ltwguns.com

Alrighty,
I hope I'm not commiting a huge faux pas here, BUT I've recently been thinking about a "factory custom" gun. The two main contenders have been an RRA/ADCO gun or a Springfield Pro. Now, from what I understand these guns for just about all intents and purposes are customs, it's just that they come from a "factory" so they're classified as such. Right? How would you all rate the quality of the guns I mentioned (and others like the Kobra) as compared to a "mild" custom (gun+work= around $1500)?

Thanks
Rich

Rich, I am just an end user but I have heard good things about the Kobra. I really am a sucker for Colt's. So I purchased a Colt Gunsite sent it to Chuck Rogers for a mild work over and could not be happier. Not a true custom but a fine pistol. It is also VERY reliable and more acurate than I. If you can find something that is close to what you want and have a good smith do a quick once over I don't think you can go wrong. Ymmv of course. Also when you decide shoot it and train and then when your done do it some more. I worry more about the man with one pistol than the man with twenty.

Rich, since I own both semi & full custom I actually have an opinion. I believe that you are correct with the semi makers parts being quality. If they weren't, the custom guys wouldn't use them as much as they do-no sense in reinventing the wheel in most cases. However, the same amount of money on a Brown, few bucks more on a RRA will put you behind a great custom pistol such as Yost's *1 package along with a few other 'smiths' "all you need" model. As for needing service after the sale, you are more than just a number to them in my experience.

One other consideration, with the semi-custom 1911 market saturated, new & used, your dollar will hold up better with a custom on resale. IMHO!



Brian

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Brian

resale? What's that?
Whatever I get, it's a keeper.


Rich

I am afraid you are compareing apples to oranges. I personally believe that there is no such thing as a "factory custom". You get a factory gun just like the other 500 Kobras or Premiers or CQB's that came off the line. Dont get me wrong, I have owned Les Baers and Wilsons and they are NICE pistols. But there is only one way to get a custom. Spec it and have it built. The nice thing is you can buy a good base gun and have it tricked for about the price of a "factory custom". And it will really be a custom. My opinion for what its worth.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

Posted by Trumpet:

resale? What's that?
Whatever I get, it's a keeper.

+1

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An armed society is a polite society--Robert Heinlein

Rich, I have only inspected and shot the Pro and I have to admit its a fine piece of work from the Springfield Custom Shop. But I would elect to go the "mild custom" work you referred to for a couple reasons.

1. You get to talk to whomever does the work for you. Any of the pistolsmiths on this forum can and will guide you in the right directions.

2. You get what you want, and nothing you don't. If there's anything wrong with the work, there is an immediate response to fix it because the pistolsmith has a reputation to preserve and a happy customer is a potential repeat customer. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that the factory "custom shops" don't provide exceptional service, I just believe those individuals that have their names on the pistol take exception to their work.

3. Most importantly, you get a gun that absolutely fits your hand. Granted you may be part of the populus that have hands that fit the grip profile of said pistols. On the otherhand, why not start with one that can be made to fit your hands?

Just my 2 cents.

Will

The first thing you should do is figure out the parts and features you require. The PRO comes one way. Now Springfield Custom will build you what you want, as will RRA, or any of the Masters here.

As you research and learn the work of these fine folks, you'll find that they have very different styles--some may appeal to you, others may not. You must find what works for you.

Be well!

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damian@adcofirearms.com
http://www.adcofirearms.com

I was two seconds away from picking up a new Wilson Protector that a local dealer still had new. But after looking at it for a while I saw a few things that I would change after I got it. Then I figured, what the heck am I doing? If I want it different then it is built, why not just have one built "my way". So I spoke with Marc at Gemini and shipped a couple of Colts his way. Heck, I'm just going to spend a little more than a Wilson and I'll end up with two custom weapons built the way I want them. Now I just have to wait........ That's the only real downside.

That is the way to look at it thought. You might wait a little but what you get in the end is yours, and what you wanted on your gun.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr