Custom 1911's

[Model 19 6"]

Wilson combat and Les Bare. Are there any others you would recommend?

 

[pasound]

Any one of three. Ad Ed Brown to that list.

 

[outta_ammo]

Nighthawk and Ed Brown come to mind, and there a several smaller shops.

1911 Custom Pistols and Handguns from Nighthawk Custom

https://www.edbrown.com

 

[Onomea]

That would be Baer, Les Baer.

I've read that new, Baer's guns are very, very, very tight. They loosen up and settle in after 500 rounds or so, as designed.

I had a couple of Wilson Combats. Beautiful guns, but I decided I am not a 1911 guy, so off they went.

 

[JayCeeNC]

D&L Sports, Dave Lauck.
The best unknown .45 smith in the country.
The Home of Quality Custom Firearms, Tactical Training and The Tactical Marksman's Match...

 

[Kanewpadle]

I'm partial to Wilson but don't own one. Shot several and find them superb.

However, I didn't want to spend quite that much. So I bought a Dan Wesson. Sent it to a gunsmith for a trigger job. For under $2000 it will rival most any custom 1911 in fit and finish, reliability, and accuracy. Although I'm sure 1911 snobs would disagree.

 

[Farmer17]

For about $2,400 Les Baer has guns that are guaranteed to shoot 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards and I always wanted to shoot one just to see how good I would do.

 

[Model 19 6"]

Thank you for the replies.

 

[smoothshooter]

Wilson combat and Les Bare. Are there any others you would recommend?

Wilson Combat stuff is very good quality, but overpriced.
You can get the same quality for about 30% less elsewhere.

 

[smoothshooter]

Wilson combat and Les Bare. Are there any others you would recommend?

Wilson Combat is top-notch quality, but overpriced.
You can get the same quality for about 30% less elsewhere.

They are the Starbucks of the tactical gun world.

 

[rct269]

I have only one custom gun (Wilson Combat Master Grade conversion of a Colt Government Model)----a thing of beauty, and shoots bullets which most certainly must be guided by radar------------this from 1995, and has deteriorated not even a little bit. I have another, a quasi-custom gun, this one also from Colt (only Colt). It's a Special Combat Government Model, circa 1994. While the Wilson gun is so tight it squeaks, I swear the Colt is so loose, it most certainly rattles. The interesting (rather puzzling) thing is the test targets accompanying each gun show virtually identical results----one ragged hole----same range, same number of shots fired.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Golddollar]

I lean toward the old school. I have .45s that were worked up by John Giles and Jim Clark. Jim Clark's grandsons have now taken up the business. John Giles has passed on but his guns turn up for sale every so often.

 

[Sevens]

Certainly not saying this happened with your Colt but Colt has been caught lying with test targets before. A memorable one was a revolver that had missed a step in manufacturing — no hole in the bore, shipped with a SN-matching test target showing a lovely group.

Nope, no proof, sorry. I still found the tale hilarious.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My F-I-L has 2 Ed Brown 45's. He went NRA Distinguished using them.

Ivan

 

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I like Novak .45 Shop and Heine if you can find one that he customized

 

[THEMULE]

Look at Alchemy Custom Weaponry. Rob Schauland, the owner still builds guns as far as I know. They are a no frills / old school builder. I have one on order, should be here end of October. He worked at Springfield for awhile and was recruited and hired by Cabot. Alchemy is his own brand while currently working for Cabot. I didn't do a ton of research on his history so my take on his "history" could be way off.

I have basically zero experience, I've only shot a couple of Colts. This will be my 1st 1911, so what do I know? I figured if I'm gonna own an "American legend" firearm, I want to "go big or go home".

They advertise about a 10 month wait. Ordered mine last Feb.Lots of videos on their pistols on internet.

Good luck!
Bob

 

[Greyman50]

Having been in AMTU , lucked out couple years ago , picked up 1911A-1 done by military armorer. Shoots better than I can now after several hand, wrist and elbow surgeries, very happy and was less than 1K. I got a " deal, deal".

 

[vonn]

Had a number of 1911s some expensive some cheap. With a little tuneup all of them were more than capable weapons.

 

[03hemi]

Alchemy would be somebody I would suggest looking into.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

I had two Les Bares,and when new are extremely tight. So tight,in fact,I was unable to rack the slide.I think I had to put the muzzle on a table top and use both hands to push it down. After a hundred rounds it was easier.Bare makes ,in my opinion,the guns with the best blueing and finish.I also had another top makers 1911,which,incidentally,was the worst 1911 I ever owned