ISO 1911 Gunsmith in Memphis area

[JCJeepCJ]

I am not sure if this is the best sub forum to post this under, so I apologize in advance if this is not it. I am looking for a competent gunsmith in the Memphis area to do some trigger work on a couple of 1911’s - any suggestions?

 

[Grayfox54]

I don't know of anybody who specializes in 1911s. I've always heard good things about Kieth Warner in Germantown. But I also hear that he stays backed up for months. In fact, pretty much any gunsmith you find will take a while to get to your gun. 

The 1911 is a very easy gun to work on. A few basic tools and some youtube videos and you could do it yourself. 

What brand guns are you wanting worked on? 

[JCJeepCJ]

21 hours ago, Grayfox54 said:

I don't know of anybody who specializes in 1911s. I've always heard good things about Kieth Warner in Germantown. But I also hear that he stays backed up for months. In fact, pretty much any gunsmith you find will take a while to get to your gun. 

The 1911 is a very easy gun to work on. A few basic tools and some youtube videos and you could do it yourself. 

What brand guns are you wanting worked on? 

Unfortunately Keith isn’t an option at this time - but my father has a Colt 9mm 1911 and maybe one more that is needing some work done on it. He’s not on local boards so I told him I’d put some feelers out. 
 

I suggested he/we find one that has a good track record that may not be local, and ship to them (as is most common with AK’s, other more specialized firearms); but he is wanting to talk to the smith if at all possible and show what he’s wanting done. 

[Chucktshoes]

Not quite Memphis, but maybe holler at John @ Cypress Creek in Dyersburg. I’d say he’s worth the drive. They’ve done a fair amount of work for me and I’ve always been quite satisfied. 

[Grayfox54]

Outside of Warner, I don't know of anybody in Memphis I would trust. And like I said, the few we have around here are backed up for months. That's one of the reasons I learned to do my own work. 

There is a gunsmith at Guns & Ammo. I don't know anything about him. Not even his name. To me that would be a crap shoot. Maybe somebody else here can provide info? 

Give Chuck's guy a call. Maybe he can help you out.  Cypress Creek is a good store and its only 1.5 hours from Memphis. 

Unless the gun is non-functional or you plan a complete target or carry package, I'd think long and hard about shipping it off for work. That's gonna be expensive and time consuming. I doubt it would be worth it just for a trigger job. Maybe you can find a place that has shipping included and will send you a label, but I don't know of one. 

Did UPS and Fed Ex ever decide if an individual can ship a gun? Otherwise, you may have to pay a FFL to ship it for you. 

Frankly, if the gun is functioning properly, I'd either do the work myself or just learn to live with it. 

[DocHawk]

On 5/26/2023 at 12:05 AM, Grayfox54 said:

The 1911 is a very easy gun to work on. A few basic tools and some youtube videos and you could do it yourself. 

I'm a 1911 specialist, but I'm all the way in Chattanooga. I have built over 200 full 1911's, and tuned and customized countless others.

I must respectfully disagree with the above; the 1911 is one of the most complex handguns to tune correctly (and safely). I have more money in 1911 specialty tools than I do for all other handguns combined. No sir, simple tools are absolutely not adequate for even the most common jobs, such as trigger work and timing or barrel fitment. At least, not at what most consider a true "gunsmith" level.

Just tuning a trigger takes several hundred dollars in specialty tools. I need trigger stirrup anvils of various sizes to form the trigger bow - essential for smooth and even support along the magwell trigger shelf. I need a sear microscope to set my sear angles ($$$!). I need my 1911 stoning jigs to cut my sear and hone my ignition group. A whole set of tools is needed to set the link and cut the lugs. And fitment of the hood and recoil lugs is a whole art form in itself! Anyway... with all due respect, growing into working on 1911's was a multi-year, multi-thousand dollar proposition for us.

 

Edited November 13, 2023 by DocHawk

[DJTC45]

I've done every one of my 1911's and 2011's Trigger's and other parts and I haven't spent thousands of dollars on tools. 

[DocHawk]

2 hours ago, DJTC45 said:

I've done every one of my 1911's and 2011's Trigger's and other parts and I haven't spent thousands of dollars on tools. 

Good on you! The difference is, people probably aren't lining up for months out to pay you for those trigger jobs. I've had some of my customs win championships, and those customers want very specific feels on their triggers. 

I respect anyone who invests the time and effort to figure out how to work on their own possessions, firearms or otherwise.

[Chucktshoes]

I think we’re talking about the difference between a dude changing his own oil and a nascar crew chief. Sure, technically they’re both doing car maintenance, but in reality we’re talking totally different things. 

[ken_mays]

On 5/26/2023 at 10:19 PM, Grayfox54 said:

There is a gunsmith at Guns & Ammo. I don't know anything about him. Not even his name. To me that would be a crap shoot. Maybe somebody else here can provide info?

That's Phil Colley.  I have never done business with him, but know plenty of people who have.  Consensus is that he's pretty good but he's slow.   I have friends who have had 1911s built by Colley back in the 90s.  Here's a racegun he did for one of them.  I think the comp was removed and some other things done later, but it was nice work for the time.

Edited December 10, 2023 by ken_mays