i have a Caspian frame and Springfield slide that i need to turn into a 45 carry gun. who to use and what to do?
I'm all ears!!
I'm all ears!!
ok you handgun guru's!
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I aint a guru by any stretch but I think if I was in the market for another 1911 and didn't want to do it myself I'd contact Bill Laughridge over at Cylinder and Slide. My dealings with him in the past have all been very positive.
[color:#33FF33] Cylinder and Slide[/color]
[color:#33FF33] Cylinder and Slide[/color]
thanks, needs some mill work for the slide to function right proper as the slide/frame are new unaltered from factory or i'd do it myself. Found it in the junk drawer at the ol'mans whilst rummaging through his effects. it's screaming to be built...
i've got glocks and they do make nice carry guns but i want this built up for carry as well. I'm eclectic....
i'm in VA right now. Can't know about anyone local? only been here for 2 years.
It basically needs everything except slide/frame and extractor..
It basically needs everything except slide/frame and extractor..
How much are you looking to spend? Are you wanting an all-out custom, or a basic, no-frills working pistol?
basic but done right. not even sure what it'll cost so figuring 1K finished? maybe more if sweet talked a bit....
$1k could do it. Prices can get out of hand in a hurry when talking 1911s.
The most expensive components will be the fitting of the barrel to the pistol - likely arounf $350 for a top-notch barrel install.
A couple things that I notice about your components - looks like your slide is from a 1911 Mil-Spec Springfield and someone has milled front serrations in it. The slide comes from Springfield with a GI dovetail rear sight and staked front sight. If you stay with that type of configuration, then you can save a lot of money over milling the slide to the more common Novak-type slide cuts. Personally, I'm a big fan of the "retro" sights produced by Glen Harrison
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31893/Product/1911_AUTO_RETRO_REAR_SIGHT
This sight should fit your rear dovetail, but provides a nice sight picture given the serrations and taller-than-factory sight. You might then consider having a front sight custom fit to your slide for a given load. The smith can cut the front sight down until POA=POI.
Also, your tangs on the frame are the standard tangs that are not cut for a beavertail grip safety. If you want a beavertail installed, the smith will have to radius the tangs to fit the curve of the beavertail. If you want to save some money, you can instead go with the Colt-style ring hammer, and have a GI grip safety notched for the ring hammer. You won't then have to modify the tangs, so some money will be saved.
The Caspian frame should have a beveled magazine well already, so you are good to go there. Is the safety plunger tube already attached to the frame?
The Mil-Spec slide already has a lowered and flared ejection port - another plus.
Likely the best thing to do is to collect all the parts you need and ship them off to the smith for instalation. You'll likely save some coin over having the smith supply the parts.
As for recommendations, Springfield Armory has a very good reputation for custom pistol work - they'll work on just about any make/model of 1911. Prices are reasonable, as is turn-around time.
I've had work done my Glen Harrison, who dones fantastic work. I'd recommend him in a heartbeat, but his times and prices are likely a bit more.
Of, as far as finishes go - I'd consider having the pistol Melonited after it's assembled. You won't need to worry about corrosion that way, so long as you don't mind an all-black pistol.
For an idea of what I've just described (minus a minor difference with the hammer), see this link
http://www.grizzlycustom.com/custom_1911_pistols_retro.html
The most expensive components will be the fitting of the barrel to the pistol - likely arounf $350 for a top-notch barrel install.
A couple things that I notice about your components - looks like your slide is from a 1911 Mil-Spec Springfield and someone has milled front serrations in it. The slide comes from Springfield with a GI dovetail rear sight and staked front sight. If you stay with that type of configuration, then you can save a lot of money over milling the slide to the more common Novak-type slide cuts. Personally, I'm a big fan of the "retro" sights produced by Glen Harrison
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31893/Product/1911_AUTO_RETRO_REAR_SIGHT
This sight should fit your rear dovetail, but provides a nice sight picture given the serrations and taller-than-factory sight. You might then consider having a front sight custom fit to your slide for a given load. The smith can cut the front sight down until POA=POI.
Also, your tangs on the frame are the standard tangs that are not cut for a beavertail grip safety. If you want a beavertail installed, the smith will have to radius the tangs to fit the curve of the beavertail. If you want to save some money, you can instead go with the Colt-style ring hammer, and have a GI grip safety notched for the ring hammer. You won't then have to modify the tangs, so some money will be saved.
