I have the luxury of not waiting on shipping from PSA since they are right down the street from me. I have my PSA 1911 stainless frame and the slide is supposed to be in my hands in a couple days.
Im going to be doing several builds based on the PSA frames and all will be on the stainless frames. I like the extra weight of stainless over carbon and since I live in South Carolina the chance of sweating on my pistols is 110% just like the humidity in the summer.
I have the first frame now with lets just say the serial number is below 80. I am quite happy so far with the quality of this frame. The lines are crisp and clean, the front strap checkering matches nice with the checkering of the Wilson Combat mag well back strap kit. There are a few tool marks around a couple of the holes but this will not be a problem with the method of finish I have chosen.
A couple notes on the frame so far is that you will need an Ed Brown style .250 radius beavertail safety. And as it should be, to get the trigger to fit you will need to file the top and bottom of the trigger to get it to drop in smooth. I will probably order some 1911 trigger files to clean up the frame a little but still want to fit my trigger to the frame.
Here are my plans for the build and which parts I have selected. WARNING: I have chosen a rather pimptastic approach to this build, so be warned the images and video to be made will be quite well shiny.
PSA stainless steel frame
PSA stainless steel slide
PSA stainless steel barrel
Ed Brown stainless threaded barrel
Ed Brown stainless steel .250 radius beaver tail safety
Ed Brown stainless thumb safety
Ed Brown sear & disco
Wilson Combat slide release
Wilson Combat mag well & main spring housing
Wilson Combat adjustable trigger
Wilson Combat stainless pin kit
Wilson Combat spring kit
Wilson Combat Magazines
Wilson Combat magazine bumpers
Wilson Combat guide rod
Wilson Combat Hammer & spur
Strike Industries stainless grip bushings
Strike Industries 24k gold grip screws
Hogue white pearl, black pearl, faux ivory (undecided)
Kensight adjustable rear and fixed front
Silencerco Osprey 45
Ok I think thats most of the list of parts, some are on order, some are on hand. Tools for the build are on order such as the plunger tube staking tool. I am waiting on a quote from a few places on having the slide release, grip safety, mag well, hammer, and pins gold plated. The slide and frame will be treated to a full polish by hand with up to 5000g sanding pads, and wet sanded. A final polish will be done and will look into getting a clear cerakote or duracoat applied. (wife will not let me use the oven any more) This build will be full on for looks and will be carried and shot very often. Until the second build starts which will be along the same lines but a polished version of the Ed Brown Kobra Carry.
I will be taking pictures and video of each step and posting the video on youtube.