I'm really debating whether our not I want to assemble a 1911 from parts.  I know that fusion makes frames, slides, and pretty much everything one would need, and I've heard their quality is great (please comment on that).  I would Judy but a Colt, but they are getting harder to find (at least around here).  Had anyone fine this and do you have pictures of such gun? Any comments are welcome...

How good of a machinist are you?

I was actually looking at their kits where the machining is done, just assembly would be required.  I'm more after the fun of the build and the quality of the parts.

I can put an AR together virtually blind folded but would not tackle a 1911 build as much as I'd like to.  Been told too many times that there's no such thing as a kit where it all just goes together like it should.  All need some machining / fitting work that I will not tackle.  

Good luck OP but I'd advise against it.

You do not assemble a 1911. a 1911 is not plug and play like a AR-15. It is not hard but you need more mechanical aptitude than just screwing things together.

Well I can tell you I have mechanical skills, just not access to tools like a mill.  Is it fitting together that a 1911 would require or complex machining?  And thank you very much for your responses,  I was unaware it wasn't as simple an AR.

Apparently, I have been doing it wrong for years.  I always thought that you could assemble a decent 1911 type pistol with a minimum of hand tools.  

I still think that you can!

I don't believe my level of expertise is anything world shaking.  Still, I have gotten a couple of nice ones together.  I think that most people who are
Interested in such a project can probably accomplish it.  Whether it is worth it or not is some thing that can only be answered by the individual.

As for a milling machine, I might be able to identify one if it fell out of the sky, but my only experience with one was helping a friend move his.

Depends on how deep you want to go. but in truth a few files, some punches, a small 4oz brass hammer, vise, and some stones are all that is needed.

Brownells has a great section in the benchtalk section on building a 1911, you do not need every tool they list.