js1392
12-31-2006, 09:42
I posted these pics in another member's thread about a 1911 build. This little project has been around 9 months in the making. It should be done in the next few weeks. This Colt started life as a Combat Commander that left Hartford in 1981. It has an 80 Series serial number, but it is a Pre 80 Series gun - No 80 Series firing pin block. It had been played with by an amateur gunsmith somewhere along the way. The slide was factory blue and the receiver hardchromed. It had a full length guiderod, extended slide stop lever, a nasty mag release button, loose MMC sights, and a very sloppy fit beavertail safety.
I bought it before I knew much about 1911s, other than that I wanted a Commander. I paid $400 for it, and later added a Wilson Combat MSH and changed out the crappy FLGR for another FLGR from Wilson. I shot it a bunch, but never carried it due to reliability issues. So, it has spent much of it's time with me, as a safe queen - not a pretty one either.
So, fast forward to March of 2006. A friend of mine and co-worker, Dave Erickson, tells me he's thinking of getting into the biz, after building himself a full house custom Caspian. So, we talked it over, and I laid my Commander off on him.
Here's what he's done(I think I'm accurate on all of the parts):
-Kart NM barrel, hand fitted
-Evolution Gun Works bushing - hand fitted
-Novak lo-mount tritium bar dot sights mounted with hand cut dovetails front and rear
-Cylinder & Slide ignition system - tuned
-Burns Custom Pistols solid long trigger
-Ed Brown slide stop
-Ed Brown Hardcore extractor
-Ed Brown memory groove grip beavertail safety (metal actually had to be added to fit this safety, as too much was gone from the frame when the first beavertail was fitted - Thanks Evolution Gun Works! They did this work for damned near nothing)
-Chip McCormick thumb safety
-Chip McCormick standard guide rod and plug
-Wolff Springs throughout
-Handcut 30LPI checkering on the front strap
-Chip McCormick MSH with 30LPI hand cut
-Complete carry melt - not too aggressive, just 'taking the edge off'
-Blued in an old school recipe in his garage(receiver had to be stripped of the HC first)
-Trigger pull set to right at 4 lbs.
The slide is in Texas with Bill Adair who is restoring the Rampant Colt, as Dave polished his head off - learning experience. Once it's back, it'll be around a week to completion, and I'll post pics of the finished product.
The thing about Dave, is he wants it exactly right, and he' a straight shooter. He's a great guy and looks to be off to a good start in the pistol biz. He's got his ATF requirements filled and he's hung out a shingle. If anyone's interested:
www.conditionone.us
Before:
I bought it before I knew much about 1911s, other than that I wanted a Commander. I paid $400 for it, and later added a Wilson Combat MSH and changed out the crappy FLGR for another FLGR from Wilson. I shot it a bunch, but never carried it due to reliability issues. So, it has spent much of it's time with me, as a safe queen - not a pretty one either.
So, fast forward to March of 2006. A friend of mine and co-worker, Dave Erickson, tells me he's thinking of getting into the biz, after building himself a full house custom Caspian. So, we talked it over, and I laid my Commander off on him.
Here's what he's done(I think I'm accurate on all of the parts):
-Kart NM barrel, hand fitted
-Evolution Gun Works bushing - hand fitted
-Novak lo-mount tritium bar dot sights mounted with hand cut dovetails front and rear
-Cylinder & Slide ignition system - tuned
-Burns Custom Pistols solid long trigger
-Ed Brown slide stop
-Ed Brown Hardcore extractor
-Ed Brown memory groove grip beavertail safety (metal actually had to be added to fit this safety, as too much was gone from the frame when the first beavertail was fitted - Thanks Evolution Gun Works! They did this work for damned near nothing)
-Chip McCormick thumb safety
-Chip McCormick standard guide rod and plug
-Wolff Springs throughout
-Handcut 30LPI checkering on the front strap
-Chip McCormick MSH with 30LPI hand cut
-Complete carry melt - not too aggressive, just 'taking the edge off'
-Blued in an old school recipe in his garage(receiver had to be stripped of the HC first)
-Trigger pull set to right at 4 lbs.
The slide is in Texas with Bill Adair who is restoring the Rampant Colt, as Dave polished his head off - learning experience. Once it's back, it'll be around a week to completion, and I'll post pics of the finished product.
The thing about Dave, is he wants it exactly right, and he' a straight shooter. He's a great guy and looks to be off to a good start in the pistol biz. He's got his ATF requirements filled and he's hung out a shingle. If anyone's interested:
www.conditionone.us
Before:
