Been bit by 1911 bug - Want Bobbed Commander for CCW - Page 4

bluelineman · May 11th, 2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AEA

Here ya go.....Kimber Pro Carry II Bobbed.

With real Ed Brown bobtail cut grips.

If you don't mind my asking, what did the Bobtail cost to get done?

roadsiderob · May 11th, 2008, 02:18 PM

Here is a recent pictures of the 10mm Bobtail Commander I am building. I took my time and the Bobtail came out really well. It is based on an Essex frame with a Fusion slide and barrel, VZ grips, Ed Brown and Chip McCormack internals, and it now has Novak adjustable sights. It took a 27lb Wolff recoil spring. I was having problems with the original Metalform mags, but a switch to Mec-Gar mags has it running better. The only issue left to fix is that with full power Doubletap ammunition, the recoil impulse will sometimes engage the slide stop...normal commercial 10mm runs fine. It's been a really fun project to build and I have learned a lot.

AEA · May 11th, 2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluelineman

If you don't mind my asking, what did the Bobtail cost to get done?

PM sent
Cheaper than 500.00 that's for sure!

And.....turn around time is about 5 days (including the shipping).

ontarget1911 · May 26th, 2008, 04:28 PM

I don't charge $500 for just a bob. Far from it. You will get a near totally rebuilt 1911 including:
Replacing all MIM ignition parts with EGW parts
Match bushing custom fit
Tightened and accurized
Total reiability work
Frame refinishing
Grips custom cut to match bob ($100 giveaway) free (2 sets)
Barrel Crown hand cut and polished
Range testing
Could include depending on the 1911
Heinie Straight 8s

I do 95% of the bob work by hand. That is why they are all different. Most others slap the frame in a CNC machine and have the hole drill.ed and the frame cut in 5 minutes. I spend over an hour drilling the hole under sized and then fitting the MSH pin by hand. Then over 4 hours hand fitting the bob. Then another hour per grip set cutting the grips by hand to make sure they match. I think that an exposed MSH pin hole on a bob is not the best look, that is why I cut the bob section to match the countour of the grip as if the bottom of the bob area is the bottom of the grip, not gapped and open like the side of the grip panels like most of the off the shelf bob grips are cut. It is a personal preference. Also as a side note, 90% of the work I do on an HP, 1911 or anything else is by hand. I only use a mill or lathe if there is no other way to get it done. After I drill and fit the frame, I cut about 75% of the bob section off with a cut wheel and then hand file and fit the rest of the bob. I also reshape the bobtail housing for a better ergo and asthetic fit. I think that if you take the time to look at some of the pics of the bobs I do and the Ed Brown or DW, they are very different. I would not even suggest sending a gun out for just a bobtail. The shipping alone is almost more than the cost of the bobtail housing and the labor. If I were to just charge the labor for just the bob it would be only $80.00. Why spend over $100.00 in shipping to just get a bob job? Not very cost effective. Sorry for ranting and being so lengthy, but I am down to the point where I won't take a shipped gun in for just a bob job, it just doesn't make any economic sense for the customer. I still do one or two step remakes for local customers as there is no shipping or insurance involved. I think that the old axiom applies. You get what you pay for. I am not trying to be defensive, just expanding on what you get for what you pay.

Jess

Colin · May 27th, 2008, 12:44 AM

The 1911 bug is a nasty virus, it fills up your safe and drains your wallet. It has many variations, attempts to alleviate it with large purchases, only work for awhile, soon the addiction will strike again as a another variation comes along, forcing the inflicted to have severe angst about not have the Custom Nighthawk SV-2000, Super Max now with Front serrations!!!
Another insidious form of this addiction is the Brownells-catlogue, custom bits syndrome (BccBS) this one cause long term pain for spouses as the inflicted scans catalogues for hours, waits weeks for parts to arrive and then escapes to the mannest to spend days muttering, cursing ,screams and requiring minor first aid at the clinic. Even fairly large purchase only cause temporary relief.

