Mossyrock
11-10-2005, 17:05
I am noticing a disturbing trend about myself. If you have been following my posts, you may have noticed it as well. The bottom line is that, at some deep, psychological level, I have convinced myself that stock is boring and that I can't leave well enough alone. As an example, take a look at my Pointman Seven. It shot great out of the box and was scary accurate. By the time all was said and done, I tweaked it to within an inch of it's life, just to make it shoot the same. It sure looks good, though.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/DWgrip.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/DW3.jpg
Then there is my Kimber Compact 10mm. I have, literally, replaced every part on that gun except the slide, barrel (rechambered from .40 to 10mm), frame, and pins. The result is probably my favorite 10mm. Compact, portable, powerful and scary-accurate. Since these photos were taken, I have added Heinie sights, an Ed Brown grip safety, Ed Brown thumb safety, Videki trigger and EGW tool steel ignition parts. It is currently out having the front strap serrated and refinished.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/KimberCompact2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/BarrelHood.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/TargetKC.jpg
So what does all of this rambling have to do with the price of tea in Walla-Walla? Well, I made the mistake of going to a gunshow last weekend. I wasn't looking for another 10mm. OK, that's a lie...my eyes are always open for another 10mm...but I wasn't actively LOOKING for another 10mm. Regardless, I found one. Actually, it kind of found me. After spending three or four hours strolling around the show, I ended up BSing with a guy who had a bunch of guns and reloading stuff on his table. I stopped because he had some 10mm brass up for grabs, but no 10mm guns. He asked me if I liked the 10mm, and I told him that "like" wasn't quite the right word. With a grin, he reached under the table and pulled out a Delta Elite.....an absolutely BUTT-UGLY, SCREWED UP, NASTY and oh so FUGLY Delta Elite! It's bad enough when Bubba gets his hands on a surplus Enfield or something, but WHY, for the love of GOD do they have to mess with one of Colt's finest?!? While I don't have any photos, this is the "custom" work that had been inflicted upon it: Millett tritium sights (crooked, tritium vials dead), S&A magwell (blended into the frame with a very coarse Dremel grinder leaving marks in the frame and edges so sharp that I actually cut myself and bled on the guy's table...no kidding), extended and checkered mag release, Brand X POS trigger, Wilson (I think) drop in beavertail grip safety, Brand X action parts (hammer followed when I dropped the slide), plastic "ivory" grips, extended slide stop and two-piece guide rod. Oh, and I forgot to mention the custom cold-blue finish that I could SMELL from four feet away. As I stood there, slack-jawed in utter disgust and amazement, the guy says, "Nice, huh? I just got that in trade for a stainless .357 Blackhawk."
It took me a few seconds to make sure he wasn't serious about it being "nice". I can appreciate subtle sarcasm. He let me tear it down and get a better look at the internals. With the exception of the obvious Bubba work, it really wasn't in all that bad of condition. Sure, it was ugly, but ugly is fixable. Barrel lock up was a little loose, and the lockwork was crap, but it had potential. The only part that concerned me was the Dremel work on the frame in the magwell. THAT might take some welding to correct. On a whim, I offered him a low-ball price that he wouldn't POSSIBLY accept. He took it. CRAP!!
OK, now I have a Delta Elite project gun. After I got it home and completely tore it down to the frame (talk about DIRTY!!)I made up a parts-needed list for Brownells. I will snap some pictures this weekend and post an update here. I have already done away with some of the ugly and tossed it in the trash, to include the sights, the grips, the mag release, trigger, the lock work and the S&A magwell. My desired end-state, at least at this point, is to have a functional Delta Elite that will have a slightly "retro" flavor to it. Given the state of the finish, I will probably end up with matte black Parkerizing. Or, if I get REALLY ambitious, I will rust blue it and nitre blue the pins and screws. Stay tuned...it's gonna get bumpy!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/DWgrip.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/DW3.jpg
Then there is my Kimber Compact 10mm. I have, literally, replaced every part on that gun except the slide, barrel (rechambered from .40 to 10mm), frame, and pins. The result is probably my favorite 10mm. Compact, portable, powerful and scary-accurate. Since these photos were taken, I have added Heinie sights, an Ed Brown grip safety, Ed Brown thumb safety, Videki trigger and EGW tool steel ignition parts. It is currently out having the front strap serrated and refinished.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/KimberCompact2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/BarrelHood.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mossyrock/TargetKC.jpg
So what does all of this rambling have to do with the price of tea in Walla-Walla? Well, I made the mistake of going to a gunshow last weekend. I wasn't looking for another 10mm. OK, that's a lie...my eyes are always open for another 10mm...but I wasn't actively LOOKING for another 10mm. Regardless, I found one. Actually, it kind of found me. After spending three or four hours strolling around the show, I ended up BSing with a guy who had a bunch of guns and reloading stuff on his table. I stopped because he had some 10mm brass up for grabs, but no 10mm guns. He asked me if I liked the 10mm, and I told him that "like" wasn't quite the right word. With a grin, he reached under the table and pulled out a Delta Elite.....an absolutely BUTT-UGLY, SCREWED UP, NASTY and oh so FUGLY Delta Elite! It's bad enough when Bubba gets his hands on a surplus Enfield or something, but WHY, for the love of GOD do they have to mess with one of Colt's finest?!? While I don't have any photos, this is the "custom" work that had been inflicted upon it: Millett tritium sights (crooked, tritium vials dead), S&A magwell (blended into the frame with a very coarse Dremel grinder leaving marks in the frame and edges so sharp that I actually cut myself and bled on the guy's table...no kidding), extended and checkered mag release, Brand X POS trigger, Wilson (I think) drop in beavertail grip safety, Brand X action parts (hammer followed when I dropped the slide), plastic "ivory" grips, extended slide stop and two-piece guide rod. Oh, and I forgot to mention the custom cold-blue finish that I could SMELL from four feet away. As I stood there, slack-jawed in utter disgust and amazement, the guy says, "Nice, huh? I just got that in trade for a stainless .357 Blackhawk."
It took me a few seconds to make sure he wasn't serious about it being "nice". I can appreciate subtle sarcasm. He let me tear it down and get a better look at the internals. With the exception of the obvious Bubba work, it really wasn't in all that bad of condition. Sure, it was ugly, but ugly is fixable. Barrel lock up was a little loose, and the lockwork was crap, but it had potential. The only part that concerned me was the Dremel work on the frame in the magwell. THAT might take some welding to correct. On a whim, I offered him a low-ball price that he wouldn't POSSIBLY accept. He took it. CRAP!!
OK, now I have a Delta Elite project gun. After I got it home and completely tore it down to the frame (talk about DIRTY!!)I made up a parts-needed list for Brownells. I will snap some pictures this weekend and post an update here. I have already done away with some of the ugly and tossed it in the trash, to include the sights, the grips, the mag release, trigger, the lock work and the S&A magwell. My desired end-state, at least at this point, is to have a functional Delta Elite that will have a slightly "retro" flavor to it. Given the state of the finish, I will probably end up with matte black Parkerizing. Or, if I get REALLY ambitious, I will rust blue it and nitre blue the pins and screws. Stay tuned...it's gonna get bumpy!
