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1911 gun from parts-how hard?

kissgoodnightkissgoodnight Member Posts: 4,064 ✭✭✭
edited December 2002 in Ask the Experts
I can order all the parts for a .45 auto 1911 at a cheap price. How hard is it to put these parts together for a functional gun? Also, would I have something worth haveing when it was finished? I am no gunsmith..
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    DarrellDarrell Member Posts: 733 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not hard at all. The KEY is to be able to scrounge parts and not care what it looks like. The one part that costs is the frame. I paid $125 for an Ezzex frame and about the same for an Olympic Arms frame.
    The slides were a no brainer. I got two at $50 each. Brazilian slides from SARCO. Good stuff and new.
    So you are at about $200. I hit gun shows and other sources. A GI type bbl is about $30=$40 dollars. From there I scrounged and when I was done I had about $300 invested for a very GI type gun.
    You are close to what a low end clone would cost. BUT I BUILT IT.
    If you give me a tool I hurt myself, but I found the process pretty simple if you aren't trying to make a Wilson or Kimber out of it.
    Here is the FUNNY part.
    The one gun when I finished shot UNDER 2 inchs at 25 yards with the GI sights and ANY ammo. I had Kimbers and original Colts not even come close.
    A top specialist in accurizing 1911's said he could put the gun to an Olympic quality gun and only charge for parts. My cost wsa $400. Nowland bbl and more. To this day the gun will NOT shoot undere 3.5 inches with ANY ammo. Lesson learned. LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE.
    The process tells you a lot about guns and you. It's FUN and very doable. You have peed away a lot more money on a lot dumber idea.s Have at it and report back.
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    rldowns3rldowns3 Member Posts: 6,096
    edited November -1
    a 1911 is probably the most simply designed firearm to do this with. There aren't really much in the way of parts. Like Darrell said, the frame will cost the most of all the parts and will probably be close to 50% of the total cost if you are just going for cheap parts. You can build you a really good 1911-A1 with a couple bells and whistles probably around 400-500 bucks. You can probably get away cheaper and have just as good of a gun if you find some used parts like hammers, clips, trigger but I would not spare the cost when buying springs and barrel. Buy those new and you won't have to worry about a worn out barrel or a weak spring.

    If you are wanting to splurge a little bit you could probably find yourself a para-ordnance frame kit (do they still make those?? anybody know?) which you can fit with just about any 1911-A1 slide and barrel and it comes with the complete frame and 10 round double stack clips. My old man bought one of these a number of years ago for me for my 21st birthday before they banned the hi cap mags so mine came with 15 round clips. It's nice having a .45 1911 that's 15+1 but it does get heavy. Just know that a frame kit does require fitting to the slide you choose and it is a bit of work but my old man is a gunsmith and after he finished with the para-ord frame kit and a springfield 1911-A1 slide + Nowlin barrel it works beautifully and it's never jammed or misfired.

    Also, if you are just going to buy parts some parts may require some slight fitting work and deburring, just be aware that it may require a little time and filing to get the burrs off. And try not to take too much [:D]
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    BshooterBshooter Member Posts: 246 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You might want to look for Gun Parts 1911 on the sales page and come up with everything but a frame. You can even look at (slap my mouth) Ebay for a bargain. Bshooter
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    XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    Doesn't require much mechanical ability at all, KGN. Most pieces drop right in, and the M1911 is a marvel of rugged simplicity. You can disassemble the entire gun in about 2 minutes and the only tool you need is a screwdriver to take off the grips. You can put it back together in less than 3 minutes (even if you have five thumbs): http://usgi1911.tripod.com/disassembly/

    Here's the frame I used to build mine: http://www.essexarm.com/blued.htm you can get the frames and slides either blued or parkerized.

    It's probably not any cheaper to build your own.....but at least that way, you know what went into your gun and you get just the features you want or need.
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    The firearms consultantThe firearms consultant Member Posts: 716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I built a Caspian 45, Commander length a few years ago. Ended up spending about 200.00 bucks more than if I had just bought a complete gun. Great therapy though. I highly recommend it. Take your time and don't work on the gun unless you "feel" like it. Buy good quality parts and don't try to save. You will appreciate the finished product. John

    I might not always tell you the truth, but I will never lie to you!
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    cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,442 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Darrell,

    If you keep this up, you are going to cost me some money! I had thought about trying this but figured it would be too hard and the finished product would be crap. I guess maybe I was wrong. I take it you feel Essex or Oly would be a good place to start. Any others that I should check out?

    Thanks for the info.

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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    DarrellDarrell Member Posts: 733 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Essex has a decent GI type frame. hard to choose a bad one. Most cost $110 up to about $130 or so. Olympic has a nice one with squared trigger guard etc.
    The Brazillian slides are the best deals going at $50 each. From there on I scrounged parts. Like I said I am not good with tools and I did it. I used the lords name in vane a few times but I got the job done. You'd be surprised how cheap you can scrounge parts.
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    cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,442 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I guess I'm hooked. I may have to get back on here in a few weeks for help. I think I'll buy the frame and slide then wait 'till the next Indy 1500 for the rest.

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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    JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Xracer:

    You have missed one of the very neat things about the M1911-style pistols. NO TOOLS ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLE A STANDARD SERVICE PISTOL, INCLUDING REMOVAL OF THE STOCKS. No screw driver is needed to remove the stocks.

    Something I learned from a WWII vet when I was in high school is the trick of using the locator tab on the sear and disconnector spring to unscrew the stock screws.

    Another necessary trick is to use the barrel bushing point to depress the firing pin so as to remove it. You then use the firing pin to drive out the main spring housing pin. If necessary, you can hammer the firing pin with any number of the other parts, such as the slide, frame, magazine, etc..

    No screw driver needed!


    Love this old War Horse!
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    jaoobjaoob Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I found my parts at a show. One guy had slides, barrels, hammers, triggers, etc. all GI I bought what he had and put two together on essex frames. I figure I have around 200.00 in each one. One went right together and the other took a little work on the frame and slide. The essex frames came with ejectors and plunger tubes already installed. All the other parts dropped right in with no problems. Both work great, both look great. Essex frames are cast not forged, so might not last as long. It was a fun project and I will do it again if I find parts that cheap. Lots of help here to guide you. Go ahead and Good Luck

    Jim
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    v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    And if you buy bare frame and slide there's riveting in of the front sight, the grip screw bushings and if I recall also the slidestop and safety plunger tube.
    Really, the only hassle is to do the front sight properly.
    It's amazing how the 1911 has rebounded from retirement.
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    rldowns3rldowns3 Member Posts: 6,096
    edited November -1
    The 1911 is a fantastic pistol for beginner or advanced gun builders alike. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of options you can put to your gun to customize it to your needs, I can think of no other gun that has the availability of parts and customizeable options like the 1911. Hell, if you feel lucky you can find you some coversions for it too for .22long or the newer carbine conversion units that you attach the frame to, .460rowland. Probably a few others floating around out there as well. Everybody and their brothers have (re)designed or invented parts to fit on the 1911, the only hard part about building one is deciding what bells and whistles you want to put on the gun.
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    cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,442 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good point 3,

    As a newbee to the 1911, I don't know what bells and whistles are important. Any suggestions on good info? I guess I could spend the next 6 months reading all the mags and comments on the board. I just don't want to wait that long!

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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