Hey all,
I just posted this on LTW, so if you saw it there, no need to keep on reading...
I've been thinking of acquiring a 10mm 1911. I'd love to have a Delta, BUT every one I've seen is commanding a premium price and NIB ones are easily around the $1500 mark. I'm leery of buying a used one, particularly since they haven't been made for a while, and some of the people selling aren't the original owners (so they don't know things like the round count etc). This has me wondering. Since even if I did get a Colt, I'd prolly send it out for some work, I've been wondering if I'd be better off just having the gun built from scratch (Caspian frame/slide, Bar-Sto barrel, etc)? I mean looking at the prices, I figure the Caspian frame/slide would set me back around $460 if I went with stainless and low Heine sight cut and significantly less if I went with carbon and USGI sight cut, a Bar-Sto 10mm barrel around $200.
Now, I'm debating whether some of the options from Caspian would save me money (dehorn is $22 , 20LPI checkering from Caspian is $80, hand fit slide/frame 90% is $50) or if I'd regret not having a smith do it.
I know that doing anything custom is hardly "saving money", BUT in your opinion, do you think I'd be able to get a really nice 10mm 1911 built up (with quality parts etc) for not much more than I'm seeing NIB Colt Deltas going for ($1500-ish)?
Thanks
Rich