Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Is a Custom Pistol a Waste of Money?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/is-a-custom-pistol-a-waste-of-money/.
Is a Custom Pistol a Waste of Money?
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
youngolddude
Professional
It isn't like contributing to the loser's presidential campaign, you're gonna end up with something of value. The million dollar question is whether the extra cost is worth it to you or not. Will you appreciate the trigger, sights, or other feature(s) above what a more base model provides.
UC_Guy 1971
Master Class
A custom pistol would be a waste for me. I use my guns like drunken sailor blowing his money on a craigslist stripper date. I treat them rough so I can see if they are going to make it when I need them too. I don't abuse them but they may say something different.
I was looking at my 43x and realized that I needed to upgrade my sights. I also used a sharpie on my red dot where I had knicked it(?). Don't know how I did that. In the end this is what my guns tend to look like after a decade or so of regular duty.
Of course they are all meticulously(?) maintained (cleaned and lubed) once they show that they can run.
Winchester67
Elite
Used to be a custom 1911 was the right answer because the sights, reliability with anything other than ball ammo, (and sometimes not even that!) and the trigger needed help. But with today's tighter production tolerances and better sights the argument could be made this is no longer needed. And I would concede that point. But this being America, it is about wants not needs. And while my stock Springfield 1911 probably shoots better than I do, as a machine guy I appreciate a custom. Just like a Timex keeps time but is uninspiring, a Rolex Watch is a machine I admire.
SL66
Master Class
They do offer some custom services, SA Sent me this price list a few months ago.
HansGruber
Ronin
I have a few customs.
They haven’t been babied; they are well cared for, though.
I do think you get more than just bragging rights for the money; when it comes to 1911’s, the custom guys can hit that super fine line of extreme accuracy coupled with extreme reliability. That’s not something you’ll get off a typical production piece (not saying it doesn’t happen, but it’s not common by a long shot).
That being said, to really get the most out of one, you gotta be able to run one to 10/10s to really appreciate them. The juice may not be worth the squeeze to a lot of people.
But…to quote Ferris Bueller:
They haven’t been babied; they are well cared for, though.
I do think you get more than just bragging rights for the money; when it comes to 1911’s, the custom guys can hit that super fine line of extreme accuracy coupled with extreme reliability. That’s not something you’ll get off a typical production piece (not saying it doesn’t happen, but it’s not common by a long shot).
That being said, to really get the most out of one, you gotta be able to run one to 10/10s to really appreciate them. The juice may not be worth the squeeze to a lot of people.
But…to quote Ferris Bueller:
rcurtner
Professional
Good sights, a decent trigger are a must for me. Reliability trumps everything else. Have three that average around $1300.00 to $1600.00 and fourteen that are $600.00 to $1100.00. All of them have good sights, decent triggers, solid reliability and are far more accurate than I am.
rcurtner
Professional
A few years ago I purchased a Wilson Combat EDC X9 payed $2800.00. Right or wrong didn't carry it, afraid to mess up the finish and maybe loosing it to an over zealous DA. I took it to the range every now and then but, finally sold it bought two nice SA 1911's. Maybe if I had unlimited funds I'd buy another one. Getting very old and don't have anyone to leave any guns to.
HansGruber
Ronin
This is something I’ve found:
A lot of folks who say they can’t afford one will buy several cheaper firearms in a fairly short period…but they’ll add up to the same (if not more) than a custom gun would cost.
I know because I was one of them (and still am, to an extent).
To buy my first custom—a Les Baer—I dumped 5 Glocks.
I bought my first Wilson by moving a Garand and an older S&W. I carry that EDC9 fairly often.
It just boils down to quantity vs. quality, for me.
HansGruber
Ronin
I kinda see that like dating Scarlett Johansson and making her sleep on the couch…
The odds of having to use it are ridiculously low.
If you DO have to use it, and you live to see a DA taking it—it paid for itself a million times over.
It’s just a mindset I don’t get.
rcurtner
Professional
Just my opinion Hans.
HansGruber
Ronin
I get that; just offering mine.
Grayfox
Professional
I can truly appreciate and admire a fine custom pistol. But the fact is that I'm getting old and ain't the man I once was. 
For me it would just be a waste of money. I generally find that a mid-level pistol has all I need and can make use of. OTOH, I have a lot of box stock guns that shoot just fine for me.
For me it would just be a waste of money. I generally find that a mid-level pistol has all I need and can make use of. OTOH, I have a lot of box stock guns that shoot just fine for me.
youngolddude
Professional
For me, I have stock cowboy guns modified to work better. Slick actions, some with go fast parts to offset how they come from the factory. I won an engraving job once for a $20 raffle ticket, one mod that didn't involve speed/reliability. The one thing about that is that you need 4 firearms for a match which might exceed the cost of one very nice 1911. Throw in having the wife shoot her own guns and having different calibers, different gun types, it adds up quickly.
My modern guns are stock with an occasional spring or grip change. None of those are over $1K.
My modern guns are stock with an occasional spring or grip change. None of those are over $1K.