I think you are right the one Skan's referring to was an officers also owned by WC145
THAT'S THE ONE! That is one beautiful gun. Consider all negative 1911 comments made by me retracted.

Last edited:
I think you are right the one Skan's referring to was an officers also owned by WC145
I also think that there is some level of miss-labeling in the 1911 world. What many people call custom guns are really just small line production guns.
I always thought it was extremely goofy for people to want to redefine industry standard terms. I also think some people get a little confused about the relationship of quality to price in regards to these terms.
If you think about it what is more "custom" someone with the knowledge and drive to invest and tool up in order to make most of the parts that go into a 1911 or someone that just picks up a Brownells catalog and orders all the parts. Not trying to be argumentative just something to discuss. I've owned or shot most of them and sometimes it's very hard to tell if you're getting your monies worth out of a $5K 1911 over one that costs $2k.
That's not quite accurate. I special ordered a Brown which included non-standard front and rear sights -- a Novak gold bead front sight and a 10-8 rear with .140" notch. I also had the barrel crown cut and the rear of the slide serrated, neither of which are standard. I know he has installed triggers from other manufacturers on guns. He has his limits, though, so he's not a true "custom" smith. "Semi-custom" may be a more correct term.I am sorry but I simply do not consider a Ed Brown Kobra a "custom gun". You did not get to customize it. Ed Brown did and he will sell the exact same gun multiple times every year.
That's not quite accurate. I special ordered a Brown which included non-standard front and rear sights -- a Novak gold bead front sight and a 10-8 rear with .140" notch. I also had the barrel crown cut and the rear of the slide serrated, neither of which are standard. I know he has installed triggers from other manufacturers on guns. He has his limits, though, so he's not a true "custom" smith. "Semi-custom" may be a more correct term.
I agree with this statement 100%. But it challenges the the custom vs high end production/"semi"-custom question and that's a tough one, because when you drop three or four grand (or more) on a 1911 you really want it to be an exclusive one of kind piece, more than just "it's expensive so there's only a few of them". But, if you're buying out of the Nighthawk or Brown or Wilson or whomever's catalog you're not getting a custom gun. You might get to choose sights or finish or grips, etc but it's not built to your specs, to fulfill your particular needs. I can call them tomorrow and order exactly the same gun and Bob next door can get one, too, and so can Jim at the barbershop. That doesn't mean that they're not worth the money, Mercedes are worth the premium over Chevrolets, no denying that. But does the Mercedes off the showroom floor have as much value to you as the Chevrolet (or any brand) that is custom built into exactly the car you want? That is the custom vs high end production dilemma.If you are looking to built a one of a kind piece of personal expression in a 1911 then I suggest contacting a true custom house and talking to them about what you want in a 1911. Let them help and guide you to your end goal. I believe you could easily reach that objective for less than $3500 unless you gun full house custom at Heirloom LOL....
When I say "custom" I am referring to the ability to make the gun the way I want it.
I think of custom guns like custom cars, where the level of customization is graded based on the amount and type of work done. A simplified grading system might look like this-
Production cars are production cars. Sure, you can choose engines, trim, wheels, colors, interior material, etc, and a high end car will get more attention on the assembly line than your average Ford or Chevy, but it isn't custom.
Start changing wheels & tires, adding pipes, bolt on engine mods, pinstriping, a simple respray, lower it, jack it up, etc. and you've upgraded/personalized the vehicle but don't really change it from it's original configuration and this might be considered hot rodded/tuned or maybe up to a mild custom.
Take the same car to hot rod shop (or do it yourself if you can) and chop it, channel it, french the lights, bag it or a 4 link or other suspension mods, swap in a different engine/trans or build a blown or turboed motor for it, custom color or multi color paint, fully redone interior and now you've radically altered it from it's original configuration requiring body/metal work, etc. That's a fully customized car.
Now, equate that to handguns and 1911s in particular-
Production guns are just that. You're limited to certain models, lengths, calibers, maybe there's optional sights or finish or, as with Baer, an accuracy guarantee, but even if it's a high end production gun and it gets more attention on the assembly line, you can't have changes made beyond the few options they offer and the next buyer can go to his LGS or the manufacturer's website or another guns seller and get exactly the same thing out of the catalog, that isn't custom.
Take whatever gun you have and change grips, sights, do a spray-on refinish, maybe swap some small parts, do an action job or reliability work, etc. but don't really change it from it's original configuration and now it's upgraded/personalized/hot rodded maybe up to the level of a mild or semi custom.
Now, take that same gun to a skilled gunsmith or have him source a frame and slide, then collaborate with him on everything you want it to be (or do it yourself if you can) - melt it or carry bevel it, add checkering, chain links, serrations, ball cuts, etc, upgrade the internal components, hand fit everything, surface prep to the desired level of polish, any sight combination, a permanent finish of your choosing, and so on - combining your vision and his talent/artistry to radically change the gun from original, requiring metalwork, fabrication, etc., resulting in a unique one off piece. That is a fully customized gun.
That's my take on it. anyway. Obviously, there's lots of room for interpretation but I'm sure you guys get where I'm coming from.
Freudian slip?I'm not trying to talk you out of investing in a mor custom firearm like Wilson, Ed, or Nighthawk, but if you aren't sure give a look at Fan Wesson.
I agree with this statement 100%. But it challenges the the custom vs high end production/"semi"-custom question
I always thought it was extremely goofy for people to want to redefine industry standard terms.
Second time you have made this drive by statement. Care to clarify?
I assume you meant to type groups not grips. LOL
I am not sure that one needs to spend $3500 to get the best chance of survival. Again I am not sure that a $3500 Yost will defend your life better than a DW Valor or a Colt Combat Elite. I mean honestly a Glock is more than likely also up to the task if you are.
I guess I just do buy the idea that price tag = higher chance of survival. Can you elaborate?
Hey Skans!! This is for you, it's one of my favorite pics of that gun-
Not really sure what you mean by "drive by statement" but when a company has been known as a semi-custom 1911 shop for 15-20 years, by the vast majority of the industry, and someone comes along and says "no they are production line 1911s" it just sounds rather goofy to me.
The next level is what I call the semi-custom world. I think people incorrectly call them "custom". My Les Baer TRS special is the same as every other TRS Les Baer has made. It is similar to a Colt CQBP in that respect but the size of the line and the hands on attention to detail has been increased. Also Les Baer, Ed Brown, Guncrafters, Wilson etc... will allow you a bit more customization of their basic packages which can push them closer into the true custom world but I would argue that 90% of the guns owned by shooters from these high end 1911 makers are off the shelf guns like my TRS so I think Semi-custom accurately describes them. You can get a TRS with no front slide serrations or a different finish but for the most part is a TRS. Now most of these guys within reason within their product offering will allow you to customize certain aspects of the gun which many will argue makes them custom.
Please do. I don't know who he is, but it's pretty uncommon for a picture of a gun to really make me go "Wow." But the ones we've seen here have been nothing short of spectacular.WC145 said:First, thanks for the unsolicited compliments on my guns, I'll send the gunsmith a link to this thread. He is not a custom 1911 house, he does everything - repairs on anything, custom work on pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, you name it - he is a whiz at long range (1000yd) rifles. He'll really appreciate that you guys like his work.
To be honest, I like it better with these grips than the others. She's just gorgeous! If I were looking to have a melt job done on a 1911, I'd be bugging you for your smith's name.WC145 said:Hey Skans!! This is for you, it's one of my favorite pics of that gun-
![]()