My own custom 1911!!

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Captain Kyle

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I wold like to get into the gunsmithing hobby just for myself. I would like to build myself a 1911 starting from a Rock Island and eventually turn it into something comparable to a Ed Brown or Wilson. ;)

I really really love the satisfaction of an ongoing project. But it think if i take up this method I will be able to shoot it at each interval in my project. :cool:

I was wondering if there are any very detailed books out there that have helped any of yall accomplish this feat and if you have any advice for someone just getting started. Any required tools, etc? :eek:

Thanks Allot!!!

I will probably also build an AR just the way I want it too. :D
 
The RIA is an excellent platform I hope you have as much fun building yours as I did with mine. The only thing I did not do is cut the dove tails for my sights. The book I used was from Kuhnhausena I think I spelled that right. I did 80 hours of research and only 10 hours of gun work. Really study up on the trigger group its easy to make a mess with the trigger. Feel free to pm me with questions. I can point you in a good direction for information.
 
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I've been thinking of doing the same. i like the idea of building something from the "ground up" to fit you the way you want it to. i want to do it with a 1911, AR-15, and an AK-47.
 
I found a SWEET caspian logoless slide that accepts Novaks :D I want to get it refinished in black Chrome
 
Captain Kyle,

I love your enthusiasm, but you're never going to create a RIA comparable to a Wilson or a Brown. It's fun tinkering with 1911's, and that RIA is a great base for modifying, but you can easily spend to much, and ultimately, you'll still only have a RIA.

You'll have to have specialized tools, equipment, and considerable expertise and experience to get where you want to go. If you do the math, you'll find a Wilson, Brown, or Baer, is actually a bargain.
 
Id rather gain the expertise through extensive research and build something im very proud of. I wont feel proud of a Wilson or an Ed Brown, actually rather show offy. No offense at all to those who decided on those pistols I would just rather have something that is just for me.
 
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ok i dont remember where it is but there is someone else talking about the very same thing right now in this forum. if you find it the people there have alot of good rescourses they have listed along with some good advice.
 
schmecky is right. A Rock Island is a RI and will never be on the level of a Brown, Wilson or C&S.

The same holds true of Taurus, Charles Daly, High Standard, et al.

The cheapest gun to upgrade and keep it worthwhile in the long run is a Norinco. The frame, slide and barrel (which is chrome lined) are made of better metal than even Colt, Kimber, Wilson, Brown or any other U.S. maker.

You can end up with a truly fine gun that is worth what you put into it if you start with a good platform. Unfortunately, for all the Rock Island, Charles Daly and Taurus fans, those are not quality platforms. Just check out the resale prices of customized ones. It is the same as the stock ones. People won't pay extra for a low end gun just because you hung some better parts on it that look and "perform" the same as the factory original parts.

BTW, they may look the same but they do not perform as well. Those are fighting words to many of their owners, but they are factual.

Springfields are not on the same quality level either, but so many people have been seduced into thinking they are on a par with Colts and Kimbers that many people customize them and are able to have guns that sell for the value of a custom gun.
 
I would take a look at the Norinco if it wasnt so difficult to find. I am ok with springfield GI as well.

Im not looking to sell it when im done, im looking for something I will love the look and performance of when im finished. I want to be proud that i made it.
 
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Why not start off with a Colt? There has got to be one that deosn't have a hundred words carved into it side.

I actually like Kimber to start with.

+1 on the Norincos, and is there anything wrong with Springfield....especially if your just gonna cut it up and refinish it anyway?
 
If I were building, I'd just go ahead and buy a frame and slide from Caspian or someone and have them mated, then go from there.

But it ain't my barbecue.


Jason
 
If I were building, I'd just go ahead and buy a frame and slide from Caspian or someone and have them mated, then go from there.
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+1 to that. While a basic RIA gun is an alright starting point, the Caspian MATCHED slide and frame is as close to the best as one get get without paying a few months house payments. And then fill in all the parts with the ones the majority of 1911 owner / builders have mentioned here and on other 1911 based forums.

Since the O.P. is spending a 10 to 1 ratio of learning/reading to hands-on application, the chances of ruining a valuable part seems to be minimized.

My daily carry is a full sized 1911 "parts" gun - forged frame and slide fitted together / N.M. grade barrel / EGW thick flanged bushing with matching plug / Wolff performance springs / consistent 4.5 lb. trigger pull / very good quality fitted internal parts / Pachmayr® Rosewood grips / combat 3 dot low profile sights. Shoots nice tight groups.
 
Have fun w/ your project. Take things slow and be patient. Don't be upset if the first incarnation is nothing close to what you wanted or expected but maybe, after some practice, you'll have a nice pistol!
 
schmecky is right. A Rock Island is a RI and will never be on the level of a Brown, Wilson or C&S.
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Now hold on folks, There is nothing wrong with a RIA frame or slide. If he built the ria up to the same level with the same fit and features as Brown, Wilson or C&S it would be the same quality. At that point the only difrence would be the name on the side of the gun. It is unfortunate that same fit and quality parts on 2 diffrent guns wont fetch the same price just because of a name on the side of the gun. But they could be the exact same quality.
 
A rock Island will NEVER be of the same quality as a Brown, Wilson or C&S. The best you can hope for is an STI Spartan. That's where they top out.

If you've ever built up a 1911 with high-end parts you'll know enough not to hang them on a low-end frame and slide.

The only thing saying an RI is as good as a Brown, Wilson or C&S proves is that you don't own a Brown, Wilson or C&S and do own an RI. Or, that you do not understand the differences between cast and forged frames and slides...
 
Eric F.

