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If you could choose any handgun, not just pistols, to have a full custom job done one, what would it be? Assume the cottage industry for the 1911 isnt there, and everything would be a custom proposition.

I thought long and hard, and think I would choose a pre war Hi Power. I would want a tastefull extension of the grip to a ever so slight beavertail. Keep the spur hammer, but with a no bite relief done. New sights, in the same pattern as the old, but wider and more pronounced. As for the thumb safety, the new ones will work fine. Carbon steel barrel, also blued. Of course, reliability and accuracy. No checkering, no stippling. Deep, dark rust blue. Case colored hammer, trigger, safety and firing pin stop. As for the grips, a good french walnut pair from Esmarelda would work fine. Maybe some VERY light engraving, just to frame the rust bluing.

More I think about it, the more I'd like to see a really tricked out 1006. Something like the S&W PC did a while back with the 356TSW IPSC guns. SA only, frame safety, Briley bbl., nice checkering, etc.

Anyone else?

I like the Browning HP idea that sounds like a fine gun. HP's can certainly be built into a great gun. Since you removed the 1911 from the equation the HP would be my pick.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

I think I'd go with a big N-frame Smith, maybe something along the lines of Bowen's 38/44
Heavy Duty conversion to .45 Colt.....Throw some Roy Fishpaw ivories in and one of Mark
Garrity's exotic rigs, and I'd be plenty happy......

Bill,

I've been trying for about three years to find a Texas Longhorn Arms Grover's Improved #5 to have worked over. That, to me, would be about as cool as they come as for revolvers. I am a huge fan of Ruger big bore Single Actions, so another one of those would be cool. But, that being said, I have one being cleaned up to head to Arizona for Steve to monkey with that I think is about as cool as they come with some history to boot. I can't let the cat out of the bag yet, so we'll have to wait and see sometime in the next (insert random time frame here).

The idea of a nice 1006 sounds good, since I'm a big 10mm fan. Maybe Ned would like to undertake that one for ya. I can see him going nuts with one of those for some strange reason.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

I could see having quite a bit of fun with a Ruger Bisley as well......

I'll play.

I think I would have someone do a Fritz Special on a new TI S&W wheelgun in 44 special or 45 LC. I would want the trigger guard cut like the Fritz, trigger job like my model 29 S&W Clark Game Hunter 5.5 pounds double action 1.78 single action ( that should send the Smiths heading for the hills due to liability reasons). The barrel should be under 2 inches like the old Colt Detective and topped with a buried Ashley big dot set up to shot factory loads POA at 15 yards. A custom grip sized to my hand by taking an impression from molding clay and made by someone like Dick Horten.

TJ

Honestly, I picked the 1006 partly because Ive never seen one done, and Ive always liked the 3rd Gen Smiths. I noticed they arent really making them anymore, switching to the P99s. Its a real shame.

A Ned-ified 1006 could be one cool pin gun too. I really wish they'd bring that one back. And the Double Eagle, which was choice No. 3. I always liked the way they looked for some misguided reason.

The thought behind this thread was if there were no aftermarket support for the 1911, would there be another gun you would like to see done?

I honestly expected more pistols than revolvers, so Im somewhat suprised by that. Im waiting for the first Glock post, HAHA. Ya know, if they had grip pannels, Im sure someone would have stuck ivory on one by now.

I guess I'd rank them something like this:

1. BHP
2. 1006
3. Double Eagle, 10mm, full size
4. M92
5. 1911, SA 10mm linkless
6. SA Omega, 5", 10mm
7. Tasteful Colt NM
8. Current SA Target
9. Current Colt WWII
10. S&W 27, 5.5" BBL

The coolest custom(s) I ever saw and handled were the Devel collection of Wayne Novak's. The Devel Gammons were the trickest (for their time - and even now) that I have seen.

Although, the full-house SIG 210 with a conversion to a metal backstrap, 2-piece grip panels, and 1911-style mag release done by Novak's was also quite cool, and a sleeper besides. You had to know what an original looked like to appreciate all the work.

HiPowers are always good.

JMB and/or Colt had a prototype of a .38 cal 1911-type that was something like 80% size of the 1911. I'd like to see that.

It would be a lot of work, but a Sig P220 converted to SA, and some 1911-type tricks might be nice.
Might not.

The P210 suggestion is good. I really liked the article by Ken Hackathorn on the one he had Larry Vickers (or was it Wayne Novak?) go over.
If John Martz can convert Lugers and P38s to 45ACP, why can't a P210 be done? We are dreaming here, after all.

I like HK P7s, and would like to see what can be done there. I know Bruce Gray shot IPSC with a modified P7 for a while.

If were doing this from scratch, how about whittling out a P7-like pistol in 45? HK had prototypes.

First generation Colt SAA .45 made ~1900-1912, so that it has the circle around the horse on the frame, 4 3/4" barrel, fully engraved in Cuno Helfricht style engraving, blued and case-hardened, with ivory grips.

No 1911s?

I'd like a 5" square butt 610 or 629 Classic (gotta have the full underlug) though in deep-blued carbon steel instead of stainless -- so it technically wouldn't be a 610 or 629 Classic. Partridge front sight, maybe with a gold bead. Cocobolo stocks. Unfluted cylinder, maybe with with six small patches of engraving where the flutes would normally be.

Plus a "little brother" for it -- a 3", the only differences being a ramp front sight and a round butt with stocks for same.

Who knows, it could happen, and from the factory even. SIG's new X-Five is essentially a single-action P226ST, which some slight recontouring/stylistic changes and a huge magazine "funnel" for the gungames.


D.