The only cure known is a forced withdrawal taking away all 1911’s and then using a somewhat less harmful placebo substitute known as the Glock 17. Any attempts to cure the addiction using a Glock chambered in .45acp is doomed to failure.

AZ Husker · May 27th, 2008, 01:37 AM

Ontarget1911 brings up a great point...ergonomics. The bobtails on my Brown KC and one of my Kimbers are at an angle with two distinct corners. Chuck Rogers bobtailed my Colt and is doing a second Kimber right now. He made a gently curving profile that feels wonderful yet still removed all the corner. He also blends the grips to match the bobtail. A stock set of bobtail grips from the manufacturers will have the angled corner like a Brown.

jam · May 27th, 2008, 02:27 AM

you know I must say that I like the way Ontarget1911 thinks. I mean it seems like the package he is offering is a pretty good deal. I can only tell you that if I were to ask for those services where I live in E. Tennessee that I would probably pay more than 500. As a matter of fact I was quoted more than 500. I have a champion springer on order and was wanting it bobtailed and possibly getting a trigger job and got a quote over 500.

AZ Husker · May 27th, 2008, 02:47 AM

The going rate I've seen is around $150 for the bobtail labor and MSH, plus any refinishing if not a stainless gun. It's really not that much work for a machinist or gunsmith.

WilliamWallace · May 30th, 2008, 06:12 PM

Jess,

Would you do the job you just described to a 2007 RIA Tactical or do you consider it to be too cheap a gun to work on? I have been told that the ones they used to make were junk material and they wouldn't be worth working on. The one I have is 100% reliable and cost half as much as my Kimber paperweight. It just doesn't have the quality feel that the Kimber paperweight has and I'd like to do a little upgrade to it as a project gun. The package you just described sounds perfect. I would also need night sights installed while you have it. I guess we should probably talk off the board, but others might have similar questions.

Do you usually do the matte gray frame/black slide on this type of job or is that extra?

As a side question, have you ever machined the rail off a 1911?

Thanks for your time!

ontarget1911 · May 31st, 2008, 06:09 PM

Send me an email at ontarget1911@gmail.com and we can work out the details.

Jess

May 26th, 2008, 04:28 PM	#34
ontarget1911 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 164	Bob cost I don't charge $500 for just a bob. Far from it. You will get a near totally rebuilt 1911 including: Replacing all MIM ignition parts with EGW parts Match bushing custom fit Tightened and accurized Total reiability work Frame refinishing Grips custom cut to match bob ($100 giveaway) free (2 sets) Barrel Crown hand cut and polished Range testing Could include depending on the 1911 Heinie Straight 8s I do 95% of the bob work by hand. That is why they are all different. Most others slap the frame in a CNC machine and have the hole drill.ed and the frame cut in 5 minutes. I spend over an hour drilling the hole under sized and then fitting the MSH pin by hand. Then over 4 hours hand fitting the bob. Then another hour per grip set cutting the grips by hand to make sure they match. I think that an exposed MSH pin hole on a bob is not the best look, that is why I cut the bob section to match the countour of the grip as if the bottom of the bob area is the bottom of the grip, not gapped and open like the side of the grip panels like most of the off the shelf bob grips are cut. It is a personal preference. Also as a side note, 90% of the work I do on an HP, 1911 or anything else is by hand. I only use a mill or lathe if there is no other way to get it done. After I drill and fit the frame, I cut about 75% of the bob section off with a cut wheel and then hand file and fit the rest of the bob. I also reshape the bobtail housing for a better ergo and asthetic fit. I think that if you take the time to look at some of the pics of the bobs I do and the Ed Brown or DW, they are very different. I would not even suggest sending a gun out for just a bobtail. The shipping alone is almost more than the cost of the bobtail housing and the labor. If I were to just charge the labor for just the bob it would be only $80.00. Why spend over $100.00 in shipping to just get a bob job? Not very cost effective. Sorry for ranting and being so lengthy, but I am down to the point where I won't take a shipped gun in for just a bob job, it just doesn't make any economic sense for the customer. I still do one or two step remakes for local customers as there is no shipping or insurance involved. I think that the old axiom applies. You get what you pay for. I am not trying to be defensive, just expanding on what you get for what you pay. Jess __________________ "Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property" Luke 11:21ontarget1911@gmail.com OnTarget LLC Custom Gunworks http://www.ontargetcgw.com

