Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Interesting thing found under the rear site of a Baer

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=480437

Looks like someone either botched the rear sight cut, or had an undersized rear sight, was in a hurry, and this was their solution. Clearly it worked since the guy's sights were rock solid for a decade, but it certainly ain't pretty.

Baer's are all hand fit, they don't spend much time on milling machines. But those guys they have working there appear to be really under the gun to turn them out fast, because I've found more than a few functionally perfect Baer's that had some pretty shabby cosmetic flaws from rapid assembly. Still a great gun, but I wish they'd slow down a touch.

�..week before last (at SHOT) Les told me that he's two years out now.

CJ got my PII/ I.5 to me lickity split.

I'd be very disappointed. That's unacceptable for a Les Baer 1911.

Everything on a custom pistol in that league should be perfect.

Agreed.

msrtex msrtex is online now
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Join Date: Jan 2004
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heidad01 View Post


Are you serious Jim??
I was expecting to hear something along the line of a $400 imported Norinco or a RIA or some kitchen table bubba made slide not a Les Baer.


In their defense, they did reply that there is no way this left the factory this way. I bought what was labeled a new pistol from a dealer 17 years ago and it has performed flawlessly ever since. Rear sight has dimmed and this is the reason for replacing it. Not sure how this happened or who is at fault but I believe John Harrison hit the nail on the head, "just fit your new sight and move on".
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BWAAHAHAA!!

That ol' Les is such a kidder.

We'll of course that's what they're going to say. Just read the WHOLE thread.

Harrison makes a good point----if it were done with symmetry and not free hand, everyone would think, "wow, that's cool."

Para Ordinance used to use hot glue to secure sights. Baer using Loctite is a bonus upgrade.

So you are saying that this was done by Les Baer Custom Inc.?

G

Yes it was.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlchemyCustom
"This one was overdone, and is visually stunning."

Quote of the week above. I was, I guess trying to give them the benefit of doubt but I do not believe them.

I'm not saying anything, just re-posting what I found. But if you want me to comment, if the OP is right and truthful, then it appears to me that indeed came from the factory that way.

Didn't the man buy the gun in question used 17 years ago, Kevin?

I am the OP and yes I did buy it 17 years ago, new.

Look at the replies from the two gunsmiths in the original post, they have seen this before from the same manufacture. Sight worked fine for a long time including carried some and used in a class, I was just a bit amazed at the hatchet job done to fit it.

Kevin,

I've know msrtex longer than he's had that pistol, and he's a stand up guy. In fact, I remember when he bought it. I put a few mags through it shortly after he got it. I also know the guys at the store where he purchased it. He bought it factory new.

I have no doubt at all that the pistol came from the factory that way.

That two pistolsmiths identified it as a Baer before they were told it was a Baer, tells me LB does this a good bit.

As msrtex points out, it has worked. It's just not the level of craftsmanship he would have hoped for in a expensive "custom" pistol and I don't blame him. He has right to be disappointed.

Les Baer's response of denial of responsibility is worse than the craftsmanship issue. If outside smiths can identify it as a Baer, the LB shop certainly can too. They know damn well how they put them together.

If I were in the market for an expensive 1911, I'd look elsewhere. I expect better quality and customer service when I spend that kind of money.

I don't have any complaints about Baer pistols, but their lower priced models definitely aren't refined - nor are they expensive customs. Lots of Baer pistols sport that kind of workmanship or worse.