Info on putting together my own 1911

handgunfan101 · September 14, 2011, 09:12 PM

I was just wondering if it is possible to buy 1911 kits to make my own 1911?

CowTowner · September 15, 2011, 06:02 AM

Yes it is:
http://www.fusionfirearms.com/servle...ITS/Categories

Dfariswheel · September 15, 2011, 07:51 PM

You can assemble a 1911 if you have moderate skills.

Your FIRST move is to buy a copy of Jerry Kuhnhausen book "The Colt .45 Automatic: A Shop Manual, Volume One".

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1...__45_AUTOMATIC

Your second move is to get a copy of Brownell's catalog. They sell everything you'll need.

Advice: For your first build assemble a working 1911 without any custom features.
Figuring everything out is made much harder when you're also trying to alter things to include custom features.
Match parts and custom feature parts almost always require significant fitting.
Build a working gun first, then add the custom items later, or build a second gun with all the custom stuff.

For the first build, stick with name brand, quality parts from Brownell's.
Cheap kit parts, gun show, and Shotgun News parts are all cheap castings.
They're all out of spec in some areas, and trying to figure out why something isn't fitting or working correctly is only made all the harder when the parts are substandard.
When the parts are out of spec, the mis-fit tends to "stack" and get worse as parts of the assembly are added. This can make it extremely difficult to figure out what's wrong.
Name brand parts are in spec and will usually require minimal fitting.

Once you've built a properly working 1911 and know how the gun works, then you can branch out to custom items and fitted Match type parts.

meatgrinder42 · September 15, 2011, 08:02 PM

Yup I built one a couple months ago off a Caspian frame and a parts kit from Sarco. I bought the one without a barrel because I heard rumors that the barrels they sell with the more expensive kits wear out. Mine's pretty good, I had issues with loading and had to take the frame to a smith to have the feed ramp machined a little.

But it's a easy build if you got a set of precision screwdrivers, a small (1/8'') punch and a 2 oz. hammer.

handgunfan101 · September 15, 2011, 08:05 PM

I bought a few books on it and plan on finishing the reading and then i will venture into putting together a parts list together. I hope to get a basic model up and running within the next month.

wish me luck

rdmallory · September 15, 2011, 09:06 PM

I started to then priced the parts compared buying a finished Rock Island Armory 1911.

Still might attempt it at some point in time just to say I built it myself.

Doug

Scorch · September 16, 2011, 02:05 AM

Some people have gotten the wrong impression about assembling their own firearms, IMO. With some (like ARs) you can save a bit of money by assembling your own. With most (like the 1911A1), you can actually spend more by buying parts and assembling your own. Kinda like building a car with parts from the parts store, it would be prohibitively expensive because parts sellers really mark up their parts. But if you do build a firearm from a kit, you often end up with something better, as you will learn a bit about the firearm design and operation as you assemble it.

Ultravox · September 16, 2011, 11:11 AM

Here is a really nice website where the author builds a 1911.

http://how-i-did-it.org/1911-project/

It's doable. Not sure it's economically feasible.

handgunfan101 · September 16, 2011, 11:45 AM

I was reading on a site that i could use a frame from another 1911 and build off of that. I have and older smith & wesson that is just beat to p!&& and was thinking of building of of that frame.

September 14, 2011, 09:12 PM	#1
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	Info on putting together my own 1911 I was just wondering if it is possible to buy 1911 kits to make my own 1911? __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"

September 15, 2011, 06:02 AM	#2
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Yes it is: http://www.fusionfirearms.com/servle...ITS/Categories __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

September 15, 2011, 08:02 PM	#4
meatgrinder42 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2011 Location: Good Ol' Wisconsin Posts: 327	Yup I built one a couple months ago off a Caspian frame and a parts kit from Sarco. I bought the one without a barrel because I heard rumors that the barrels they sell with the more expensive kits wear out. Mine's pretty good, I had issues with loading and had to take the frame to a smith to have the feed ramp machined a little. But it's a easy build if you got a set of precision screwdrivers, a small (1/8'') punch and a 2 oz. hammer. __________________ When I die better bury me deep, two .45s layin' at my feet, An M16 across my chest, tell Chesty Puller I did my best

September 15, 2011, 08:05 PM	#5
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	I bought a few books on it and plan on finishing the reading and then i will venture into putting together a parts list together. I hope to get a basic model up and running within the next month. wish me luck __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"

September 16, 2011, 02:05 AM	#7
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Some people have gotten the wrong impression about assembling their own firearms, IMO. With some (like ARs) you can save a bit of money by assembling your own. With most (like the 1911A1), you can actually spend more by buying parts and assembling your own. Kinda like building a car with parts from the parts store, it would be prohibitively expensive because parts sellers really mark up their parts. But if you do build a firearm from a kit, you often end up with something better, as you will learn a bit about the firearm design and operation as you assemble it. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

September 15, 2011, 07:51 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	You can assemble a 1911 if you have moderate skills. Your FIRST move is to buy a copy of Jerry Kuhnhausen book "The Colt .45 Automatic: A Shop Manual, Volume One". http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1...__45_AUTOMATIC Your second move is to get a copy of Brownell's catalog. They sell everything you'll need. Advice: For your first build assemble a working 1911 without any custom features. Figuring everything out is made much harder when you're also trying to alter things to include custom features. Match parts and custom feature parts almost always require significant fitting. Build a working gun first, then add the custom items later, or build a second gun with all the custom stuff. For the first build, stick with name brand, quality parts from Brownell's. Cheap kit parts, gun show, and Shotgun News parts are all cheap castings. They're all out of spec in some areas, and trying to figure out why something isn't fitting or working correctly is only made all the harder when the parts are substandard. When the parts are out of spec, the mis-fit tends to "stack" and get worse as parts of the assembly are added. This can make it extremely difficult to figure out what's wrong. Name brand parts are in spec and will usually require minimal fitting. Once you've built a properly working 1911 and know how the gun works, then you can branch out to custom items and fitted Match type parts.

September 15, 2011, 09:06 PM	#6
rdmallory Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 953	I started to then priced the parts compared buying a finished Rock Island Armory 1911. Still might attempt it at some point in time just to say I built it myself. Doug

September 16, 2011, 11:11 AM	#8
Ultravox Member Join Date: January 11, 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 75	Here is a really nice website where the author builds a 1911. http://how-i-did-it.org/1911-project/ It's doable. Not sure it's economically feasible. __________________ Come check out my custom 1911 grips and other wooden items at my Etsy store.

September 16, 2011, 11:45 AM	#9
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	I was reading on a site that i could use a frame from another 1911 and build off of that. I have and older smith & wesson that is just beat to p!&& and was thinking of building of of that frame. __________________ THE BEST ADVICE MY FATHER EVER GAVE ME "BE THY BROTHERS KEEPER, NEVER THY BROTHERS CRUTCH"