Posted: 2/5/2014 4:36:14 PM EDT
Thought I'd share the details of my "budget" commander sized 1911. I've owned a Colt stainless commander and a Springfield Champion Operator. The first was to glitzy and the second was too snappy. I'm hoping the third one will be just right.
New RIA Commander Model $399 New VZ grips (slightly sanded) $50 Harrison Design "Retro" front and rear sights installed & shipped $120 Extended safety lever off of old Springfield Loaded (free) The following was upgraded for "free" with a $100 Brownell's gift card (Total cost was $124) Harrison Design smooth trigger Wilson Combat drop-in beavertail safety Wilson Combat drop-in hammer Brownells grip screws So, at the end of the day I have a new all steel Commander sized 1911, that is very accurate and stupid reliable, tricked out the way I want it for less than $600. Granted I would have been close to $700 had it not been for the gift card. Of course the sad thing is that the damn thing will only ever be worth $400, but at least I have what I want. 
|
|
I like my RIA MS. I did a little work to make it more to my liking.
I installed new MGW sights, Gun-Koted most of the parts. Nowlin hammer and genuine Colt Commander grip safety and polymer mainspring housing. (Much lighter  ).
The stocks came off of E-Bay, I dyed them and then used a polyurethane spray to finish them. Don't worry about resale value on pistols like these. Just shoot them. 
|
|
Quoted:
<<snip>> ...Don't worry about resale value on pistols like these. Just shoot them. <<snip>> THIS ^^ Most definitely! Unless you are a professional pistolsmith with a nationally-known name, it's very unlikely you'll ever recoup the costs of upgrades to your own pistol--and that's true whether you start with a RIA or a Colt. But if you're building something that you want to shoot, who cares? Both of these look like nice pistols, upgraded and personalized. Well-done, and enjoy both the shooting and the pride of ownership! |