1911: Build or buy

sphen

sphen

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Hey guys, l've been shopping around for my first 1911 over the past few months. I'm looking to spend up to $1500. I know that's more than necessary for a first time 1911 but I don't mind dropping a bit more on higher quality piece. If needed I don't mind exceeding $1500 even. But nothing ridiculous. Ultimately the limiting factor on my shooting is my time so the old argument of going cheaper and spending the difference on ammo isn't a reality for me. Higher or lower end gun I'll be shooting the same amount of lead down field. No real purpose to this buy/build other than to shoot for kicks at the club, possibly some club level competitions. Nothing serious. I also have a few CZs in various calibers so I have options.

Anyways, through my shopping around and research I stumbled upon the 1911 build option (9mm) through Dlask Arms and I'm really tempted to give that a try. I was just wondering what the quality comparison would be at and around the $1500 price point. Is the Dlask Arms self build kit ultimately a better quality product for that price or would I simply be paying a similar amount for a similar quality pre-built 1911 from somewhere else. I have no qualms building it, I'm no guru but I my youtube skills are top notch and I figured out most of my DIY that way. I'm just curious if doing the self build would net me a lower, higher or similar quality gun at the same price.

Thoughts? Recommendations from experience? Thanks!
 
Building is much more difficult then you may realize. Parts need to be fit properly, or it will look and function like crap. When you are done, it will need to be refinished or it will look like crap.
Buy something nice, and you will have a much better looking and shooting gun.
 
I’ve never had the urge to build a 1911, but one thing worth considering for the DIY gunsmith types, a 1911 is not an AR15.

AR15’s can be built so easily only because it is literally plug and play, lego if you will. A couple of pins here, torque some nuts, lose a few springs and you’re done.
A 1911 (from what I’ve read over the years) is a ton of hand fitting, metal work etc, and supposedly very easy to botch the job (see bubba and his dremel).

The 1911’s reliability and quality can be directly attributed to the quality of work the individual or production line does. Since you have zero experience, my bet is that it’s not going to come out any better than what you’ll buy in the 1500 dollar range.
 
$1500 will buy you a pretty good off-the-shelf 1911...SIG, Colt, Springfield Armory...maybe even a lightly used Dan Wesson.
 
Thanks guys... Pretty consistent message here.

FoxAlpha said:
I’ve never had the urge to build a 1911, but one thing worth considering for the DIY gunsmith types, a 1911 is not an AR15.

AR15’s can be built so easily only because it is literally plug and play, lego if you will. A couple of pins here, torque some nuts, lose a few springs and you’re done.
A 1911 (from what I’ve read over the years) is a ton of hand fitting, metal work etc, and supposedly very easy to botch the job (see bubba and his dremel).

The 1911’s reliability and quality can be directly attributed to the quality of work the individual or production line does. Since you have zero experience, my bet is that it’s not going to come out any better than what you’ll buy in the 1500 dollar range.
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Yeah, I was reading the samr thing. The only DIY build I was considering was the Dlask arms one where all parts are sourced together as a package. In theory cutting down those issues.
 
1500 will get you a very nice, lightly used 1911. Don't buy new or build. 1911s depreciate like cars. As per master G, I would do a Dan Wesson personally.
 
If you're a novice buy is always the right answer unless you are really mechanically savvy, and have the appropriate tools(building a 1911 and ar15 are different animal as has been stated already)

Builds are a hit or miss for experience and a fun adventure can turn sour fast.
 
The nice thing about the dlask frames is that they’re already fit to a slide and barrel which is the most important part. I also like the there are minimal markings, I really don’t like writing on firearms. STI is really bad with their distasteful SPARTAN plastered over the slide. Using firearms as billboards is distasteful in my opinion.
 
Travis_m said:
I shot one of my buddies Sig Sauer scorpion 1911s. That was sweet and right in your budget.
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My friend has a SIG, I have a Nork. I admit that the Sig's fit and finish is way nicer than my Nork (not 5 X nicer, but 5 X more money than the Nork), and it does not seem to be any more accurate from a rest.

If I had that kind of money to spend, the SIG would be a top choice.

If you like gunsmithing; buy a Nork, you can shoot it now; then customize as you see fit. IM_Lugger is correct; if you sell a home-built; as good as it is, you will lose more money than if you sell a factory built one.
 
A fully customized Norc, even with the full treatment will still say Norc on the registration. And you will never get your money out of it on resale. The other thing is that with so many bubba's just throwing stuff together these days ( after all, you aren't really "building" a gun so much as assembling one) I am very leary about buying anything self customized.
 
gdawg said:
1500 will get you a very nice, lightly used 1911. Don't buy new or build. 1911s depreciate like cars. As per master G, I would do a Dan Wesson personally.
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I disagree.. 450$ got me a used Springfield MC Operator. It's not abused, and nothing is wrong with it. SA for the price of a Norc.

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For that kind of money ($1500), you can find a lightly used Colt Gold Cup National Match. And it will retain 100% of its value, if you take good care of it.
 
dogzilla said:
A fully customized Norc, even with the full treatment will still say Norc on the registration. And you will never get your money out of it on resale. The other thing is that with so many bubba's just throwing stuff together these days ( after all, you aren't really "building" a gun so much as assembling one) I am very leary about buying anything self customized.
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on the other hand , the norc 1911 sport has an awful lot of features ALREADY BUILT IN, AND THAT'S LESS TO SPEND ON- my colt 1911 series 70 has mostly Wilson stuff on it, and I spent roughly 1100 customizing it- now you stick it upside the norc and most of the features save the 3 hole adjustable trigger built in, and it's superior in that it doesn't have the finger bushing= and the full length guide rod on the colt ( which is of questionable anyway)
is a pain to service- so the question is do I want a shooter or a high end competition gun- I've been down this road b4
 
I tend to shoot stuff - a lot - that's one of the reasons I like the Norc stuff. I don't worry about it getting dirty, ugly and scratched up. You on the other hand say you won't be shooting tens of thousands of rounds though yours, so appearance is probably more important. The Sigs, Colts and Remingtons (and as some have mentioned DW's) would probably work better for you. In your case I'd keep an eye on the EE for a nice used higher end gun. I wouldn't consider building my own, even though I've done my own maintenance work for every gun I own.
 
enefgee said:
I tend to shoot stuff - a lot - that's one of the reasons I like the Norc stuff. I don't worry about it getting dirty, ugly and scratched up. You on the other hand say you won't be shooting tens of thousands of rounds though yours, so appearance is probably more important. The Sigs, Colts and Remingtons (and as some have mentioned DW's) would probably work better for you. In your case I'd keep an eye on the EE for a nice used higher end gun. I wouldn't consider building my own, even though I've done my own maintenance work for every gun I own.
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Whats wrong with giving somr colts or sigs some character by shooting them?
 
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