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Stan Chen Customs builds handcrafted 1911 pistols with obsessive attention to detail. This isn't a production shop—Stan personally crafts each gun, and the current backlog reflects demand from serious competitors and discerning shooters. Full-house custom 1911 builds - Complete ground-up constructio...
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01 // DETAILS
Full description and what we offer
Stan Chen Customs builds handcrafted 1911 pistols with obsessive attention to detail. This isn't a production shop—Stan personally crafts each gun, and the current backlog reflects demand from serious competitors and discerning shooters.
Stan Chen founded ASYM Precision Ammunition in 2010 and built it into a championship brand—ASYM ammo won 8 world and national titles, including the 2013 NRA National Pistol Championship at Camp Perry. In 2014, he sold ASYM to focus entirely on custom pistolsmithing, his core professional passion.
"I want to be there for their soccer games, violin/cello/guitar recitals and mountain bike races. Not to mention what my wife Kristen has tolerated with my work hours!" — Stan Chen, explaining his decision to refocus on custom builds
That deliberate choice to narrow focus means longer wait times but uncompromised quality. Stan personally trains new personnel on any contracted work and maintains direct control over every detail.
The Chen Custom family competes seriously in IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association). Stan and his daughter Libby have both taken first place in their divisions at Rocky Mountain Regional IDPA Championships. They sponsor matches and are active in the competitive shooting community—recent events include the Third Rock IDPA Championship at Cameo Shooting and Education Complex (near Grand Junction) and the Wyoming Governor's Match in Casper.
Stan's approach to 1911 customization focuses on:
The website details Stan's complete design reasoning, process documentation, and some trade secrets—rare transparency in custom gunsmithing.
American Handgunner featured one of Stan's full-house customs on their March-April cover with an in-depth article by Roy Huntington. Stan's work is known among top competitors and industry professionals, with relationships spanning Nighthawk Custom, Viking Tactics, APEX, Brownells, VZ Grips, and Kyle Lamb's equipment circle.
| Part Type | Options | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Mainspring Housing | Checkered (20/25/30 LPI) or plain | Through shop or Brownells |
| Magwells | Chen Maxbevel Suite included | Custom or standard |
| Thumb Safety | Custom options | As part of builds |
| Grip Safety | Custom options | As part of builds |
Long backlog with reason - Current wait times reflect Stan's refusal to compromise. If you're on the list, you're getting something he spent months perfecting.
For full-house custom builds: Contact through website with your vision. For custom machining on your existing 1911 or parts orders, Stan takes a la carte work on limited basis. Website includes detailed investment page and complete process explanation.
Location: Durango, Colorado (3 hours from Grand Junction, 5.5 hours from Denver)
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