I'm thinking of having some work done on my Browning Hi-Power. Do any of you guys have some pistolsmiths that you would recommend?

Yes, I think the very best with a Browning is Cylinder and Slide. www.cylinder-slide.com

Forrest,
There is a fellow in Stafford or Sugar Land who does great work. His name is
Eddie Jimenia 281-499-4918

Ted Yost http://www.yost-bonitz.com

What about Novaks?

http://www.novaksights.com

http://www.novaksights.com/Gun%20Shop/modifications_for_browning.htm

Here is the direct link for the Browning Hi-Powers pistols.

Cylinder and Slide is a mixed bag I have heard some real bad stuff, most of the time it is good but when its bad Oboy. They are one of the best parts sources around, with top drawer parts. they just seem to be having some labor issues as of late. Maybe its been fixed, but 18 months or so ago there was problems.

Ted Yost does great work, I just got a Delta Elite back he went through, perfection is what I got back. The best trigger on all my 1911's and I have two piles of them.

Ned Christiansen does great work also.

Both specialise in Browning Hi Powers, it will be a serious wait either way but you won't be disappointed with the results. Ned does some stuff in metal that you need to see to believe, Ted doesn't do all the exotic stuff Ned does but for building a carry gun that is 110% reliable, with beauty thrown into the mix you will look long and hard to find someone better.

There are some other real legends but most have wait lists that are horrible, Hienie's wait list is over five years, and I heard he stopped adding names to it at all.

Dane Burns is good smith. Victor Tibets is another. But all I recommended have wait lists, maybe Dane is the shortest.

PS. I forgot to mention I am fanatically anal on my carry pistols, any failure is not a option any time, any place, any circumstances, this has resulted in me being even pickier on this platform than I am on my hunting rifles.

Thanks Guys,
This is what I want to end up with:



Or this:

Forrest, without hesitation I'd recommend Ted Yost, who is going to get all of my business in this department from this point forward.

I'm a big fan of custom 1911 and Browning HP pistols, and I've owned a lot of them over the years. Not all pistolsmiths live up to their advanced billing, in fact some of them are way overrated. For example, I own a 1911 from Novak's that is a very poorly executed gun, done as if they were in a rush to get it out the door. I also have a Commander-size 1911 from Wilson's that is also very much overrated, and it's had problems with feeding, a mushy, too-light trigger, and with the rear sight since it was new.

In conrast, I recently got back a custom 1911 from Ted Yost that is an absolute marvel, and without question the best 1911 I've ever owned. Every cosmetic and functional detail was carried out perfectly and exceeded my expectations. Amoung a multitude of virtues, this pistol has the best, most perfectly tuned (and practical) trigger I've ever owned, and this pistol was perfectly zeroed as I received it and shoots incredibly small groups with just about anything you feed it. I had it built as a very simple, reliable pistol. Nothing is there that isn't needed, but everything that is needed is surely in place.

Yost is reasonably priced as well, and turn-around time is very good. You can do no better.........

www.yost-bonitz.com

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quote:

In conrast, I recently got back a custom 1911 from Ted Yost that is an absolute marvel, and without question the best 1911 I've ever owned. Every cosmetic and functional detail was carried out perfectly and exceeded my expectations. Amoung a multitude of virtues, this pistol has the best, most perfectly tuned (and practical) trigger I've ever owned, and this pistol was perfectly zeroed as I received it and shoots incredibly small groups with just about anything you feed it. I had it built as a very simple, reliable pistol. Nothing is there that isn't needed, but everything that is needed is surely in place.

Allen,

You show exceedingly GOOD taste on that, as a owner of a Yost gone through pistol, he is definately top drawer and my Yost Delta was just as you described.

But check out Ned Christiansen's stuff also:

http://www.m-guns.com/index.php

Check out the pics.

I had Ted build my 1911 when he was head gunsmith at Gunsite in the late 90's. Great gun and his work was excellent. Still one of my most reliable guns. Went through their 5 day pistol course and fired 1300-1400 rounds. Not one malfunction and the gun is super accurate.

ForrestB:

I realize this thread is ancient, but here is almost exactly what you wanted to end up with, and basically you save the cost of the pistol and a long wait if you or anyone still has any interest.

I have zero to do with this gun, but have bought several guns from the seller in Ft. Worth and find him to be a good guy to do business with.

Thanks for the link Gato. In the course of talking with Yost about building a pistol, I found a second-hand Yost custom High-Power that was in perfect condition. As much as I like the High-Power, I find myself shooting my 1911s much more often. Yost's work is impeccable.

are those back and front straps stippled instead of checkered? Man that looks awesome and I bet provides grip without being hard on the hands.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
Thanks for the link Gato. In the course of talking with Yost about building a pistol, I found a second-hand Yost custom High-Power that was in perfect condition. As much as I like the High-Power, I find myself shooting my 1911s much more often. Yost's work is impeccable.

I'm not a real fan of 9mms but I like neat guns, if you decide to sell it, let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:
are those back and front straps stippled instead of checkered? Man that looks awesome and I bet provides grip without being hard on the hands.

The straps are stippled and not checkered. The straps on a High-Power are considered (by most pistolsmiths) as being too thin to checker.

Gato, I don't think I'll be selling the Yost High-Power. It's too nice to part with and it requires almost no room to store. I do shoot it on occassion but just not as much as my workhorse pistols.

Never hurts to ask, I've been told no by some that are much better looking, no offense....