I decided to try to make one myself...

[rsilvers]

I decided to go through the experience of making one myself from parts. I bought about 5 books and read a lot on line.

The frame/slide fit came out well. It rides like on bearings. The Caspian cast frame seems perfect quality. The slide stop and safety needed to be lapped in as they would not simply push through the frame at first. I need to blend in the grip safety still, and I want to sand the trigger guard a bit. I plan to finish the lower in hard chrome or NP3 and blue the upper. I was going to Teflon/Moly it, but it seems to nice to paint over this. I still have to fit the barrel, test fire it, and then when I am satisfied in how it works, spend a lot of time dehorning and detailing the look and then get the finish on.


Here is what I have in it:

Frame Caspian with checkering and .250 radius and custom serial number
Slide Caspian carbon full size with Novak cuts
Plunger Tube Caspian
Ejector Caspian
Magazine Catch Ed Brown, normal size 419013
Barrel BAR-STO 5 inch #100660
Grips Spegel
Hammer strut Titanium STI 791-105-100
Hammer Ed Brown Barstock 087-000-010
Mainspring housing Ed Brown 087-817-220
Grip Safety Memory Groove, Ed Brown series 70 087-868-000
Slide Stop Ed Brown non-hardcore or cardcore, prefer serations over checkering 087-810-100
Springs Brownells/by Wolff 080-665-453
Recoil guide Ed Brown GI 087-882-001
Front Sight Novak Tritium dovetail, 175 662-005-175
Trigger STI short carbon fiber/Titanium 791-100-001
Disconnector Briley 129-121-100
Pin set Ed Brown 087-814-100
Sear Ed Brown Perfection 087-045-874
Firing Pin Stop EGW O/S 296-100-001
Recoil Spring Plug Ed Brown 087-881-001
Rear Sight Novak Bar-Tritium lowmount 662-002-004
Firing Pin STI Titanium 791-104-138
Extractor Ed Brown Hardcore 087-813-070
Safety Selector Ed Brown Tactical 087-245-891
Screws and Bushings Novak slot/hex combo (slots are a must since you an remove them with a brass cartridge).

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/Handguns/Caspian.sized.jpg

[E36]

looks good!
it'll look even better w/ the novaks on:)

[joegerardi]

If I may ask: Discounting the hours put into it, (which can't really be measured anyway) what was your total dollar investment?

..Joe

[rsilvers]

While I incurred extra expense for returning parts that I did not like, and for tools -- I will pretend that did not happen and just add up the parts I have now:

$1296 including shipping, at the best discount prices I can find. This does not include any refinishing which could be anywhere from nearly free if I do it to up to $250 if I have it NP3ed.

Now if you delete the Spegal grips and Titanium parts and eliminate the Caspian checkering, and put parts that would be common on a nice quality pistol that would sell for $2000 from Wilson, Les Baer, Ed Brown, or Springfield -- then you can trim about $300 from the parts costs and get it down to $900. This is still while using premium parts.

But this is the same parts list I was going to spend almost $4000 on from a well known gunsmith if he built it. Now I am sure he would do a better job, but I think the learning experience and satisfaction of carrying something I made will make up for that. And I intend to do a very good job.

[joegerardi]

Originally posted by rsilvers
And I intend to do a very good job.

I'm sorry but you're wrong: You've already done a very good job.

..Joe

PS: Thanks for the numbers.

[NetNinja]

Aside from making sure the 1911 doesn't go full auto I don't think it's all that difficult to piece together a 1911 from quality parts.

Caspian Arms will do most of the checkering and they will fit the frame to the slide.

I believe the hardest part is to adjust the trigger and make sure you have proper barrel lockup.

There some some really good 1911 books out there and you can always send it to a competent pistol smith to give it a once over.

I believe the satisfaction of building your own is worth it.

If you know how to break down a 1911 you are 70% there in terms of piecing one together.

Now I am sure there are some worldly pistol smiths out there will trash this post but honestly is it all that difficult?
How did you learn? Armory school?
If you have the desire to achieve and learn I think you will do OK.

[rsilvers]

It is trivial compared to building a kit car or something.