May 27th, 2008, 01:37 AM	#36
AZ Husker VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,772	Ontarget1911 brings up a great point...ergonomics. The bobtails on my Brown KC and one of my Kimbers are at an angle with two distinct corners. Chuck Rogers bobtailed my Colt and is doing a second Kimber right now. He made a gently curving profile that feels wonderful yet still removed all the corner. He also blends the grips to match the bobtail. A stock set of bobtail grips from the manufacturers will have the angled corner like a Brown. __________________ Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse.

May 27th, 2008, 02:47 AM	#38
AZ Husker VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,772	The going rate I've seen is around $150 for the bobtail labor and MSH, plus any refinishing if not a stainless gun. It's really not that much work for a machinist or gunsmith. __________________ Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse.

May 31st, 2008, 06:09 PM	#40
ontarget1911 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 164	Send me an email at ontarget1911@gmail.com and we can work out the details. Jess __________________ "Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property" Luke 11:21ontarget1911@gmail.com OnTarget LLC Custom Gunworks http://www.ontargetcgw.com

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May 11th, 2008, 02:18 PM	#32
roadsiderob Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 121	Here is a recent pictures of the 10mm Bobtail Commander I am building. I took my time and the Bobtail came out really well. It is based on an Essex frame with a Fusion slide and barrel, VZ grips, Ed Brown and Chip McCormack internals, and it now has Novak adjustable sights. It took a 27lb Wolff recoil spring. I was having problems with the original Metalform mags, but a switch to Mec-Gar mags has it running better. The only issue left to fix is that with full power Doubletap ammunition, the recoil impulse will sometimes engage the slide stop...normal commercial 10mm runs fine. It's been a really fun project to build and I have learned a lot.

May 27th, 2008, 12:44 AM	#35
Colin Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,385	The 1911 bug is a nasty virus, it fills up your safe and drains your wallet. It has many variations, attempts to alleviate it with large purchases, only work for awhile, soon the addiction will strike again as a another variation comes along, forcing the inflicted to have severe angst about not have the Custom Nighthawk SV-2000, Super Max now with Front serrations!!! Another insidious form of this addiction is the Brownells-catlogue, custom bits syndrome (BccBS) this one cause long term pain for spouses as the inflicted scans catalogues for hours, waits weeks for parts to arrive and then escapes to the mannest to spend days muttering, cursing ,screams and requiring minor first aid at the clinic. Even fairly large purchase only cause temporary relief. The only cure known is a forced withdrawal taking away all 1911’s and then using a somewhat less harmful placebo substitute known as the Glock 17. Any attempts to cure the addiction using a Glock chambered in .45acp is doomed to failure.

May 27th, 2008, 02:27 AM	#37
jam New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: KY Posts: 11	you know I must say that I like the way Ontarget1911 thinks. I mean it seems like the package he is offering is a pretty good deal. I can only tell you that if I were to ask for those services where I live in E. Tennessee that I would probably pay more than 500. As a matter of fact I was quoted more than 500. I have a champion springer on order and was wanting it bobtailed and possibly getting a trigger job and got a quote over 500.

May 30th, 2008, 06:12 PM	#39
WilliamWallace Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vegas Posts: 37	Jess, Would you do the job you just described to a 2007 RIA Tactical or do you consider it to be too cheap a gun to work on? I have been told that the ones they used to make were junk material and they wouldn't be worth working on. The one I have is 100% reliable and cost half as much as my Kimber paperweight. It just doesn't have the quality feel that the Kimber paperweight has and I'd like to do a little upgrade to it as a project gun. The package you just described sounds perfect. I would also need night sights installed while you have it. I guess we should probably talk off the board, but others might have similar questions. Do you usually do the matte gray frame/black slide on this type of job or is that extra? As a side question, have you ever machined the rail off a 1911? Thanks for your time!