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I just got this back from Bob Rodgers and what a beauty he built for me this time! I haven't shot it yet, but would expect nothing less than Bob's extraordinarily high standards. Bob was great to deal with. We discussed the build extensively before finalizing the specs, and he kept me fully informed as the build progressed and as he decided to make a few changes along the way. Bob collaborated with Chuck Rogers on this one. Chuck did the golfball MSH, frontstrap, and some of the other machine work.
Here's the build specs:

Colt Government Model, Series 80

10-8 long trigger
10-8 rear sight
MGW front sight w/Tooltech tritium insert
EGW barrel bushing
2 Wilson extractors
Chip McCormick grip safety
Wilson barrel link and pin
Kart Match Grade barrel
McCormick extended mag catch
Ed Brown mainspring housing
Wilson #337 S/S hammer
Cylinder & Slide sear
Cylinder & Slide disconnector
Ed Brown hammer strut
Ed Brown wide thumb safety
Yost plunger tube
EGW slide stop
EGW firing pin stop
Wilson extended ejector & pin
Wolff recoil, sear, extra power firing pin, and plunger springs
Wilson strut and ejector pins
4 carbon steel grip screw bushings
Davidson grips

Flat top & serrate slide top, arrowhead pattern
Flare ejection port
Fit barrel & bushing
Recess cut barrel into bushing
Bevel bushing face
Recrown barrel at 45 degrees
Machine 2 sight dovetails
Fit front sight to dovetail, machine to height, drill slide for locking pin, profile, thin to .115” and serrate @ 50LPI
High cut and Golfball frontstrap, extend high cut into trigger guard
Golfball mainspring housing
Machine bevel bottom of slide
Machine ball cuts in slide
Machine French borders in slide
Bevel magwell with Quik-Change modification
Countersink slidestop pinhole
Fit and blend grip safety
Fit 2 slidestops, flush cut pins to frame
Fit and blend thumb safety
Fit and internally lighten trigger
Fit mag catch
Install grip screw bushings
Reliability/Carry Package, trigger pull set at 3 ½ lbs.
Fit and tune spare extractor
Fit oversized firing pin stop, small radius
Install plunger tube
Fit extended ejector
Fit rear sight, recontour
Extreme carry dehorn
Serrate rear of slide @ 40 LPI
Serrate spare extractor

Refinish, Melonite by Coal Creek Armory
Here are some pictures, courtesy of Bob Rodgers, taken before he shipped it back to me, and before the tritium insert was installed in the front sight.









A couple of observations on this build. The finish is Melonite QPQ done through Coal Creek Armory. Melonite treatment subjects the parts to temperatures around 900 degrees. For that reason, springs, pins, extractors, & mag catches are not treated due to concern about affecting the strength and functioning of the part. The parts not melonited are finished in a well matched spray on polymer finish. When finished it appears that the Melonite QPQ process causes a bit of stress relief within finished parts. The slide to frame fit loosened up a bit after the Melonite finish. It's still acceptable but should be taken into account. The fit of the bushing to slide also loosened enough that Bob fit another one. I'll shoot it with both bushings to see if I can tell the difference.

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Ted

Rogers work is absolutely stunning. Cant say enough about what he can turn into a gem and a piece of art. Conrats.

Good information on the finish. I don't have a pistol from Bob yet but I have a 1911 that Chuck Rodgers did the front strap treatment and it is the most comfortable feeling 1911 I have every owned.

Beautifully done piece. Since I'm only a couple hours drive away from Bob Rodgers, I may have to make a trip up there to check out his shop one day.

That is a very nice pistol. I really like the Golfball treatment. Your comment on the Melonite finish interests me. I have a contract with a local company to Melonite the 1911's that I build. My experience has been that it tightens the fit just a little. A barrel bushing that could be turned without a wrench would need a wrench to lap it in after treatment. I wonder what the two companies are doing differently?

nice looking pistol. it'll be interesting to get your range report, especially after 1k rounds to see if anything changes-cam

Beautiful piece, Ted! The barrel crowning is really nice.
I'm sure your range report will reflect exceptional performance.

That is just so stunning. That barrel crowning and bushing simply look amazing.

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"Oderint Dum Metuant."

That is the blaster I want to have built! A great looking Colt hard use gun with golfball treatment, ball cuts, an awesome thick bushing and a great crown. Very kewl!

Very nice. I really like the 10-8 rear sight.