rwj
Gold $$ Contributor
1911 questions
- Thread starter Spike A
- Start date
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Springfield's use induction hardened frames from Imbel last I heard.
I think the custom shop might finish the frames in house?
They are fine but I would rather have a US made forged/billet frame or even a Norinco.
The standard out of the box Kimber is pretty nice, they were the first affordable 1911 with most of the common custom stuff already done. A friend of mine had one when they first came out in the late 1990s or very early 2000s and it was nice but with the MIM and I'm not sure how the frame is made, I don't know about long term or hard use durability.
If you are just giving someone money and need a gun for competition, maybe the Springfield custom shop gets you there cheaper? It should be fine but I would pay for a better frame.
I think the custom shop might finish the frames in house?
They are fine but I would rather have a US made forged/billet frame or even a Norinco.
The standard out of the box Kimber is pretty nice, they were the first affordable 1911 with most of the common custom stuff already done. A friend of mine had one when they first came out in the late 1990s or very early 2000s and it was nice but with the MIM and I'm not sure how the frame is made, I don't know about long term or hard use durability.
If you are just giving someone money and need a gun for competition, maybe the Springfield custom shop gets you there cheaper? It should be fine but I would pay for a better frame.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
If you go to nighthawk or wilson combat and want them to build a pistol off of your own parts they only will use a springfield. That may tell you something. I have both built from their frames/slides and they are in the top 5 for custom 1911 lust. Cabot is the top of the heap and one day i shall own one i hope. Its the only top tier 1911 i havent owned or own. I have a fondness for a 1911 (those that know me know that). I wish i had every dime ive put into a 1911 variant over the last 30years so i could move up by SPJ in montana. If you want one built and have dreamed of certain features troy harp is the one that can bring your dreams to reality from engraving to gold inlay- your checkbook is the only limiting factor. He is in a league of his own i assure you. Its funny to think of the money i have stuck in my waistband- true safe queens to most any sane person
I know a lot of shops won't touch a Norinco because the steel is too tough and will wear out their cutters...
I haven't messed with 1911s to much recently but I seem to remember there being a few sources for nice forged frames but being in California, unavailable to me.
I'm much better at not being pissed off about things when I don't think about them so a lot of my project 1911 stuff is boxed up, waiting for me to move out of here and get more time on my hands.
I haven't messed with 1911s to much recently but I seem to remember there being a few sources for nice forged frames but being in California, unavailable to me.
I'm much better at not being pissed off about things when I don't think about them so a lot of my project 1911 stuff is boxed up, waiting for me to move out of here and get more time on my hands.
Its our own intrigue that inspires us all, so go for it !
There is a member of this forum.. not sure when he has been on here last. I think that he has since deleted his account on here.. but a pistol smith from Neb.. Joe Chambers once made comment about MIM parts and was throughly chastised by many and called an idiot.. but those that made the comments don't build pistolies either.. they don't make pairs like this one
https://chamberscustom.com/chambers-custom-creations/
Dusty.. look at the lefty/righty set! Saweet!
Brett asked me to post this link for him.. so here it is.
https://www.ammoland.com/2017/10/matter-gun-parts-mim/
https://www.ammoland.com/2017/10/matter-gun-parts-mim/
1911's are a lot of fun, especially when they are very accurate and function without issue. I have several collectors, all Colt. When it comes to just going to the range and shooting I have a Kimber TLE/RLII. It is dead perfect accurate and has never, not one time ever failed to function. Maybe I got a good one, maybe I got the only good one they ever produced, but this one is fantastic and I would buy another one if I needed to. There isn't a gun I cannot own if I want it, but I just don't see a reason to go looking for anything else 1911. Hate 'em or love 'em...MIM or forged, Kimber works just fine for a shooter. How I arrived at this gun?? I wanted a 1911 with a rail for my night stand gun and at the time it was either this or the Springfield Operator. I wanted to try out both of them, but Operator's were just out and no where to be found. Had I stumbled upon one I would have bought it and probably posted this same post about the Operator!!!
Edit: one thing that surprised me about this Kimber, it has a silver colored plastic main spring housing!!! I purchased a stainless one because I figured it would soon give me trouble. Well, the stainless one is still in the package what, some 15 years later.
Edit: one thing that surprised me about this Kimber, it has a silver colored plastic main spring housing!!! I purchased a stainless one because I figured it would soon give me trouble. Well, the stainless one is still in the package what, some 15 years later.
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MIM can work but I have seen several failure pictures where it looks like there was no warning before the break.
These types of failures pretty much don't happen with hot forged or machined from billet steel parts.
The only reason a manufacturer uses MIM in a 1911 is to hit a price point.
In a expensive custom 1911, using MIM makes as much sense as using 440 stainless steel to create a custom knife. The craftsmanship and design might be perfect but the material choice is making it cheap. In a knife you might save $20-50 on materials and heat treat but it can also be the difference between a $500 knife and something no one will touch at a price anywhere near that.
In a 1911, the premium for high quality small parts adds up quickly and the difference isn't immediately obvious which is what creates the temptation to cheap out.
MIM isn't necessarily a disaster but it is a step back.
I would probably take a Kimber over a Series 80 Colt any day. I would just swap out the MIM at my first opportunity.
These types of failures pretty much don't happen with hot forged or machined from billet steel parts.
The only reason a manufacturer uses MIM in a 1911 is to hit a price point.
In a expensive custom 1911, using MIM makes as much sense as using 440 stainless steel to create a custom knife. The craftsmanship and design might be perfect but the material choice is making it cheap. In a knife you might save $20-50 on materials and heat treat but it can also be the difference between a $500 knife and something no one will touch at a price anywhere near that.
In a 1911, the premium for high quality small parts adds up quickly and the difference isn't immediately obvious which is what creates the temptation to cheap out.
MIM isn't necessarily a disaster but it is a step back.
I would probably take a Kimber over a Series 80 Colt any day. I would just swap out the MIM at my first opportunity.
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