ltwguns.com

I have entered serious contemplation on getting my first full custom 1911 and had a couple of questions regarding formulating the specs. I have not decided who I would like to build it, but have a short list working. I am pretty sure I will want to go Caspian frame and slide as I am going after a tactial look and know you can order them without alot of markings. When it comes to beavertail safeties, magwells, hammers, triggers, thumb safeties, barrel, and other internals I really want to build a top of the line no corners cut custom 1911. How does one go about figuring out how to configure these parts? A better question would be of these types of parts is there some feedback and insight which could be offered on who makes the best or preferred of these? I guess I am trying to ask a complicated question but wanting to keep it simple. I would appreciate any feedback which could be offered.

That's a major 1st step...
Sorry.... I would decide on a smith first. That's not easy after checking out some of the work on this forum, but that would be my next move. Tell them what you want from the gun and listen to their ideas. After all, they do this for a living and have a much broader view of what's available. That's how I'd do it anyway. Happy hunting....

Find somebody like Jason who can show you alot of different pistols. You will drool for hours.

My last pistol came back from Ted. He made it perfect. If you have never ordered a custom pistol like me. Give the smith of good reputation like on LTW a price limit and what you want. You will not be dissappointed.

I can't specify which mainspring housing, thumb safety and beavertail eiather. Somebody like Jason or John would know those sorts of things. I am finally knowing what I like. All I know that I want is Novak Night sights, short trigger, Ed Brown Safety, flat mainspring housing. The rest is up in the air.

I am waiting for a post that says "Washington bound" from Tim. I know it's a year away but I am waiting.

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Lester Wang

Personally, I think it's important to have the opportunity to shoot (or at least handle) different guns so you can see what a difference the various parts and modifications make. Depending on how they're configured, grip safeties and hi-cut front straps can make a large difference in the pointability and handling characteristics of a gun. To a lesser extant, thumb safeties are also a personal preference sort of thing, and even something apparently simple like sights (Novaks are ubiquitous, but I much prefer the sight picture and pickup speed of Heinies) can make a big difference. Some 'smiths may be able to help you a lot in areas such as those, but getting some "seat time" with various guns is really the best way to go. The more custom guns I get to shoot, the more I realize that hands-on experience is real hard to beat.

Just my 2¢.

Here is my take on it:

When it comes to external features that affect how the gun feels, you should be very specific. Handle a bunch of different 1911s, and determine what works best for you. You should be prepared to specifiy the thumb safety (how big, is it ambidextrous, etc.), the grip safety, the mainspring housing (flat vs. arched vs. wedge & the texture), the frontstrap texture (smooth, serrated, checkered, stippled...), long vs. short trigger and the sights.

As far as internal performance components, you don't need to specify everything. You really don't need to specify most things. It isn't your job to be an expert on every component that goes in the gun, that's what you are paying the gunsmith for. Send him the frame and your list of requirements, and let him fill in the blanks. For the most part, it just doesn't matter if the 'smith, say, uses a Kart instead of a Bar-Sto barrel, or a C&S sear instead of an EGW sear.

I tend to be pretty specific, but that's because I'm waiting on my 3rd custom gun, and have picked up just enough info to be dangerous.

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Sean Smith
"Hey don't worry, I can handle it. I took something. I can see things no one else can see. Why are you dressed like that?" -Jack Burton, Big Trouble in Little China

Custom pistols take time to build and in some part represent both the style of the builder mixed with the style of the owner. It is best { in my opinion } to find someone that builds guns that you allready like. Most of the guys on this board are highly skilled and take great pride in their work. That being said , you want to give them time to do the job, and make sure you listen to them when they give you advise.

I have only had one pistol done for me, that was with Don Williams. I can say that Don is a very very kind man that speaks the same lanquage that I do. I gave Don the basic form that I wanted the gun to take, and knew which sights and controls I wanted. I did not specify what parts to use in other areas as Don would make whatever part fit and work correctly.

I wanted a pistol that would work well for IDPA and IPSC shooting, it did not need to be a tackdriver, but it had to have a great trigger and sights and be very smooth. I like smooth grips and no rough edges on a gun. I wanted a custom magwell and a beavertail that looked like it was always there.

My next pistol will also go to see Don Williams and will hopefully be a CCW pistol. My state does not currectly have CCW, so hopefully that will change in the near future. If that does not happen I will have a pistol done for my daughter or a no frills serious house gun built.

Look around at the pistol pictures on this web site, and also maybe look over at pistolsmith.com . Take some time to handle decent guns if they are available to you at a local shop. Wilson combat / les baer / ed brown pistols will give you somewhere to start describing what you like and want. Take your time. This gun will be with you a lifetime, so be sure you know what you want before you start the build process. Be sure to ask your builder what kind of gun they like to build from.

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For me the 1911 is the perfect design. It is a fighting tool , not a toy. John Moses Browning was a genius and craftsman.

Very good advice. Don't go to a guy who does radical metalwork for a low-key blaster, and don't go to a guy who does understated guns for a warp-speed gat. Better yet, find a guy whose guns make you say "hell, yeah!" in your head, and get him to do it. Sometimes nudging a 'smith with an interesting idea or two will pay off, but you want somebody whose style is generally in line with what you have in mind.

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Sean Smith
"Hey don't worry, I can handle it. I took something. I can see things no one else can see. Why are you dressed like that?" -Jack Burton, Big Trouble in Little China