I'm going to start with a letter I sent to Fusion requesting evaluation before a potential sale. This included the build details. After that is included their response in current cost to construct an identical firearm. Pictures are no longer entirely unedited, as I blurred the serial numbers for public posting:
Okay, here goes. I’m giving you as much information as I can think of at the moment. I’m more than happy to ship it over to you for personal inspection if you’d like.
I’ve included a lot of pictures, and it took a few hours to get them out because I wanted to get the parts dry for photography in relation to condition. There may be a spot of oil here and there, and you can see it in the assembled shots, but I wasn’t putting it back together without grease and oil. I tried to keep it out of shot, but I still ended up with a few reflections.
These photographs are straight out of the camera, with no editing whatsoever.
Condition:
About 500 or so rounds fired (I don't recall at this point exactly how many, but it was around that), with no more than 50 at a time, if I recall correctly. Pathetic, I know. It’s a shame, really. Initial 50 included maintenance every mag for break-in. Not too long after that, I was injured severely, and unable to travel. The weapon was never used as intended. I only punched a few holes in paper, and then stored it in a climate-controlled safe, removing for monthly inspections and oiling when required.
Trigger has one place where the Yukon coating didn’t quite take, but I wasn’t going to bother you about it, given the intended use. I figured it would get scratched up anyway. In the end it never went, and neither did I. Injuries finally grounded me completely, and I’m still recovering.
Cosmetic condition aside from that little corner on the trigger is mint. It’s immaculate, with absolutely no corrosion of any kind. No external scratches, either. The finish is only faded a touch under the release lever, but there are no scratches from manipulation. It’s invisible when assembled. I was incredibly careful removing and installing that, and used a nylon shim to depress the spring detent for smooth assembly every time.
I’m paranoid about firearm maintenance. I white glove test my own stuff every time. If I shoot something for ten minutes, I’ll spend an hour carefully inspecting and cleaning.
Barrel still sparkles inside, and the only marks on the barrel and small parts are those that simply happen when firing. Likewise, frame and slide wear are not even to the point of being fully broken in. It’s sad, but I never really had a chance to take it out and give it a good workout. It showed up, I shot it a few times, and since then I just stored and maintained it.
Any marks you may see are reflections from poor lighting, minus that coating chip on the corner of the trigger. It just hiccupped when it was coated. It would have looked perfect upon shipment, but there must have been a touch of contaminant under the coat. I never worried about it.
Here are the details:
Fusion Full Custom 1911
1: Pro Series Tactical 1911 custom frame with undercut trigger guard and chain-link front strap with beveled and chamfered magazine well and .250 radius cut for high ride safety.
2: 5 inch slide with rear Sure Grip serrations and Novak sight cuts including 10-8 U notch Combat rear sight and white dot XS front sight.
3: Custom trigger group tuned between 4 and 5 pounds with clean let-off.
4: Pro Series Hi-Force Hammer in T-11 Gray Yukon
5: Pro Series 3 hole adjustable Combat Trigger in T-11 Gray Yukon
6: 416 Stainless Match 45ACP ramped barrel with fitted link and bushing, flush cut with target crown and stainless barrel bushing.
7: Steel small parts:
A: High Ride beaver tail grip safety
B: Chain-link mainspring housing
C: Extended combat thumb safety
D: Sure Lock combat slide stop
E: GI Guide rod recoil system
F: Extended combat magazine release
8: Counter-sunk frame and flush-cut slide stop pin
9: Black rubber checkered grips
10: Satin matte Ion Bond DLC finish on frame and slide, with T-11 Yukon gray finish on small accent parts.
11: Basic case that was included, and a number of quality, spare magazines. May also include Surefire X-300.
When I initially ordered it, I was after a practical, hard-wearing, reliable pistol meant for bush carry and potential use during bandit attacks. You built precisely what I requested. I am in no way dissatisfied with the firearm. I figured I’d explore the value of this and see if I was willing to let it go if the price would be right.
Following is the response:
Hello Kennith,
Yes for a build like this today it would be 3595.00 brand new
Thanks again let me know if you need anything else
So, there's what it would cost to build today. You will find numerous pictures included in the thread showing the condition of various parts disassembled and assembled. I don't know if anyone here is interested in a firearm in this price echelon, but obviously it's not going to be selling at MSRP. It'll still be expensive as fuck, though.
This is a luxury purchase, make no mistake. It'll be rock-solid, and it's backed by a responsive, polite, and helpful manufacturer. Great guys, in my experience.
Is this any better than the 1911 you may already have? Well, objectively it may well be, but in practical use, of course you don't need something this nice.
