My latest 1911... and a VERY rare one at that! :):)

bac1023 · 06-02-2010, 14:23

A rare breed for sure. The Valtro 1998 A1 is an outstanding quality 1911. They were produced in Italy under the watchful eye of master 1911 smith John Jardine.

Its a great addition to my 1911 collection and certainly not one I ever thought I'd actually own. Many thanks to fellow GT member Mr. Thundermaker for letting me convince him to sell it to me.

Anyway, the gun has never been fired. Overall build quality reminds me of a Wilson, but with an enormous amount of exotic flair. In fact, this is the only Valtro I've ever seen in person.

Here's some info on Valtro 1911s.

http://www.valtrousa.com/aboutvaltro.html

The website has been frozen in time for a while now and I believe what little production of them there was, has now ceased. The gun really impresses me and I love the unique rounded edges on every part of it. Its like a subtle melt job. Even the rear sights are dehorned. Attention to detail is amazing throughout and the trigger is fabulous. From an appearance standpoint, I think its beautiful. The bluing is shiny and smooth, the rollmarking isn't overly obnoxious, and the checkering is very fine. While I tend to prefer 1911s without front serrations, these serrations are done very tastefully. It has a nicely beveled magwell, an ambi safety, and a full length guide rod.

Despite being a slightly older design, it has some modern touches, such as a countersunk slide stop, a serrated slide top, and a very nice French border around the slide. This are all eye candy I love to look at on a high end enhanced 1911A1. The walnut grips with the Valtro medallion go well with the rest of the gun.

Below is the photos from the website. If you notice, mine has smaller rollmarks then the gun in the link., which is good.

http://www.valtrousa.com/photogallery/ticevaltro1.html

I do believe John Jardine still does custom work on his Valtros, as shown in the link below. Its some awesome work.

http://www.jardinescustom.com/photographs.html

As I mentioned in other threads, I have several real nice 1911s coming this June and July, but the Valtro was the one I was looking forward to the most. As many know, I love rare collectable guns. However, they're not always synonymous with high quality. In the Valtro's case, its outstanding build quality matches its extreme rarity.

Thanks for looking at my latest addition.

Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated!

Does anybody own one or have any first hand experience with a Valtro?

Tactical black · 06-02-2010, 14:55

Congrats looks nice.

Trey83 · 06-02-2010, 14:56

That looks very nice with the melt job. How many 1911's do you have that are unfired?

CMG · 06-02-2010, 14:57

I remember when they were being made, they had a number of avid fans.

Congrats.

Jim Watson · 06-02-2010, 15:00

As I understand it, Mr Jardine tuned up all the Valtros imported into the USA. And did a darned nice job of it, everybody who managed to get one liked it.
I read some less complimentary accounts of Valtros direct from Italy to shooters in Canada. Those factory stock guns were pretty ordinary.

glock2740 · 06-02-2010, 15:07

Congrats! That's a very good looking gun. Nice melt, sharp checkering and just plain good looking.

Jim S. · 06-02-2010, 15:08

It looks like a very well made 1911. Is it a series 70 or 80 type of firing system.

jrs93accord · 06-02-2010, 15:13

Brian, that is one gorgeous hunk of metal. Congrats in a huge way.

bac1023 · 06-02-2010, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trey83

That looks very nice with the melt job. How many 1911's do you have that are unfired?

Not sure. I'm guessing maybe five or six.

Cobra64 · 06-02-2010, 16:28

Well done Brian.

I know you've been biting fingernails since last Fall waiting for this sweetheart to arrive. The dehorning makes it more svelt like a Ferrari, and I like French border "art" on a high end 1911 to give it distinction from production guns. The front serrations are not so bad in that they are very fine, unlike those on many newer 1911 models.

Aesthetically, your Valtro ranks up there with the Yost, Hi Power and RRA.

Now the big question is: "Are you going to keep it virgin?"

samuse · 06-02-2010, 16:55

Where would you rate the quality of it? Springfield Mil-Spec, TRP, Baer, Wilson Supergrade? It looks nice, like a Baer with an Ed Brown thumb safety and Wilson sights.

bac1023 · 06-02-2010, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra64

Well done Brian.

I know you've been biting fingernails since last Fall waiting for this sweetheart to arrive. The dehorning makes it more svelt like a Ferrari, and I like French border "art" on a high end 1911 to give it distinction from production guns. The front serrations are not so bad in that they are very fine, unlike those on many newer 1911 models.

Aesthetically, your Valtro ranks up there with the Yost, Hi Power and RRA.

Now the big question is: "Are you going to keep it virgin?"

Thanks for the compliments Mark. I'm glad you really like it.

You'll see it next time you're up my way.

I really like the dehorning as well. I could see that in the pics on the website, but you can't really tell until you handle the gun.

I will shoot this at some point.

Hokie1911 · 06-02-2010, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by bac1023

[IMG]Its a great addition to my 1911 collection and certainly not one I ever thought I'd actually own. Many thanks to fellow GT member Mr. Thundermaker for letting me convince him to sell it to me.

Mr Thundermaker...you WILL sell me the Valtro.

Hokie1911 · 06-02-2010, 17:11

I'm pretty much a 1911 noob and don't know the ins and outs of the nuances (yet) that make a difference between good and great, but that thing looks sexy. Congrats on another beautiful pistola.

BlayGlock · 06-02-2010, 17:27

Very Cool.

I may have a chance to pick up a Dawson Tactical Advantage single stack. I belive less than 200 were made.

bac1023 · 06-02-2010, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by hokieshooterG23

Mr Thundermaker...you WILL sell me the Valtro.

bac1023 · 06-02-2010, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuse

Where would you rate the quality of it? Springfield Mil-Spec, TRP, Baer, Wilson Supergrade? It looks nice, like a Baer with an Ed Brown thumb safety and Wilson sights.

Its definitely a unique 1911 in many ways and different things about it remind me of various models in my collection.

The checkering and other metalwork are up there with nearly any 1911 I own.

Honestly, the 1911s in my collection it reminds me the most of from an overall feel standpoint are my Performance Center Smith and my STI Legacy. That would land it right on the lower edge of the semi custom range and the very top edge of the production range. Now it has nicer, more detailed metalwork than either of those guns and many of my other high end models.

The only disappointing part is the area around the thumb safety. It could have been cleaned up a little nicer, in my opinion. Its not bad, but it doesn't quite match the refinement of the rest of the pistol.

HAIL CAESAR · 06-02-2010, 18:33

Heck I've been looking for one for YEARS!!

Nice arm twisting you did.

John Hatcher · 06-02-2010, 18:35

Nice firearm Sir! Congrats!

Jim S. · 06-02-2010, 18:44

Alright Brian, that's twice you ignored my question.
Same question as a matter of fact.
Asked the same thing in regards to the Remington you are waiting for.
I'm gonna get a complex or something!!!