you inspiration and start taking orders for the next projects.
In lieu of FFL, you can always purchase the pistols yourself for the projects and do transfers afterwards (more like bidding war).
I would make a nice frame for "Sally" over your work bench to give you inspiration and start taking orders for the next projects.
In lieu of FFL, you can always purchase the pistols yourself for the projects and do transfers afterwards (more like bidding war).
You guys inspire me. God Bless you for that. My wife left a year ago and its nice to hear nice things.
Anyway, my good friend in life also joined the gun club where I shoot. He knew of the offers that I was given, and he agreed to match the $1700 one. I asked him if he was doing it to help me, and he said, "No you jerk. I don't want that gun getting away from me either, and besides, if I buy her you can see her whenever you want.........."
Truth is, he knew I needed the dough, and I'm sure when money is right again I can buy Sally back. I never shed tears over a chunk of darn metal before, but she, she was my first............... but she's in good hands.
Anyway, my good friend in life also joined the gun club where I shoot. He knew of the offers that I was given, and he agreed to match the $1700 one. I asked him if he was doing it to help me, and he said, "No you jerk. I don't want that gun getting away from me either, and besides, if I buy her you can see her whenever you want.........."
Truth is, he knew I needed the dough, and I'm sure when money is right again I can buy Sally back. I never shed tears over a chunk of darn metal before, but she, she was my first............... but she's in good hands.
Ok, so onto the next one. What are you guys thinking? How about a full sized racer with a magwell? Or, what about a .40 double stack with a stubby slide sorta like a HAWG?
What about copying a Kobra Karry model, but acknowledging that mine ISN'T an Ed Brown, and giving him credit for the idea?
What about one of you coming up with an idea all of your own, and I'll pick one.
YEAH, LETS DO THAT!! You guys are the ones encouraging me, you guys are the brotherhood that appreciates what you see here, so that's it. You decide. Who's first?, tell me what you want to see built.........
What about copying a Kobra Karry model, but acknowledging that mine ISN'T an Ed Brown, and giving him credit for the idea?
What about one of you coming up with an idea all of your own, and I'll pick one.
YEAH, LETS DO THAT!! You guys are the ones encouraging me, you guys are the brotherhood that appreciates what you see here, so that's it. You decide. Who's first?, tell me what you want to see built.........
LiveLife
Member
Now that you have your "seed money", I would recommend you continue doing what's popular as catering to a larger target/customer base will help you sustain your hobby/livelihood.
Many may show off uber-pimped out custom guns but try finding a buyer for it ...
I would take the money and split it in half and do as much as that $850 will get you. If you can keep doing it and finding buyers willing to pay for the finished pistols, you may be doubling your money every 3-4 projects.
Keep the price reasonable and you may never run out of customers.
Many may show off uber-pimped out custom guns but try finding a buyer for it ...
I would take the money and split it in half and do as much as that $850 will get you. If you can keep doing it and finding buyers willing to pay for the finished pistols, you may be doubling your money every 3-4 projects.
Keep the price reasonable and you may never run out of customers.
1KPerDay
Member
Sounds like a good friend.
Excellent advice bds, instead of going wild and crazy, I'll keep re-doing basic affordable pieces with basic affordable upgrades that make sense.
I thought I'd show you a comment someone on here sent me about the work. This is what they said,
"You took a Springfield Brazilian piece of **** and made it a shinny piece of ****! Do you do cheap body and fender work too?"
You gotta know that made my day, funny..........
I guess that means if you find an old car in the junk yard and use it to build a nice street rod it doesn't count because the junk yard project didn't start as a lamborghini or a wilsom combat car huh?
This person either A) works in the business B) thinks that no 1911 under 3 grand is worth a nickel or C) actually believes the Chevrolets, Harleys, and Custom 1911's are still 100% american made...............
funny......................
I thought I'd show you a comment someone on here sent me about the work. This is what they said,
"You took a Springfield Brazilian piece of **** and made it a shinny piece of ****! Do you do cheap body and fender work too?"
You gotta know that made my day, funny..........
I guess that means if you find an old car in the junk yard and use it to build a nice street rod it doesn't count because the junk yard project didn't start as a lamborghini or a wilsom combat car huh?
This person either A) works in the business B) thinks that no 1911 under 3 grand is worth a nickel or C) actually believes the Chevrolets, Harleys, and Custom 1911's are still 100% american made...............
funny......................
LiveLife
Member
theQman23, don't worry. My first 1911 match gun project was done on a Norinco 1911 at the recommendations from several seasoned regional USPSA match shooters using Wilson Combat components.
With about $1000 spent on the pistol total (including mercury/ball bearing filled Haart recoil guide rod) and several days with a diamond file set with my Bullseye shooting/reloading mentor, it shot comparable or better than pistols that were priced much more (I did some side-by-side comparisons with other match 1911s on practice days and got "two thumbs up" from other 1911 match shooters - one even asked if I would do another for him). Best part was I did all the work (trigger job, hand fitting, etc.) and it was "custom tailored" for me like trigger pull/break point. After I had verifying tight shot groups, it didn't matter what name was on the slide. For me accuracy is everything and holes on target speak volumes.
