pisgahrifle Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 Over the next year or so I'm going to try to put together enough parts for a new single stack. I've got a pretty good idea what I want, and I'm going to be buying according to that plan. Does anyone have any recomendations for a smith I can go to and say, "This is what I have, this is where I want to go with it" and have them be able to build it? I wish I could just send it off to someone and have it done all at one time, but on a teacher's salary that just ain't gonna happen. Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 Brian Hawley at Expiramental Machining is your man. Top notch, supperior work done the way YOU want it. I think he is underpaid. I have also found that EGW's prices are more than fair. As for their reputation, I think its beyond question. D.C. Johnson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuildSF4 Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 I would also check out Matt Mclearn, good prices, fast turn around (right now) and top notch work. He just put a new top end on my open gun (which was more work than it sounds like). Check this post: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...23entry309423 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokarev Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 I've had several 1911 single stacks worked over and a couple more built from parts by Tripp Research. I highly recommend Virgil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 I'd go with Canyon Creek (Rich Dettelhouser). His work is excellent as is his turn around time. He's on this websites Dealer section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 I am sure any of the above can do a great job and build a superb gun to your specs. I would suggest you add Forum members Benny Hill and Jim Anglin to the short list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberneck Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 I should be getting a full house Caspian single stack 9MM in the next two weeks from Virgil Tripp. IMHO he is one of the best kept secrets in the smithing world. He gets a lot of attention for his plating but does first rate work at very reasonable prices. Call him and ask him what it will cost for him to build you a full house gun. When you finish scraping your jaw off the floor make arriangements to hide your credit card bill from the wife. EGW is excellent (they did a bunch of work for me back in April) but a full house gun from George and his crew will take in excess of 12 months. Matt McClearn worked learned his trade from John Nowlin and George Smith but I have no personal experience with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pisgahrifle Posted August 21, 2005 Author Share Posted August 21, 2005 Anybody had any work done by a fellow name of Jim Garthwaite or Ted Yost? Thoughts, opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberneck Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Anybody had any work done by a fellow name of Jim Garthwaite or Ted Yost? Thoughts, opinions? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Both are outstanding gunsmiths. Jim was the American Pistolsmith's smith of the year for '03. Last time I checked he was 3-4 months on a full house gun but is very picky about which parts he will build a gun with. Ted Yost is another excellent smith. For years he was the smithy at Gunsite and has 4 or 5 top notch guys working for him now. I don't know his turnaround time but have been told it is close to a year for full house work. It might be a little shorter now. http://www.yost-bonitz.com/index2.shtml Both guys are excellent gunsmiths who are more than capable of building you a tack driver. Two other names are Don Williams at the action works and David Sams of Sams Custom gunworks. http://samscustomgunworksusa.com/pages/724929/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21 shooter Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 If you are in North Carolina, check with Baity's Custom Gunworks in North Wilkesboro. His work on 1911's is excellent. He also works on/builds AR's and 1,000 yard rifles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 Not sure if he is still in NoVA - but Tim Bacus - 2 thumbs up. Not sure but he may be found at Gilbert's Small arms. Save the Single Stack and cut that hair... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRW Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 I had both do extensive work, Jim did a fantastic job on a Springfield 9mm SS, his attention to detail is amazing and it's a real shooter. Ted did a Hi-Power, IMHO he is one of the best in the business for BHP (a lot of his 1911 work is displayed here (LTW)). Jim will be getting another one of my SS in the near future . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistral404 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I have had worked done by Cylinder & Slide. Bill was just named Pistolsmith of the Year by the Guild. He has an employee named Ralph who I believe is also a member of the Guild. They do some great work there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Lombardo Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Garthwaite is about a year on a "full house" gun Business must be good! I just got a gun back from him and it is very, very nice indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E53X5 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 John Harrison of Precision Gunworks does excellent work; I've had several guns worked on by him, including a full house custom Caspian, and they all run great. My CDP gun is a DW Patriot tuned by John. But be prepared to wait... I will also second rubberneck's advise to talk to Virgil. I'm waiting for a couple of guns to be finished by Virgil as we speak (complete custom builds from the ground up). His prices are very reasonable, and while other smith's wait times are measured in months and even years, Virgil's wait times are measured in weeks. Hey rubberneck... Let's keep this secret to ourselves, would ya? I don't want Virgil's waiting list to grow as long as others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Over the next year or so I'm going to try to put together enough parts for a new single stack. I've got a pretty good idea what I want, and I'm going to be buying according to that plan. Does anyone have any recomendations for a smith I can go to and say, "This is what I have, this is where I want to go with it" and have them be able to build it? I wish I could just send it off to someone and have it done all at one time, but on a teacher's salary that just ain't gonna happen. Suggestions? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Bob Hunter of Hunter Customs built mine. He did a very good job on it and I thought for a reasonable price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve H Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 A lot people overlook the Springfield Custom Shop..........give them a call, they can make whatever you want. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveZ Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 A lot people overlook the Springfield Custom Shop..........give them a call, they can make whatever you want.Steve <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'll second that comment. They built my gun and I'm very happy with the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve H Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 Steven, I just posted the Western States Single Stack info, hopefully you, Rick B and the rest of you guys up there make it down. One of these days, I will come up and shoot up there. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 I'd go with Canyon Creek (Rich Dettelhouser). His work is excellent as is his turn around time. He's on this websites Dealer section. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'll second Sparky's suggestion. Here's my Canyon Creek springer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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