I've done a tiny amount on my Kimber. It had a problem with 230gr ball ammo(Crazy I know). Most of my hobby 'smithing has been with rifles. I was fortunate enough to get some machine tool experience in the Army. And later on in tech school I got even more. I've been itching to get a 1911 build going. To be honest though I don't even know where to start.

i will do all the work i can on mine when i get one.that will be this weekend....yea!!!

I've done most all the work to all my guns.

I'll shoot it, field strip and clean, and have changed my grips. I was a beancounter for over 30 years and my brother-in-law is a half decent gun smith so I do his taxes and he takes care of my guns.

as long as it has a bevertail i don't touch it

Not currently owning an auto loader, I couldn't very well take the poll.

BUT, when I did have my Gold Cup, I replaced its straight mainspeing housinf with an arched one. Also changed out the grips for walnut ones. And installed a new hardball recoil spring.

At one time I was in charge of twenty four M1911s, and switched parts around on those for the pistol team. This included tighter barrel bushings, smoother triggers, etc. I was not allowed to use non-GI parts, so had to try fit parts that I had on hand. This while in the U.S. Army.

I had enough sense to see to it that the company commander's pistol was the best looking.

Bob Wright

Originally Posted by Bob Wright

I had enough sense to see to it that the company commander's pistol was the best looking.

Smart man.

I charge my owm magazines. Does that count?

Nothing major like a barrel replacement, but hammer, sears, triggers, sights etc... As soon as I can afford a mill/lathe/press I'll take the next step up the smithing ladder. The only real prohibition to what I can currently do is the cost of the proper tools and fixtures. Oh, and I detail strip any/all of my weapons after approx 100 rounds of ammo... I believe I have what the pro's call OCD.

Normally, since my guns are all mainly for self defense, I'd really rather not have to worry about them as much, but as I currently own and have owned 1911's, I find I don't have much choice. My main CCW is a Kimber Tac Pro that I'll be changing the ejector on this weekend now that I've got the new extractor in and "tuned". Kinda makes me mad that I have to do this for the most expensive weapon I own, but I won't deal with folks that look for excuses not to fix a tool that I may have to rely on for my life. I also strongly believe that it is in every gun owners best interest to have a basic working knowledge of their weapon. A responsibility of sorts.

On the flip side, I really enjoy working on guns or anything mechanical and am in the process of a major career change as I look for gun smithing schools to attend.

Originally Posted by 2400

How many of you do your own work on your 1911?
Explain your choices from the poll.

The poll is multiple choice.

i do all of the above except full custom work

I built my own out of a 80% frame and Caspian slide.I learned alot and mainly learned this is not a cost effective route and have purchased 100% ready to shoot ever since!

A lot of 1911 work is straightforward and simple.
Some of it is not.
I wouldn't touch the feed ramp, for instance, nor the magazine's feed lips.
Trigger jobs, including stoning the sear-to-hammer contact surfaces, take patience. But really good trigger jobs take talent, which I don't have.

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

A lot of 1911 work is straightforward and simple.
Some of it is not.
I wouldn't touch the feed ramp, for instance, nor the magazine's feed lips.
Trigger jobs, including stoning the sear-to-hammer contact surfaces, take patience. But really good trigger jobs take talent, which I don't have.

Steve speaks for me too.

Two reason why I purchased a Mil-Spec one I didn't want to buy a 1911 the way some one else thought it should be made for me,second was I wanted to learn the in and outs of the gun and how to do things for myself, thru the help of the great peoples on different forums I just about customized my entire 1911 all by myself.It's totally reliable I have never had one hiccup or misfeed,I love how it looks and it's very accurate! KUDO"S and thanks to all of the great people that helped me along the way and gave me advise.

One of the greatest things about a 1911 is they are pretty easily modified to be unique so you can have one that is a little different than anyone else.

I do everything in the poll list except meltdown and bluing. I did do some Gun-Kote a decade ago but have no interest in using that product again. Probably the most unusual stuff I've done is hand stippling metal sections of 3 of my pistols. Pictures of everything can be found here: An even dozen

http://webpages.charter.net/the.batman/index.htm

I do what I can.

Have completely built 12 from the naked frame & slide, to fully functional, problem-free reliable pistols. Did 100% of everything myself, except for milling the slide to install the sights (wayne novak did the milling) & robar company did the final finishing (np3 & rogard). Have 20+years of experience working on 1911 pistols and the majority are being carried legally every day by members of my extented family. That is how much they trust in my ability to build them a pistol from scratch. Ooooo-rah

I am comfortable with some things and not others. It takes a real artist to do hammer and sear work on the 1911.

Originally Posted by aryfrosty

I am comfortable with some things and not others. It takes a real artist to do hammer and sear work on the 1911.

actually all you need is the right equipment, files, stones, jigs, micrometer, measurements and patience

...And eyes like a binocular microscope!

I do all My work myself I can practically take it apart and put it back together blindfolded. been doing it for years. But thts mine I refuse to work on another persons cause What I do they may not like it. I do trigger jobs change out sears and grips sights. I even polish the feed ramp but that is very tricky and, I do replace all parts inside it including the mag release. I had it totally taking apart where it just a empty reciever and put it all back together. I do this cleaning every 1000 rds Just my preference tho Now I'm teaching my son how to dissamble his and make him put it back together the first few times I had to do it but he caught on really fast and I have all parts laid out and make him name them and tell me where they go. he has gotten so much more relaxed with it and now he does it without me around. I have a series 70 large frame and a 1991 commander. he has a rock island cause he couldnt afford the colt.

JBarL

The real fun, of course, is to detail-strip a 1911 entirely without tools (except, maybe, for the grip-screw bushings).
It can be done. It isn't terribly difficult.
Certain parts serve as tools for removal and replacement of other parts.
It's a really interesting puzzle.
Try it some time.

Thank you, Mr. Browning!