Posted: 7/10/2005 4:11:43 AM EDT
| after going through the pic thread I was inspired to do some building of my own. Now I have a kimber pro carryII with houge grips. Now i want to build me one. I have seen some 1911 in the pawn shops but I have always been the type to buy new in every thing simply becuase I felt more comfortable. What would I need to look for when buying used if I know I will be breaking it down and piecing it together with aftermarket parts? What about brands like dan wesson , lama and griffin and them brands that you don't hear about often? How much work will I have to get an armor to do? I want to do something nice so I know it will take me a while to get it done , but everything starts from some type of foundation, this will be my frame what do you recommend? |
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Llama are not real 1911's and many parts are not interchangable. Griffons had a reputation for soft metal. Stick with Colt, Springfield and Kimber and look for used base models like the 1991 ORM, Milspec and Classic Custom or Custom II with an internal extractor. These are gonna be your best buy for the money in my opinion. Check the slide stop hole in the dustcover to make sure there is no cracking. Drop the slide from lock to battery while empty to check and insure that the hammer does not follow.(Not a practice you want to do regularly, just for function testing for wear.) With the hammer cocked and the grip safety NOT depressed and thumb safety off, press the trigger and insure that the hammer does not fall. Engauge the thumb safety, depress the grip safety and press fairly hard on the trigger - release the trigger and disengauge the thumb safety and insure that the hammer does not fall. These steps should insure you don't end up with a 1911 that's been HOME SMITHED by an Amuteur to the point of being dangerous. |
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Click here to know what to look for when buying used: www.m1911.org/full_technic.htm (third of the way down on the menu in the middle window.) |
| For a base gun that you can tinker with little by little, the advice to go with Colt, Springfield, Kimber, and yes, Norinco, is sound. Dan Wesson is also high quality. Avoid Atuo Ordnance and RIA. Though they put out decent guns for the price, like SGB says, you can get much better for very little more money. You also run the risk of getting out of spec pin holes, trigger track, soft springs, etc. Avoid guns like ARMSCORP, Charles Daley, AMT, IAI, etc. like the plague. Regarding LLama, someone else put it best by saying "they don't even throw straight"! They are only fit for hammering nails. |
I concur. I have one and the parts do not interchange with my Norinco. Also, the feed ramp is to steep. If any mag of any capacity is fully loaded, the first round will jam up on the feed ramp. For it to reliably feed, you have to minus one round from the max capacity of the magazine. I will eventually take it to a Gunsmith because I think there is still hope for it. BTW- I think Charles Daly 1911's are ARMSCORP. |