[Charlie Petty]

This is something that has bugged me for awhile but for the 1911 who actually makes the various parts?

I'm really seeking information, not trying to stir up trouble, but with the vast number of aftermarket parts out there do we really believe that the name on the package is the actual maker?

I'm presently looking at a new Remington R1 Enhanced model which is a step above the original which was a basic GI looking gun. This one has the features Kimber made standard long ago: beavertail, good sights, tactical thumb safety etc.

If I wanted to make "Charlie's 1911" I wouldn't have to invest in one single piece of machinery I could contract with vendors and if I bought enough I could have frames and slides marked "Charlie's". And even if I had smokestacks behind the house it might not make sense to invest in all the stuff needed to make a frame or slide, when I could pick up the phone and have some in a day or two.

I know Kimber best but when I was last there a few years ago they showed me the setup they had for making grip screws because their vendor was too slow. They are big enough to do that but most aren't. Bet Colt doesn't make screws.

Remember all the rumors that S&W was making Kimbers when the truth was that Kimber bought raw forgings from them.

I'm looking for names we never hear... behind the scenes stuff...

 

[Snake45]

Apparently, Ruger has been making 1911 frames (possibly slides, too) for somebody for some time now.

I don't think it's any secret that both Caspian and Essex have made frames for others.

 

[guntotin_fool]

Rumors were that remsport was making or supplying the frames for Wilson and Baer.

There were then rumors that remsport was either armscorp or daewoo.

As to screws. Word years ago was that Gardner Screw in Gardner Mass was making most of the screws for all the big gun makers. I know they serviced Marlin, Savage, H&R, Mossberg, Winchester and others.

 

[Steve M1911A1]

Funny: I have a "Charlie's 1911"!
My (now deceased) friend and gunsmith, Chuck (or Charlie) Ries, bought a run of shortie frames from Essex, years ago. They were specially numbered, using his initials (CAR) as the prefix.
I have a pistol Chuck made-up on one of these frames: A "Charlie's (shortie) 1911."

 

[Charlie Petty]

Apparently, Ruger has been making 1911 frames (possibly slides, too) for somebody for some time now.

Not exactly. Ruger has not made frames until now but their Pine Tree Castings in Newport, NH has been making basic castings- not frames- for years. They furnish them to Caspian and (I think) Essex. The new SR1911 starts there but slides are not castings they are made from bar stock in Prescott.

 

[Charlie Petty]

Rumors were that remsport was making or supplying the frames for Wilson and Baer.

There were then rumors that remsport was either armscorp or daewoo.

I'm very sure that Baer makes his own.

Don't know about Wilson but am pretty sure Daewoo would be able to make frames if they wanted to. We already see guns coming out of the Phillipines that have gotten very favorable reports.

I'd sure like to see some real evidence of who does what...

My curiosity is engaged by the statements at the bottom of ads for the R-1

" The Model 1911 R1 is marketed and distributed by E-RPC (tm) LLC. Remington Arms Company Inc. has been contracted by E-RPC LLC to manufacture products."

say what? :? :? :?

 

[guntotin_fool]

I am not sure but I know that in some other areas of potential legal risk a spin off company has been created to develop and sell the new product for the protection of the parent company. A contract then is signed between the two where the spin off assumes all risk and liability and the parent all profit and gains.

 

[Charlie Petty]

On the web site they have FAQs

"where is the 1911R1 made?"

the answer: "The guns are built in our manufacturing facility in Ilion, NY."

I "built" guns in the USAF and we didn't manufacture anything except for a few front sights.

Now "where" the gun is made is less important than "how" but that sure sounds like obfuscation to me.

 

[guntotin_fool]

Charlie you state that you are sure les builds his own frames.

Does he have a hammer forge? Or are you saying he buys forged blanks?

 

[Charlie Petty]

I never asked, but there are at least two sources of raw forgings so there would be no need to have one.

 

[guntotin_fool]

Besides Colt and Remsport's source, who else forges frames?

 

[Charlie Petty]

who is remsports source?

I forgot about Colt although I don't know whether they sell forgings.

S&W does and there is a company in NY state whose name I can't recall

 

[guntotin_fool]

Remsport doesn't say much only that they supply forged frames to many "highly recognizable" makers. There was much discussion on one forum when someone went to pick up pieces at Remsport's Massachusetts location and said there was a large shipping pallet marked Daewoo.

Frankly, as long as they use good steel and the right heat, who does the forging is far far far less important than who does the machining.

It's like building anything, if you start off with plumb, square, and level. Everything else is easy.

 

[Retmsgt.]

Things I know about this;
1.) Most parts for 1911s, Safeties,sears,disconnects,etc are made to the Company selling thems' specs by either Grieder or EGW.

2.) Rugers' Pine tree facility makes frame-castings for alot of manufacturers, themselves included.

 

[Daniel Watters]

My curiosity is engaged by the statements at the bottom of ads for the R-1

" The Model 1911 R1 is marketed and distributed by E-RPC (tm) LLC. Remington Arms Company Inc. has been contracted by E-RPC LLC to manufacture products."

say what? :? :? :?

Best guess: E-RPC = Eliphalet Remington Pistol Company

 

[Charlie Petty]

Thought of that too, but Remington says in their FAQ< "not an acronym"

 

[Al Thompson]

Interesting topic. I know that FN makes (darn good) barrels for a lot of the AR makers and the build M70s, so they could be making sporter barrels too.

One of the guys at Stag arms mentioned that they were looking to build 1911s....

 

[Daniel Watters]

One thing that is rubbing me the wrong way is how certain companies are buying up old brand names. For instance, it is a shame to see Armand Swenson's name used by Midway to rebrand John Masen parts.