Posted: 10/16/2006 4:48:31 PM EDT
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I am thinking about getting a Springer GI and sending it off to one of the LTW guys for their reliability package and some sights. I was curious what some of you JMB aficionados thought of those packages, and if you would carry a 1911 after having these services performed by a quality smith. Keep in mind I'm talking about a $700 1911 here. |
A reliability package is always a good thing if perfomed by a quality Smith. On the other hand "if it an't broke...don't mess with it". Yost-Bonitz is a good choice if you want more work done besides a reliability/sight package. If it is just a reliability package and better sights that you want then I would go with Springfield Armory. Why?...because they built the gun, prices are fair, work is fine and it does not effect the lifetime warrenty. A Springfield G.I. should not be $700, more like $430-500. Even if you get a Mil-Spec it should not be more than 500 to 600 tops. Another thought would be to get a Loaded model. This model has Novak sights, lowered ejection port, extended thumb safety, extended ejector and would cost a lot less in the long run since most of the work performed on a reliability package comes with this model. A G.I. is an excellent base gun for a semi-custom to full custom build or left alone as a reproduction gun-still fun to shoot and reliable. Check out Springfield Armory's site and the quailty Smiths listed at the top of this forum. Have fun and let us know what you end up doing. 
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Thanks for the reply. The finished product will be around $700- not the base gun. The thing I like about the GI model is its basic understated look- limited rollmarks, lack of front cocking serations (both prominent on the loaded guns). If I wanted that and more I would go with the PX9109L, solid package that seems hard to beat for the money. Also there's more than YoBo on LTW. |
From your post it sounded like the gun you wanted would be $700 starting. I have a G.I. and it's been a great gun. I'm biased since my G.I. is at Yost-Bonitz for the Enhanced treatment. LTW is an excellent site and all of the Smiths featured do excellent work. I mentioned Yost-Bonitz because it sounds like you want to keep most of the gun in it's classic state and just improve some things. The basic 1* package is ideal for that purpose. Again, it's IMHO. Whatever you decide, you're looking in the right place (LTW). Please let us see it when it's done/range report.
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For what you are looking for YoBo is the way to go on the S/A GI. They really do NICE work on them and that is their choice gun to work on. What are you getting this gun for? Is it going to be a carry gun? A range gun? A competition gun? That matters as well... For carry again, I would say YoBo. I have projects from and going with many of the LTW guys. If you are not considering YoBo who sparks your interests over there? |
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I am looking for a strictly functional gun that I could use as a carry piece. I think everyone at LTW does smart work, but I like Don Williams pretty well. He's done great work on a friend's 1911, and fixed a problem gun I had after years of trouble. No back patting, just getting the job done correctly as a matter of course, and I like that. |