[Jeff Higgins]

I'm with SlowToady on the Les Baer; I have never personally shot (or even handled) one but I hear nothing but good things about them.

With any of the custom 'smiths like Baer, Clark, Wilson, Brown, rdane, etc. you have a couple of choices. They all sell "production" guns, or as close as they will ever come to one, with pre-specified (by them) features. If they suit you, it's one hell of a good way to get a great gun. The other choice is to really go custom, and specify what you would like. This will cost more, but it will be your gun; the only one like it in the world. Either way you get a hand fitted gun that is going to shoot very accurately and reliably. Then there is pride of ownership, and all of that as well.

Problem is, if you shoot some one with it, they are going to take it away from you. Even if you are exhonerated as having fired in self defense, it will be a very long time until it is released back into your possesion. Especially if civil proceedings (family of the poor innocent thug you killed suing your ass) follow. In some places or cases you may never get it back. In some cases if and when you do, you may not recognize it. The evidence room won't take care of it for you - it may resemble the exhaust manifolds on an old Ford when you get it back. Anyway, what I'm getting at, is any gun used for self-defense should be viewed as a throw away item. Don't use something too nice. The sweet custom guns are great at the range, great for plinking, great in the woods, and every growing boy needs a few. It would just be a crying shame to lose one because you had to shoot some miscreant with it.

My personal "everyday" 1911 is a 25 year old mil spec Springfield purchased brand new for about $350. I installed a full length guide rod, a Wilson 22 pound spring (and matching firing pin spring), and some Bianchi hard rubber stocks and called it good for the parts swapping. An evening spent with my Dremel and Kunhausen's book on 1911's, and I had a lowered and flared ejection port, a throated barrel, and a polished feed ramp. Ta-da; el cheapo reliable sidearm. I won't cry if I have to use it someday, and lose it as a result.