Great info guys! This is exactly what I am planning on. I know by the time I pick up a budget model and outfit it the way I like it. I could just go buy a nice Springfield or Kimber. But where is the fun in that?I'll Second the Springfield, my first 1911 ever was the Springfield 1911A1 in Stainless, picked it up for $500 in the box, and outfitted it as I saw fit (beavertail, barrel, guide rod, safety etc), but I never got real deep into the more technical aspects