Frequently Asked Questions

Often times the simplest of questions and/or issues can be resolved by referring to our frequently asked questions section below. Our most important goal as we serve you is for your complete satisfaction with our products and work, so should you still have a question, inquiry, or comment please feel free to email and we'll reply in kind.

Are you currently accepting work?

Yes. Our doors are never closed and, although we do have a waiting list, we continue to take on new projects everyday.

Do you do small jobs or piece-meal work?

Yes. Depending on the specific job we regularly perform work for smaller jobs/projects on 1911s, Hi-Powers, and revolvers as well as "remodels" of some semi-custom 1911s such as Wilson Combat, Les Baer, etc. As a general rule we concentrate our efforts on complete custom builds of the 1911 and Browning Hi-Power but we are happy to accept some smaller projects as time allows. If you have a compliment of work in mind please contact Jason at the shop to discuss your potential project.... Jason@hp1911.com or 480-804-1911.

What are the current lead times for work?

The lead time for a project is one of the hardest things to reliably estimate due to the many variables involved from project to project. As such, the lead time for your specific project will largely depend on the details and compliment of work desired. While complete builds are currently running approximately 10 months from the day we receive your base gun smaller projects and other work is quite often faster. For an exact lead time quote or to discuss your potential project or work desired please contact Jason at the shop... Jason@hp1911.com or 480-804-1911.

How does your waiting list work?

Getting a place in line is easy... unless other arrangements are made, your place in line is secured once we have received your base gun. When it's your turn at the bench and we're ready to start your project we'll contact you to solidify the details of the build. To discuss a project and/or to secure a place on our waiting list please email or call Jason at the shop.... Jason@hp1911.com or 480-804-1911

What are the current lead times for sight installations?

Sight installations generally run between 2-4 weeks however, just as with other work, certain variables may dictate that delivery times fluctuate one way or another.

What type of payment do you accept and when is payment due?

We accept checks, money orders, Visa, and Master Card. Under most circumstances no money is required until we have completed our work and are ready to send the project for a final finish such as hard chrome, Ion Bond, Black-T etc. However, with some projects we may require payment before beginning the work.

How should I ship my pistol to your shop?

You can use either UPS or FedEx to send your pistol to us. Both may have specific requirements when shipping firearms so it is best to refer to their respective websites for instructions. Our shipping address is:

Heirloom Precision
2118 E. 5th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281
480-804-1911

Which brand of pistol/frame do you prefer to build on?

We make no bones about it, we're big fans of using Colt pistols as the basis for our custom 1911s. However, in addition to Colt most any quality base gun/frame such as those from Springfield Armory, Les Baer, and Caspian will make a beautiful custom gun once we're done with it. With that said, we have found that using a specific brand or model of base gun may better suit certain projects either stylistically or functionally and we're always happy to lend a hand or a bit of guidance when choosing your base gun.

For Browning Hi-Powers we will only work on Browning or FN made pistols.

Who will build my pistol?

As you probably have already noticed there are only three `smiths at our shop and only two of them (Ted and Jason) build full time. Should you want a specific `smith to build your gun or to have two or more of the builders collaborate on your project we will make every attempt to accommodate that request.

Which front sight height will work with the Yost Retro rear sight?

It's not really possible to say what front sight height will be required for every pistol as each gun can be different as there are many variables that will determine exactly what height front sight your particular gun will need. That said, the Yost Retro rear sight was designed to work with the stock front sight height on the current Colt 1911 pistols, .175". Additionally, if your existing rear sight is the same height as the Retro rear and your gun currently shoots POA/POI then your front sight height will remain the same.

Will dry firing damage my pistol?

No. It has been shown through our experience that dry firing a properly maintained 1911 or Browning Hi-Power will cause no undue wear to the pistol. In the past, and with certain rim-fire firearms, dry firing was frowned upon but with a properly functioning and maintained pistol dry firing should not cause any major issues and instead is a valuable tool that can help improve and maintain trigger control.

Is the use of a shock buff recommended?

No. Using a shock buff shortens the stroke of the pistol and can lead to erratic ejection and malfunctions. We have found that with proper maintenance and regular recoil spring replacement intervals there is no substantial value to having a shock buff installed in ones pistol.

Is letting the slide slam home on an empty chamber bad for my pistol?

Basically, yes it is. While an occasional or accidental occurrence may not damage ones pistol the repeated act of the slide slamming closed on an empty chamber can have an adverse effect on the pistol's hammer and sear geometry as well as cause battering between the frame, slide stop, and barrel feet. Whenever possible ease the slide home when not chambering a round.

When chambering a round should I "ride" the slide into battery?

No. When actually chambering a round always let the slide return to battery under the complete forward force of the recoil spring. Do not run the slide home by hand.

Can closing the slide on a loaded/live chamber cause damage?

Basically, yes it can. Whenever possible one should never allow the extractor to snap over the rim or a cartridge or dummy round, such as the case when closing the slide on a live or loaded chamber. The act of doing this forces the extractor to operate outside of its intended range of motion and can lead to a loss of extractor tension, premature extractor fatigue, and/or failure/breakage of the extractor.