The Caspian frame should have a beveled magazine well already, so you are good to go there. Is the safety plunger tube already attached to the frame?
The Mil-Spec slide already has a lowered and flared ejection port - another plus.
Likely the best thing to do is to collect all the parts you need and ship them off to the smith for instalation. You'll likely save some coin over having the smith supply the parts.
As for recommendations, Springfield Armory has a very good reputation for custom pistol work - they'll work on just about any make/model of 1911. Prices are reasonable, as is turn-around time.
I've had work done my Glen Harrison, who dones fantastic work. I'd recommend him in a heartbeat, but his times and prices are likely a bit more.
Of, as far as finishes go - I'd consider having the pistol Melonited after it's assembled. You won't need to worry about corrosion that way, so long as you don't mind an all-black pistol.
For an idea of what I've just described (minus a minor difference with the hammer), see this link
http://www.grizzlycustom.com/custom_1911_pistols_retro.html
Depending on how much has to be done to get the slide to fit the frame you might be better off selling the slide then sending the frame back to Caspian and having them match a slide to your frame with the sight cuts / profile you want.
Once you start with a well fit frame and slide putting the rest together isn't all that hard. The grip safety can be done at home with a very simple fixture available from Brownells. With the super quality internals available today you can virtually drop in a match quality trigger job without much fuss. Fitting a barrel can be done at home too if you're willing to buy a couple speciality tools.
hangunnr
Once you start with a well fit frame and slide putting the rest together isn't all that hard. The grip safety can be done at home with a very simple fixture available from Brownells. With the super quality internals available today you can virtually drop in a match quality trigger job without much fuss. Fitting a barrel can be done at home too if you're willing to buy a couple speciality tools.
hangunnr
Here's the list I sent to my smith recently to re-work a Colt I had in the safe. Some things won't apply to your build and you'll need to add some things, like fit the slide to frame, etc. I'm too fucking lazy to type out a new list for exactly what I'd do with your gun, but you get the idea.
There's a lot of detail that goes into doing a 1911 right. No way in hell I'd do it myself, if I expected it to work. Send it to somebody who has a clue.
There's a lot of detail that goes into doing a 1911 right. No way in hell I'd do it myself, if I expected it to work. Send it to somebody who has a clue.
Remembered a guy in VA actually:
http://www.samscustomgunworksusa.com/
I haven't used him, but have contemplated sending him a Glock quite a bit. I always see pictures of his work in the most random places. Always something kinda different (Like a CZ, or a Glock, or a Sig 210) done up real nice.
I was impressed with his work, but at the least he might rate giving a call to see what you think.
http://www.samscustomgunworksusa.com/
I haven't used him, but have contemplated sending him a Glock quite a bit. I always see pictures of his work in the most random places. Always something kinda different (Like a CZ, or a Glock, or a Sig 210) done up real nice.
I was impressed with his work, but at the least he might rate giving a call to see what you think.
There's a dude in Ashland...Ashland Firearms Service? Not far from Green Top. He does 1911 work. I've seen some of his work, pretty decent but did fuck up a trigger job on my STI (think it was his apprentice). Kid told me that hammer follow happens. Uh, ok.... I told him I could do it better myself, and did. Looks like you've already got some old school IPSC guns.
Not to be a dick, but I'd trip that Heinz 57 shit and buy an STI. By the time you finish paying for the work, you'll be way dollars ahead......
Not to be a dick, but I'd trip that Heinz 57 shit and buy an STI. By the time you finish paying for the work, you'll be way dollars ahead......
don't worry about hurting my feelers... i know i'd be way ahead just buying a factory 1911 but this is something the ol'man wanted to do so i feel obligated to make it happen...
You can always bolt it together yourself. If you have a bit of patience and can handle tools, they ain't rocket science. If you want it done by a smith, it'll be bucks. Maybe you and the old man can figure it out together. Figuring shit out makes for fun....
it needs some fitting work for the slide, i can do the rest. as far as the ol'man, he passed about 8 months ago which is why i have this now. the only reason i'm bothering with it and not tripping it is cause the ol'man had wanted to build it up for a while and never got to it.
I'm not a 1911 guy and have never dealt with them but a lot of interweb buzz about Springfield Armory's custom shop. When I called with questions they answered or called back. I was going to use them, but 1911s just dont make sense to me.