So this question rises from some reading I have been doing on custom gun smithing. Can you take a "inexpensive" gun and make it better for the same price as one off the shelf?
Example:
You buy a RIA 1911 for $400. you send it off to a custom shop (like Wilson or whatever) and spend $1100 on upgrades. do you wined up with a TRP equivalent? or a $1500 RIA?
This all started when I renewed my love with the 1911 recently. I got a full size Kimber TLE and it now sits next to my old Springfield Ultra Comact and well, the Springfield looks really...out of place now (it could use some love). So I got to poking around looking for a new 3" or so 1911. for about $1200ish I can get a really nice one (take your pick Kimber, STI, Sig). but then I thought; what if I sent my Springfield off to a company like Wilson combat? for about $1000 I could have a bunch of work done to it (if they did 3.5" guns that is) and maybe wined up with something really cool. but would it be any better than a off the shelf 1911?
any thoughts?