When I switched match caliber/pistol, another shooter bought it after shooting it. He paid more than what I spent on the pistol and he had a grin ear-to-ear at the tight shot groups he kept producing.
This is your thing - You get to do whatever you want to do.
But if you want to treat this new hobby as a business, you should get to know your target customer base and what they want regarding base pistol, components, level of custom work done and pricing.
There are some who will buy nothing but Colts and will pay well to have some nice work done on them. There are some who just want a "custom" anything that's different than what you can get at LGS counter. There are some like me who only cares about accuracy (I have a railed Sig 1911 and endorse RIA Tactical for that reason).
Maybe you can do a polled thread and see what the general consensus is as to what buyers want and how much they are willing to spend on a custom 1911.
Perhaps you can have a lower priced "entry level custom" model based on this $350 1911 to build your customer base? And have tiered custom models based on different 1911 manufacturers?
With about $1000 spent on the pistol total (including mercury/ball bearing filled Haart recoil guide rod) and several days with a diamond file set with my Bullseye shooting/reloading mentor, it shot comparable or better than pistols that were priced much more (I did some side-by-side comparisons with other match 1911s on practice days and got "two thumbs up" from other 1911 match shooters - one even asked if I would do another for him
). Best part was I did all the work (trigger job, hand fitting, etc.) and it was "custom tailored" for me like trigger pull/break point. After I had verifying tight shot groups, it didn't matter what name was on the slide. For me accuracy is everything and holes on target speak volumes. When I switched match caliber/pistol, another shooter bought it after shooting it. He paid more than what I spent on the pistol and he had a grin ear-to-ear at the tight shot groups he kept producing.
This is your thing - You get to do whatever you want to do.
But if you want to treat this new hobby as a business, you should get to know your target customer base and what they want regarding base pistol, components, level of custom work done and pricing.
There are some who will buy nothing but Colts and will pay well to have some nice work done on them. There are some who just want a "custom" anything that's different than what you can get at LGS counter. There are some like me who only cares about accuracy (I have a railed Sig 1911 and endorse RIA Tactical for that reason).
Maybe you can do a polled thread and see what the general consensus is as to what buyers want and how much they are willing to spend on a custom 1911.
Perhaps you can have a lower priced "entry level custom" model based on this $350 1911 to build your customer base? And have tiered custom models based on different 1911 manufacturers?
danbowkley
Member
I'd love to see a really well done compact, something along the lines of a Springfield EMP. 9mm, .40SW, maybe .45ACP. Iddy biddy little thing. Done up to Wilson's or Ed Brown's high standards.
Thank you gentlemen, BDS for sharing your story of doing the same thing with a positive result, and danbowlkey for recommending what you want to see next. Good stuff, good stuff..........
This project isn't just mine anymore, this belongs to the community that supports and motivates others who take pride and joy in their work. So if you had a week off your job, and an extra couple of grand to play with, and tools, what would you build? Come on guys, don't be shy................ what would you build?
This project isn't just mine anymore, this belongs to the community that supports and motivates others who take pride and joy in their work. So if you had a week off your job, and an extra couple of grand to play with, and tools, what would you build? Come on guys, don't be shy................ what would you build?
So, Imbel is a mfr of s***? News to me. I have some Brazilian made handguns, Taurus, and have never had any problems with them.
What you did does NOT qualify as turd polishing.
You took a good, but worn out, 1911 and mad a great 1911 out of it.
I'd say you did a good job.
Funny thing, a buddy of mine turned his nose up at my ATI Commander.
He says he's "picky" about 1911s. He'll only buy a Colt of Springfield.
I reminded him that in the 1990s, the Springfield 1911 was a "cheap" 1911 and the "picky" 1911 fans all said to avoid them.
My best friend has owned 2 Springfields. One each in blue and stainless.
He sold the blue to help finance the stainless. He's had the stainless for 20 years with no problems.
If that's a cheap Brazilian POS, then I'll take a cheap Brazilian POS any day.
What you did does NOT qualify as turd polishing.
You took a good, but worn out, 1911 and mad a great 1911 out of it.
I'd say you did a good job.
Funny thing, a buddy of mine turned his nose up at my ATI Commander.
He says he's "picky" about 1911s. He'll only buy a Colt of Springfield.
I reminded him that in the 1990s, the Springfield 1911 was a "cheap" 1911 and the "picky" 1911 fans all said to avoid them.
My best friend has owned 2 Springfields. One each in blue and stainless.
He sold the blue to help finance the stainless. He's had the stainless for 20 years with no problems.
If that's a cheap Brazilian POS, then I'll take a cheap Brazilian POS any day.
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