[Nalapombu]

Oh man that is sweet. You are doing what I have always wanted to do. How about posting a list of the learning materials that you used or are using. I think about doing this type of thing about once every 2 weeks or so, seeing you do it just makes me believe that it can be done by a complete layman. Keep us posted of the progress. I can't wait to see the finished gun and see the raneg reports.

Nala

[USMCsilver]

Chalk another one up for the do-it-yourselfers! Looks good and I am glad you had a good time doing it. That is the best part. NO! Wait, that is not the best part -- the best part is when you are at the range and someone comes over and asks to shoot your pistol; you then hand it to them, they look it over and give a nod of approval. They then fire it and when returning it say, "That is one of the best dang shootin' .45s I've ever seen! Who built it?" Then, with that little gleam in you eye, you can proudly say, "I did."

I've gone the same route and would never look back. If you wanna see some of my stuff, you can check out here: http://webpages.charter.net/usmcsilver/refinish

Again, congrats!

[Nalapombu]

Hey USMC what materials did you use to educate yourself? Did you go to the home gunsmithing forum for any help at all? I understand that they are pretty helpful to people asking questions about a sticky spot they may be in.

Nala

[Ludacris]

Originally posted by USMCsilver
Chalk another one up for the do-it-yourselfers! Looks good and I am glad you had a good time doing it. That is the best part. NO! Wait, that is not the best part -- the best part is when you are at the range and someone comes over and asks to shoot your pistol; you then hand it to them, they look it over and give a nod of approval. They then fire it and when returning it say, "That is one of the best dang shootin' .45s I've ever seen! Who built it?" Then, with that little gleam in you eye, you can proudly say, "I did."

I've gone the same route and would never look back. If you wanna see some of my stuff, you can check out here: http://webpages.charter.net/usmcsilver/refinish

Again, congrats!

USMC: Beautiful piece, that's amazing!

[USMCsilver]

Originally posted by Nalapombu
Hey USMC what materials did you use to educate yourself? Did you go to the home gunsmithing forum for any help at all? I understand that they are pretty helpful to people asking questions about a sticky spot they may be in.

Nala

The first paragraph on my page explains it all. ;)

[bigdawg5565]

rsilvers, when are you going to start taking orders?? ha ha. That is one sweet looking piece of equipment. You should be very proud of yourself. When you get your entire piece completed be sure to post your story, tools needed and parts purchased. I know that I may just get the courage to go out and build one myself. Thank you for sharing your project.

[USMCsilver]

Originally posted by bigdawg5565
When you get your entire piece completed be sure to post your story, tools needed and parts purchased. I know that I may just get the courage to go out and build one myself. Thank you for sharing your project.

Umm, not too sure what you are talking about here...

The gun is complete and the link provides the story and everything. Maybe I missed something?

[Critter]

Originally posted by USMCsilver
Umm, not too sure what you are talking about here...

The gun is complete and the link provides the story and everything. Maybe I missed something?

The part where he was referring to rsilvers maybe?????

[USMCsilver]

Originally posted by Critter
The part where he was referring to rsilvers maybe?????

LOL. Thanks there Critter! Kinda looked over that one. ;f

[rsilvers]

Made progress, mostly with the grip safety. What a pain. I am not sure I would do an Ed Brown again, even though it is the highest grip.

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/880_8088.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/881_8106.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/881_8108.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/880_8090.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/880_8092.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/880_8094.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/880_8095.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/880_8100.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/881_8104.sized.jpg

http://www.photomosaic.com/albums/album15/881_8105.sized.jpg

[joegerardi]

Dayum that's nice!

..Joe

[PirateShot]

Beautiful.

[okie]

Wow that looks very good:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: ;a ;a ;a ;a ;a ;a ;a

[Critter]

Good job! I've seen some pro's botch those, that wasn't an easy task, congrat's.

[paul45]

wow!!! great photograghy also! Have you decided the finish/color yet?

[rsilvers]

I will blue the slide and leave the bottom stainless. Eventually, when I am sure the metal on the frame is how I want it, I will hard-chrome the lower.

[KNOW 1]

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paul45]

Great!! I was secretly hoping you would go with that combo. Cant wait to see the final pics....

[vinnieglkm17]

That is beautiful great work please can you give me an idea of what books you used so I can run out and figure out what tools I need and learn. I was going to buy but now I will just build one. Any info is appreciated.

[GunnDogg44]

Very Nice !! JWD