Base Gun

Springfield and Norinco are fine, you would just be losing pedigree and resale Vs Colt.

DW is probably not plain vanilla enough for a real custom build (too much already done).

Rock Island, meh.

 

I would rather buy a customized Springfield or Dan Wesson than a Colt, but I may very well be in minority on this

RIA, no thanks

 

A Colt or Springfield make fine base guns to customize. Dan Wesson is a pretty high dollar gun because they are kinda semi custom as they come with a lot of the common custom features in a production gun. The RIA and Norinco I dont think a whole lot of smiths would work with them for a custom build. They can have quality issues. And most smiths that build high end custom guns wouldn't want to take a chance on something that you cant be sure of its quality. You have to start with a good base to build upon. In saying that if you are going to have a full custom built the majority of parts in your production gun are going to get tossed for better made higher quality parts. So it would be more cost effective to just buy a frame and slide set like a Caspian , Jem etc to build upon. You will get a good frame to slide fit out of the gate as the frame rails are oversized to be fit to your slide so you get a match grade fit. Most production guns would require some work to get them anywhere near that type of fit. Several different ways to do that such as welding, peening, swaging, squeezing the slide etc. Those things are labor intensive and cost a decent amount of money to have done. Just some things to consider.

 

Colt is probably the best base gun in terms of aesthetics and potential resale value. Springfield comes in second as their frames and slides are generally considered to well made / good tolerances.

I wouldn’t personally touch a ria or norinco for a build, too much to be done to them, no resale value, poor aesthetics to me, hard to find a smith willing to work on them.

Nothing wrong, in my opinion, in using a Wesson, Wilson or Baer as a base gun - less aesthetics and resale potentially than a Colt but on the other hand the gun is already built at a level that your Smith will have less to fix for you and just has to improve some things and tailor the gun to your specific desires.

No slam against Wesson, Wilson and Baer but they are semi custom and can’t match a gun being worked on by one smith at high level.


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And then, there is Kimber . . . . .

 

Too many colts have asymmetrical holes in the frame, and other idiosyncrasies.

I vote Springfield Armory; be sure to have to bow tie relief cut made.


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If you already have a base gun or in a state with a roster list then I guess a base for a build is the best option.

Me personally ..I prefer to build from scratch... I start with high quality oversized parts .No curve balls or additional cost to the client and the biggest plus is consistency.. I plan to stop taking base guns at some point soon and just focus on building full BEC gats only.

 

I need to get my base gun to you quick then or move to a free state lol


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I like Kimber as a base gun based upon my experience with them that being said it should be a gun you plan to keep. If you’re likely to sell it you’ll lose money on a Kimber build unfortunately just because of the rap they get/have.


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Me too.

 

Ref: you need to find a base gun.

@FWoo45...... I have a perfect base gun for you!!!!! Its a near virgin 1976 Colt .38 super Combat Commander. I just picked it up in a really good deal and can let it go for TWICE what its worth.

 

If it was a 1967 model you might have some luck unfortunately the only way a Colt is legally shipped to an FFL in Kalifornia is if it’s a C&R


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Could I use a large black sharpie and make it a Taurus?

 

If that works I’ll take 2, one in 9 and one in .38 super!


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Funny this thread popped up. I was looking to send my DW to get some parts fitted tighter than it was. Was wondering if a DW would be a worthwhile endeavor or to start from scratch.

 

If it was a 1967 as @simonp said, he and I would probably be in a bidding war that would get it well over twice what you paid.

 

I can get the guy that sold it to me say it is a 1967!

 

^^^
Ha!