[Benning Boy]

I've recently seen 80% finished frames, hence no FFL required, for sale.

If I have limited tools and skills, how difficult is a 1911 build?

Can the rest of the parts be had? I see barrels and firing pins all over the place, and I assume springs wouldn't be an issue, but what about the rest?

[Dillinger]

I would rank building a 1911 on the higher end of the home builder scale. A lot of the parts aren't drop in, so they require some proper tolerance fitting, and then if you have function problems, fine tuning them is also a bit of an adventure.

That said, you could probably do a good portion of the work at home and then take it to a good 1911 guy for him to fit any last parts and give it a clean bill of health.

It's definitely not impossible, and if you have a tinkerer's mentality, it might prove to be a good time for you. *shrug*

JD

[Benning Boy]

On an unfinished frame, will any heat treating be required? I know you have to do it on AK recievers, but I'm assuming that's because it's a stamping.

I want a 1911, mainly so when I grow up, I can be like Mr. D!

[Dillinger]

You know, I don't honestly know, but someone here will know for sure. I think it depends on what level of "finished" you get on the part you are ordering.

I would imagine that even if you got a blued model, once you did what you needed to do to get all the parts in place and working properly, the perfectionist would probably want it stripped down and re-blued anyways.

Brett used to build 1911's all the time, but he stopped before I started hanging out there, so I have never seen one from the start through the finished project, just changes to ones here or there along the way.

Supposedly a guy from a neighboring city called like 2 weeks ago and offered big money to have a 1911 made by Brett to his exact specs, ( it's an IPSC Race Gun ) so I might be able to see some of the process and maybe post some pictures.

I can't honestly say what you would and would not HAVE to do on a kit build though - I am not experienced in it hands on.

JD