I agree, there is nothing wrong with a RIA frame, I've owned a RIA and used it to build a full size "custom" 9mm. But bare in mind, the forged frames used by Wilson, Baer, etc. are build to different standards. They are designed to be precision hand fitted to match accuracy levels. There is no argument that forged is stronger than cast. Forged is denser, has a heavier grain, and will outlast a cast frame.

A cast frame RIA is built to GI specs, so mass produced parts can be installed, not fitted. RIA's have a definite niche in the market, as an affordable entry level 1911. You won't find a single professional gunsmith that will use a RIA to build a Wilson-esque level gun out of. The average owner simply doesn't have the expertise or experience to do this on their own. I am in the process of "trying" to build a high-end 40 S&W 1911, and it's incredible what you need to know, need to have, and have to spend, not to mention the time investment.

I think a RIA is a great platform to modify, alter, and personalize; you can bolt the best parts in the world on a Chevy, but it's never going to be a Ferrari.
 
Find a "cheap" beater Colt.....I think you would be better financially with that as your end result.
 
Captain Kyle,

You should begin by reading Jerry Kuhnhausen's book "The Colt .45 Automatic, Vol. 1"
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=13805

When you are ready, I would suggest that you spend a little more and start with a Springfield Mil Spec pistol. This is a forged gun and I have found the slide & frame to be much closer to original 1911A1 specifications. Yes, I do own a RIA and I have found that the gun is loose with specs -this means that you will have to do more filing and cutting in order to fit "drop-in" parts. The SA is forged and will hold-up better in the long run as a base gun.

The reason why I suggest the Mil Spec over the GI45 is because it already comes with site cuts and the ejection port has been lowered & flared, the ramp has been polished. Doing these yourself will cost hundreds in parts, tools and jigs -and even a small mistake can result in permanent & ugly marks. But if you really want to do everything yourself, start with the SA GI45, not a RIA. Start with small mods and work your way up.

Whatever you do, you have to be comfortable with the knowledge that adding parts to just any gun will not mean it is equal to a semi-custom or full custom "name brand" firearm. It's just like cars. You can drop $50K into a VW, but that won't make it a Porsche. Resale value also plays a part.

(BTW, I own several "frankenpistols" which I enjoy tinkering with myself, all the way up to full-house customs costing over $4K. There is a clear distinction between them.)
 
I too would like to do a project like you but would start with a Fusion kit and go from there.
 
ejection port has been lowered & flared,, the ramp has been polished
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I cant speak for the RIA 45's but this is already done in the 38 supers. Also Seems to me atleast this pics I have seen on gunbroker it looks to have already been done on some of the 45's Am I wrong about the 45's I cant imagine any company not putting this simple mod on any guns.

Ok after looking at some pics on gunbroker it looks lkie all of them are flared but the ports on them can use some extra lowering.
 
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If you start with an RIA or any other cheap gun you'll end up paying for and throwing away half or more of the original gun. You'll not have the skill, much less the tooling to achieve a tight smooth frame to slide fit without marking up the metal so badly that you'll never get you project to look better than a junk gun.

Much better to buy a slide/frame set to build on. Caspian is a good start most of the time, Les Baer fitted frame/slides are available form Brownells. Once you have those you can begin to chose and fit barrel, ignition group, and all the rest to a good forged well fitted base.

Oh, but you thought you could do it cheap? Sorry, it ain't gonna' happen. Whatever frame you build on will require the cost of an RIA brand new to complete and that frame and slide set has already cost more than an RIA new.

There's only one hope for you in today's market and that will be Fusion Firearms: http://www.fusionfirearms.com/

With Fusion you can truly build a "My own custom 1911" and those guys will assist you in the project at any stage where you might feel a little over your head. They'll actually feel like friends before you're finished and they will want to see you end up with a gun that makes you happy as much as you want that.
 
If you start with an RIA or any other cheap gun you'll end up paying for and throwing away half or more of the original gun. You'll not have the skill, much less the tooling to achieve a tight smooth frame to slide fit without marking up the metal so badly that you'll never get you project to look better than a junk gun.
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Man talk about rain on a parade, lets try to have some optomism here. The benifit of the RIA as a starter is the frame slide and barrel are already fited. Yes I agree throw awar(or at least bag up) the entire safety and fire control group. And who knows maybe the OP works in a machine shop. Even if He wanted to tighten up the frame and slide or get an entire new slide he could have that done for him. I have watched a 1911 mechanic tighten slides up many times, it looks easy enough, I would like to try but there is nothing wrong with mr RIA's fit so why mess with it. Some folks make it sound like these are as tight as a 22lr cars inside a 45-70 case. That just isnt true. Where as these guns are not as tight as a STI trubor they are good enough, and accuracey is pretty good out of them as is. The fusion kit seems like fun also. I might be tempted to do this some time next year.
Either way, the RIA is a fine gun to learn on.
 
Eric,

Most people would not want to use terms like your "good enough" or "pretty good" to describe their custom pistol, particularly not about one that they built themselves. That's the language of failure and failure is not, or should not be what a custom 1911 is about.

So in this light can you see that an RIA pistol, however good they may be, would not be an appropriate basis for the dream gun that the OP descibes when he says "something comparable to a Ed Brown or Wilson" ?
 
Eric said:
I have watched a 1911 mechanic tighten slides up many times, it looks easy enough
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Sure, it's not too difficult with a way to guage how far to go, or rather when to stop. But it's the barely heard 'crack' that makes it suddenly very difficult because you've just ruined your slide or frame beyond reasonable cost repair and will have to buy another one to continue building your dream gun. The stakes go way up when you work on your own stuff because you know ahead of time that you will be the only one to pay for your mistakes. With a shop doing the work if they break your frame they'll get another one and hope you never know the difference. The cost will be rolled into their overhead - something to avoid with every effort but one of the things that happen as part of doing the work for pay.
 
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