Pictures to follow shortly, as I don't know how many I can put in one post.
Cheers,
Kennith
Okay, here goes. I’m giving you as much information as I can think of at the moment. I’m more than happy to ship it over to you for personal inspection if you’d like.
I’ve included a lot of pictures, and it took a few hours to get them out because I wanted to get the parts dry for photography in relation to condition. There may be a spot of oil here and there, and you can see it in the assembled shots, but I wasn’t putting it back together without grease and oil. I tried to keep it out of shot, but I still ended up with a few reflections.
These photographs are straight out of the camera, with no editing whatsoever.
Condition:
About 500 or so rounds fired (I don't recall at this point exactly how many, but it was around that), with no more than 50 at a time, if I recall correctly. Pathetic, I know. It’s a shame, really. Initial 50 included maintenance every mag for break-in. Not too long after that, I was injured severely, and unable to travel. The weapon was never used as intended. I only punched a few holes in paper, and then stored it in a climate-controlled safe, removing for monthly inspections and oiling when required.
Trigger has one place where the Yukon coating didn’t quite take, but I wasn’t going to bother you about it, given the intended use. I figured it would get scratched up anyway. In the end it never went, and neither did I. Injuries finally grounded me completely, and I’m still recovering.
Cosmetic condition aside from that little corner on the trigger is mint. It’s immaculate, with absolutely no corrosion of any kind. No external scratches, either. The finish is only faded a touch under the release lever, but there are no scratches from manipulation. It’s invisible when assembled. I was incredibly careful removing and installing that, and used a nylon shim to depress the spring detent for smooth assembly every time.
I’m paranoid about firearm maintenance. I white glove test my own stuff every time. If I shoot something for ten minutes, I’ll spend an hour carefully inspecting and cleaning.
Barrel still sparkles inside, and the only marks on the barrel and small parts are those that simply happen when firing. Likewise, frame and slide wear are not even to the point of being fully broken in. It’s sad, but I never really had a chance to take it out and give it a good workout. It showed up, I shot it a few times, and since then I just stored and maintained it.
Any marks you may see are reflections from poor lighting, minus that coating chip on the corner of the trigger. It just hiccupped when it was coated. It would have looked perfect upon shipment, but there must have been a touch of contaminant under the coat. I never worried about it.
Here are the details:
Fusion Full Custom 1911
1: Pro Series Tactical 1911 custom frame with undercut trigger guard and chain-link front strap with beveled and chamfered magazine well and .250 radius cut for high ride safety.
2: 5 inch slide with rear Sure Grip serrations and Novak sight cuts including 10-8 U notch Combat rear sight and white dot XS front sight.
3: Custom trigger group tuned between 4 and 5 pounds with clean let-off.
4: Pro Series Hi-Force Hammer in T-11 Gray Yukon
5: Pro Series 3 hole adjustable Combat Trigger in T-11 Gray Yukon
6: 416 Stainless Match 45ACP ramped barrel with fitted link and bushing, flush cut with target crown and stainless barrel bushing.
7: Steel small parts:
A: High Ride beaver tail grip safety
B: Chain-link mainspring housing
C: Extended combat thumb safety
D: Sure Lock combat slide stop
E: GI Guide rod recoil system
F: Extended combat magazine release
8: Counter-sunk frame and flush-cut slide stop pin
9: Black rubber checkered grips
10: Satin matte Ion Bond DLC finish on frame and slide, with T-11 Yukon gray finish on small accent parts.
11: Basic case that was included, and a number of quality, spare magazines. May also include Surefire X-300.
When I initially ordered it, I was after a practical, hard-wearing, reliable pistol meant for bush carry and potential use during bandit attacks. You built precisely what I requested. I am in no way dissatisfied with the firearm. I figured I’d explore the value of this and see if I was willing to let it go if the price would be right.
Following is the response:
Hello Kennith,
Yes for a build like this today it would be 3595.00 brand new
Thanks again let me know if you need anything else
So, there's what it would cost to build today. You will find numerous pictures included in the thread showing the condition of various parts disassembled and assembled. I don't know if anyone here is interested in a firearm in this price echelon, but obviously it's not going to be selling at MSRP. It'll still be expensive as fuck, though.
This is a luxury purchase, make no mistake. It'll be rock-solid, and it's backed by a responsive, polite, and helpful manufacturer. Great guys, in my experience.
Is this any better than the 1911 you may already have? Well, objectively it may well be, but in practical use, of course you don't need something this nice.
Pictures to follow shortly, as I don't know how many I can put in one post.
Cheers,
Kennith
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