ltwguns.com

I'm new just registered, and apologize if this is in the wrong place. I'm looking to have a custom 1911 built. Can anyone recommend a smith that will build one with a Damascus slide? I was referred here by Jason at Yost Bonitz, because they won't. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
I edited the first post, because it looked like I was posting a completed project.

http://www.useltonarms.com

and darned if they are'nt from your neck O' the woods

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Thanks. I'll send'em an email. Has anyone ever done business with them?

You might try calling Ned Christiansen. I can't remember seeing anything from him in damascus, but I know for a fact that he's willing to build you most anything you want. Assuming it's possible AND you have enough cashola.

Ned's a great guy and it sure wouldn't hurt to ask him.

I also remember a damascus pistol that Wayne Novak built as a special edition. His shop might be open to building another one.

One of my friends has a Uselton national match 1911 and I've shot it, nice gun. They use caspian frames/slides and Storm Lake barrels (another TN company).

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I love the look of Caspian's Damasteel slides and have seen some knockouts built by Gene Schuey, Tussey, Novaks, and others.

The Damasteel is plenty tough for a slide and it looks terrific. I would recommend you stick with a round top without flattop or serration or forward serrations-naked damasteel looks better than machine cuts, which tend to cloud the pattern.

For the steel to look its best, it must be etched and then blued. Even though it is "stainless" damsacus, one of the metals used will take a light blue and that will provide the contrast. I have seen some deeply etched and then gunkote applied to achieve an extremely high contrast that looks quite stunning.

I think the slides look best on an all black bottom end, but that is personal preference.

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I have one under construction by Novaks. I have seen pictures of several that they have done, and they look quite nice. Dave

I have seen pictures of a couple done by EGW. While Damascus steel does nothing for me the guns looked really good.

Got any pics? I have only seen them in the white. I might be willing to rethink my feelings towards damascus after being blued.

Pete, I used to be a little cold on damascus myself. Then I saw one that Wayne Novak built. It was really beautiful (it was blued) and kind of changed my opinion. I'm not sure I'd spend the extra money for one, but that one was sure purty!

wow cap'n thats a stunner.
You need to learn how to take better pics!

_________________
"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com

I was thinking about putting up a pic of my Damascus 6" Tussey but after seeing yours, well I'm humbled . Maybe I'll wait until everyone gets their jaws back in place, very nice!

Ok, rub it in........

I should have mentioned that Don Williams did the machine work on this long slide. He sleeved the 6" bull barrel and did the slide to frame fit, also. It was a two plus year project and Don was a big help. He had to cut a chunk off of the dust cover for us. He did great work on this one![/img]

First time trying to post a pic on the web, so here goes.

This is my 6" Damascus Tussey gun built on a Colt frame. Not quite as snazzy as Daves but is alot of fun to have and show off. This is a .45 and the gun has a twin brother in 10mm except the slide is a blued 6". Hope you like the pic.

Here is another example for you to see.

http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/vie ... highlight=

That is a great looking Terry Gun! It has a very beautuful Damascus look that we could have gotten with the acid treatment. Due to the fact that ours was intended to be engraved, we preferred the more subtle coloration. That is an interesting Beaver Tail, too!

I'd love to see the blued one too.

Here is a pic of both the Damascus .45 and its brother "Blue" in 10mm. These guns are from a set Colt had issued called a Elite Team set. The guns are serial numbered the same ie: 45ET0xx and 10ET0xx. Both guns came with standard blued 5" slides. Terry fitted the 6" slides and barrels, Bomars, installed the grip safeties, changed the hammer on the .45 from a spur to a Commander style. Also fitted a 5" .400 Cor-Bon barrel to the .45 and a 5" .40 S&W to the Delta. I did not have him under cut the frontstrap or checker them. Both guns wear Pachmayr flat mainsprings. (Stop groaning,I like the Pachmayr mainsprings. In fact if any of you have any you want to get rid of let me know as they are now discontinued.) Nothing on the frames or stock slides were cut or modified. I retained all the original parts so the guns can be returned to full stock status in the future, both guns have the original boxes with papers. Thanks very much for the kind words.

Timing is everything! I just sent three of those to a guy on Steve Camp's forum that were gathering dust around here. I used to like them a lot but then things changed and they went into the junk parts drawer. Sorry that I missed you! I also sent him an old rubber B-Tail that was a winner back then!

Grrrrrr!!!!! Timing? I think Karma. Perhaps I need to stop watching "Earl". Thanks anyway Dave.

If any more of them come my way, your name will be on them! They were a neat part for LW Commanders until Barb Smith (S&A) started making the flat, checkered, aluminum ones that now sleeps in my carry gun. She also makes a mainspring/magwell out of the same stuff!

Here is my Caspian built by Thomas Bullock in JAckson, MS. PM me for contact info. Could not be more satisfied with it.

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Clark customs and Gemini customs do a lot that kind of work from what I have seen.